Roques The Drum Major - The Narrative

Leader of the first band Saint Louis ever had.
Played at the opening of Jefferson Barracks.
Wounded at the Battle of New Orleans,
in the presence of General Jackson; in the Mexican War.

Many of the old citizens of Saint Louis still have a pleasant rememberance of John Roques, the leader of a famous corps; for many years paraded the streets; his band at the head of military Civic Society Processions. The services of his band were in constant requisition at all parades; as there were few or no band at an early age. It was not until after the Mexican War that German bands made their appearance, and became the popular music of the streets. The drum music was the favorite music; and as he was an expert in his profession. He always lived in camps, having been a soldier in the army from boyhood, and up to doing the first stage of his soldiering at Jefferson Barracks. His skill was duly appreciated by the citizens who visited that part. As a band leader he secured the best players in the city; who on parade were dressed in grey uniforms with yellow trimmings. Sometimes on special occasions, when an additional musical performer, as a trumpter, was required, he sent abroad for a musician. On one occasion on the 22nd of February, when a grand parade and a ball at night were to take place, he sent to Cincinnati for an African American bugler named Duncan and paid him $50 for his services. This fact illustrates the lack of instrumental music and skilled performers at that period. The violin and stringed instruments however have been long in vouge among the real French.

When Roques arrived at Jefferson Barracks in 1827 that part had been established as a school of instruction. The Stone Barracks were in progress of contruction, and his regiments were encamped in tents, at the declivity of a hill, with log fired in front of the tents to keep the men armed and to cook their rations. On a level place upon the bank bounded by trees and carpeted by wild flowers and grass was the Grand Guard Parade, which was generally enlivened by the music of the full band, and in which Roques played a leading part. It was not until about Christmas, one week after his discharge from the army, that the Stone Barracks half completed and uncomfortable were occupied by the soldiers. Tradition preserves the fact that on the 8th of January a splendid ball was given in an unfinished barracks when there was a display of flags and hundreds of bright muskets with a candle in the muzzle of each. An old army officer records that many from Saint Louis were there, and Louisville too had serveral beautiful representatives. Mr. Roques lingered about the part for some time, ever ready whenever his musical services were in requisition.

Roques' army life had been most eventful and illustrates the experience of the soldiers during the early half of the century. He enlisted as a drummer at the age of 12 years, at the same time as his father, who came over with Lafayette, and served in our Revolutionary War. This was in Cincinnati in 1798. These regiments were afterward disbanded and when troops were again raised to settle the troubles incident to the establishments of boundary lines, and Roques was again a soldier. He served through all these trying times and in the war os 1812, and finally went as a drum major to the war of Mexico. Before his departure he wrote the following concise narrative of his life in the old army, which the document was left with his sons, one of whom still resides in Saint Louis. The statement will be read with interest by the students of our early war history in the southern department, from it's casual mention of well known incidents, as well as showing the arduous duties and incesant changes from post to post that devolved on our little army. Its operations embrace the period both preceding and subsequent to the transfer of the country from the French to the United States.

