A Quarter-Century Later, Three Civil War Comrades Find Each Other in Seattle

Judge Richard Osborn and F. M. Hansen, a bailiff in his court, were swapping stories of old battles yesterday with David Koch, an old war comrade whom the judge had not seen in over twenty-five years. Koch, who now lives in Skagit County, learned of the presence of his two friends in Seattle and came to town to seek them out.

At the outbreak of the war, Koch and Hansen lived on neighboring farms in Missouri. Osborn's home was in the same section, though they were strangers then. All three enlisted in Company D of the Twenty-third Missouri Infantry and became messmates, breaking hardtack together for many months. Koch was taken prisoner at the Battle of Shiloh but was exchanged and rejoined his company before it started with Sherman on the famous 'march to the sea.'

It was during the forty days of fighting in front of Atlanta, on August 7, 1864, that Judge Osborn last saw Koch until yesterday. During an advance on enemy rifle pits, Osborn pushed ahead of his company, finding himself in dangerous proximity to the works. While lying behind a pile of earth to take a shot, he was struck in the shoulder by a minie ball. The lead projectile tore through the bone and lodged near the elbow, where it was later surgically removed by a field surgeon. Osborn still guards this lead ball—partially embedded with a shred of his own cartilage—in a small case.

After his hospital stay, Osborn’s enlistment expired, and he was discharged. When he arrived in Seattle ten years ago, he had lost all contact with his former messmates. Three years ago, Hansen walked into the judge's office, and yesterday, Koch appeared, completing the reunion of the three old comrades.