John Roques Narrative

At the age of 12 years I enlisted at Fort Washington, Cincinnati, under Captian Bartholomew Shamburgh, on the 20th of June, 1798. My father enlisted again at the same time. By order of General James Wilkinson, who was in command, we were sent to take possession of the lower country, as low down as the Ellicotts line. We landed first at Chichasaw Bluffs and took possession in July. From here we went to Walnut Hills (now Vicksburg). The Spanish commander was Captain Vadill, who surrendered the fort to General Wilkinson, in that latter part of July or first of August. We nect proceeded to Natchz and took prossession. From there we went to Loftus Heights (since called Fort Adams) where my brother and myself were transferred to a company of artillery commanded by Captain Geo. Demlar, who shortly afterward committed suicide by cutting his throat. His successor in the command was Captain James Sterritt, who soon after was appointed postmaster, when Captain John W. Livingston took command. This was in the year 1801, when Captian James S. Sterritt having resigned the paymastership returned to the command of the company. We still continued stationed at Fort Adams, when on the 20th of June 1803 I was taken from the company and attached to General Wilkinson's military band. In the same year we were ordered to take possession of New Orleans. It was in October when we landed at Willow Grove, about three miles from New Orleans, and there awaited Governor Claiborne and the militia. On November 19th, 1803, we marched into the city, when Daniel Clark carried our colors at the head of the music, and I assisted in hauling down the French flag and in hoisting the American colors. General Wilkinson with his band and a company of artillery were gathered at Fort Charles, where we remained in the garrison until 1805, when we were ordered to Camp Claiborne, on the other side of the bayou St. John. From there we were ordered back to New Orleans, and there remained until October 1805, and on the 11th the general band received orders to remove to St. Louis, Missouri, then known as Upper Louisiana. We landed in St. Louis on December 26th, 1805, and in the spring of 1806 were ordered to Bellefountain, where we were transferred to the first regiment, commanded by Colonel Jacob Kingsbury, and in the same year received orders to go to the Sabine, on Red River, with orders to drive away the Spaniards, commanded by Govenor Salsado, which having done we were ordered to Fort Claiborne, and thence to New Orleans, where we remained during 1806, until we took four of Aaron Burr's officers prisioner, when General Wilkinson with Colonel Cushing was ordered on to Washington and our band was transferred to the Second Regiment, commanded by Colonel Kingsbury. In the early part of 1807, the regiment was ordered to Fort Adams and from there to the Columbian Spring, 5 miles back of Fort Adams, where it remained until the return of Gen. Wilkinson and Col. Cushing. The latter took command when we were ordered to Washington, six miles from Natchez, and from thence to Popular Grove in the year 1809 and 1810 and remained there till 1811, when we were sent to Fort Slater on the Mobile River, and from there to Mount Vernon where we built a cantonement and remained till 1812. Then Gen. Wilkinson came on, took the band and two companies of the second regiment to New Orleans. We remained there till1812, when we were ordered to take possession of Mobile, then in command of Capt. Paris, who upon being summond delivered up the place to Gen Wilkinson, and we marched in and taking down the Spanish flag, hoisted the American colors.

Battle of New Orleans

We were ordered across Mobile Bay to the Prasidis where Gen. Wilkinson received orders to go on to the north, and the band was then transferred to the 7th regiment of infantry commanded by Col. Gibson. In the spring of 1814 we were ordered to Pass Christian, under command of Gen. Flournoy, when Gen. Andrew Jackson assumed command. We were then sent to Chafuaca, the regiment being under command of Major John Hicks, and there we remained until about December 1, 1814, when we were ordered to New Orleans. Col. Peer took command of the 7th regiment and we were ordered be Gen. Jackson to the battle ground. The schonner Caroline commanded by Capt. Patterson anchored near the levee, about the center of the Bristish line, and opened fire upon the English, when a ball carried off the leds of a Brisith officer. The action thereupon commenced in the open field, between the Americans under Gen. Jackson and the English. In the engagement the 3rd regiment had thirteen killed and one wounded. An officer named Lieut. Leach carried our blue silk flag and received a wound in the abdomen and while falling I took the flag out of his hand and handed it to one of my musicians and assisted the wounded lieutenant in getting the doctor. In lifting him up I was wounded in my left leg. While the doctor was dressing his wound, the blood ran down and filled my shoe, and I pulled it off and empited the blood in the presence of Gen Jackson and the General remarked to the Doctor that he should examine my wound, which he did and cut the bullet out of my leg. I then returned to my regiment and remained with it till the action of that night was over. On the morning of the 24th we started to the saw mill trace, where we threw up our breastworks and there remained until the 8th of January, 1815, when the English mustered up the forces and came against us. When we had the final engagement, we remained until the public property was removed and peace proclaimed. When we were discharged in April, 1815, we again enlsited and were ordered on to Pass Christian, under command of Major John Hicks of the 7th regiment at the same time the second, third and 44th regiments were all send to Pass Christian, where there was one regiment picked out of the four and the balance disbanded. The new regiment was called the first regiment of infantry, commanded by Col. Croghams. We were ordered to New Orleans, where we buried our colonel, Col. Ball. We were next ordered to Baton Rouge, where we were under command of Col. Taylor and Col. Chambers. I remained in the army of the United States until the 19th of December, 1827, which I received my last discharge at Jefferson Barracks, MO, then under command of Gen. Atkinson.

The above concludes Mr. Roques' narrative.

The following additional particulars of his eventful life are added by his son. After his discharge at Jefferson Barracks, he moved to Carondelet, and from there to Jefferson County, where he lived with his family for several years. About the year 1830 he moved to Saint Louis and was known as the leader of the best band of drum musicians in the streets of the city and was leader of his famous drum corps. When the Mexican War broke out in 1846, still loving the profession of a soldier, he at once again volunteered and was mustered into the United States service at Camp Lucas. The volunteers were dressed in grey jeans and marched aboard the steam Sultana, in command of Col. R. Ruston, bound for New Orleans. After the arrival at Camp Algiers he was appointed drum major of this regiment, ordered to Port Isabal, and from there to Bureta and the Rip Grande, and then the regiment was ordered home and discharged in Saint Louis. From St. Louis he moved to Jefferson County, Missouri, where he died at the home of his eldest son on December 31st, 1857, having spent the flower of his days in the service of his country, and never having received one cent as a gratuity from the Government. of the United States. Even after his return from the Mexican War he was seen marching at the head of the band especially in the funeral prosession of some officers. Capt. Spere and Guibor remember him marching bent form almost doubled up, some ten paces in advance of the muscians. But the time of the old drummer had come and the last taps were sounded over his remains as they were borned to their last resting place in the cemetery at House Springs, Missouri, on the Rock Road to Hillsboro, 27 Miles from Saint Louis.

Why Here?

Alot of people have asked me, "Why did you choose this neighborhood?", or "Whats so special about Carondelet, and not these other culture rich areas of the city?"

Well, I believe, that these neighborhoods in Saint Louis all share a rich, fascinating history. Each is unique and tells its own individual tales of the past. I guess one reason of why I am drawn here, to Carondelet, is the fact that this is the first town in Missouri that the Roques family resided in.

Also, because Carondelet was not incorporated into Saint Louis City until the 1870's, there is alot more history here. Where we came from. Our stony bluff roots. The bluffs are in the buildings, the buildings are still standing. To me, this is different from downtown, original Saint Louis. This is where the city has sold itself to progress and has torn out the soul of the old town.
Turned its back to the river that once provided all life....

The Missouri Historical Socitey was kind enough to send me a typed Narrative of my ancestor, John Roques, who lived in here, and it explains his journies through the military and his time in Carondelet, Saint Louis, New Orleans, Mobile and Carondelet.

Though very fuzzy and hard to read, it provides some very interesting details into his life, and in all honesty, helps me discover more of who I am. John was a drum major and was the leader of the first band Saint Louis ever had. Ironically, I play music in Saint Louis today. A family joke throughout the years was about where I had gotten my musical ability from. My mom plays a little guitar, my grandparents are farmers.

Bloodlines still run deep, I guess.

Carondelet German Street Names

Even though Carondelet was founded with a primarily French-Creole population,
the waves of German immigrants left their mark on the city.
Here are some of the German street names that still exists today:

Eichelberger Street (E-W):
Originally named in an early platting of the Carondelet Commons in honor of Doctor George F. Eichelberger, a member of Carondelet's first city council. From Morganford Road to the River des Peres, it was Clark Road until 1881. (Marquette-Cherokee) (Oak Hill) (Southwest)

Espenschied Street (E-W):
Named for the Espenschied family, early German settlers in Carondelet who were famous as manufacturers of high quality covered wagons used to carry settlers to California. (Carondelet)

Germania Street (E-W):
Originally platted in the 1904 Helena Subdivision at 7300 Gravois, extending one block to Helvetia Street. Its location now is as an eastward extension along the north side of the River Des Peres Drainage Works from Gravois Avenue to Alabama Street. The name is a classical personality reference to the German nation. (Carondelet) (Morganford)

Koeln Street (E W):
Called V Street in early Carondelet and christened Vine Street in 1854 by city ordinance. It was renamed in 1882 to honor Christian Koeln, a Carondelet merchant who operated a general store at Main and Taylor streets after 1850. West of Virginia Avenue, it was originally Kirk Street. (Carondelet) (Morganford)

Nagel Avenue (E-W):
At first this was S Street, but it was renamed St. Louis Street in 1854. In 1881, it became Nagel Street to recognize Herman Nagel, a Carondelet hat merchant. (Carondelet) (Southwest)

Rauss Street (E-W):
Named O Street in old Carondelet and Olive Street in 1854. In 1881, its appellation was changed to honor John Krauss, a business man, tavern owner and director of the Home Mutual Insurance Company. (Carondelet)

Schirmer Street (E-W):
Named for Charles Schirmer, who was elected as a councilman from the Third Ward in the first Carondelet city election on April 9, 1851. This name was applied to that section of street between the wharf and Ivory Avenue. From Ivory west to Grand Avenue, this street bore the name of Menkens Street until 1881, when it was changed to Schirmer. (*Carondelet) (Morganford)

Steins Street (E-W):
Called Steins Street between the wharf and Michigan Avenue to honor Jacob Steins, an early German settler of Carondelet. He arrived in 1846 and in the ensuing years was influential in causing many Germans to settle in a section that came to be known as Stein's Town. From Michigan to Grand Avenue, Steins Street was known as Heavens Street until 1881. (Carondelet) (Morganford)

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