Private Alonzo W. Thornton was born March 23, 1834 to Clark Kendrick Thornton and Elizabeth (Rayle) Thornton. In 1862 Alonzo enlisted in the Union Army serving with Company A, 27th Iowa Infantry.

Early Life: Alonzo was born to Clark Kendrick Thornton and Elizabeth Rayle on March 23, 1834 in Mansfield, Richland Co., Ohio. He married Eliza Jane Minnick, daughter of Adam Minnick and Elizabeth (Guntner) Minnick, on July 12, 1855 in Finley, Hancock, Ohio. To this union eight children were born.

The War of the Rebellion: In 1861, Alonzo moved his family from Hancock, Ohio to Postville, Iowa. Upon settling in Allamakee County, Alonzo enlisted August 11, 1862 and was mustered Sept. 3, 1862. The Iowa 27th fought in many battles including Prairie Grove, Little Rock, Fort De Russy, Pleasant Hill, Yellow Bayou, Tupelo, Oldtown Creek, Nashville, and Blakely. On April 9, 1864 Private Thornton was shot in the neck and jaw while participating in the Battle of Pleasant Hill. He was left for dead on the battlefield. His commanding officer listed him as killed in action.

HDQRS. TWENTY-SEVENTH REGT. IOWA VOL. INFY., Grand Ecore, La., April 11, 1864.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report the following list of casualties in the Twenty-seventh Regiment Iowa Infantry Volunteers at the battle of Pleasant Hill, April 9, 1864, together with remarks:

About 10 a.m. we were ordered into line. Moved 1 ½ miles on the road to Shreveport and took position on the left center of the brigade, in the advance line, relieving the Fifteenth Maine Volunteer Infantry. Our line was established in the edge of a thick wood. Our men were ordered to lie down. An open field lay to our front. Company B was immediately thrown out as skirmishers. Firing was quite brisk among the skirmishers until 3.30 p.m., the enemy's skirmishers appearing at times and falling back. At 3.30 p.m. the enemy advanced in force. Our skirmishers fought well until overpowered and driven in. Immediately they resumed their place in the regiment, when the enemy steadily approached in strong columns. At this point a bold cavalry charge was made by the enemy along the Shreveport road. Our men remained quiet until they had approached to within short range, when a full volley was fired into the rebel ranks. The effect was telling. Riders reeled and fell senseless. Horses were struck as dead as if a bolt of heaven had riven the very air. The scene was an appalling one. Scarcely a man who made that charge but met death on the spot. The enemy had moved up on the left of the advance line in strong force. The line had already broken away to the left, and news came from my left that the enemy was flanking us. Already they were firing in our rear. Several shots had taken effect in the ranks of Companies B and G. The enemy advanced in our front in solid columns. We met them with a determined fire. Volley after volley was fired into their ranks. For two hours the rattle of musketry was incessant and deafening. Several shot and a number of shell struck immediately by us, bursting and wounding a number of men. About 5.30 p.m. the order was given to retire, but was not received by me until other regiments had retired, leaving both flanks of my regiment greatly exposed. We fell back in good order and in line until the enemy was discovered to be flanking us, when the line was broken, and we escaped through a narrow passage, the enemy pouring a sharp fire upon both flanks, and closing in rapidly on our rear. At this point a large part of those reported in the following list were killed or wounded.(*) We immediately formed line in the rear of supporting column and awaited orders.

I am well pleased with the conduct of the men on that occasion. I would like to mention the names of some of the officers and soldiers who distinguished themselves, but all conducted themselves so bravely and so well that I refrain from mentioning any save Capt. J. M. Holbrook, Company F, who, after having received a severe wound, led his company with distinguished gallantry until a second severe wound was received, and the regiment had reformed in the rear of the supporting column.

I have the honor to be, captain, very respectfully,

JAS. I. GILBERT, Colonel, Commanding Regiment.

Capt. C. T. GRANGER, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

Killed in Action – Privates Alonzo Thornton, Co. A., shot in neck; John Travis, Co. D., shot in chest; Curtis C. Peers, Co. F., shot in head; William J. Pardee, Co. I, shot in head.

Wounded in Action—Colonel James I. Gilbert, left hand, slight.

Capt. Jospeh M. Holbrook, Co. F., right hip, slight, and left arm, severe.

1st Lieuts. Jedediah W. Granger, Co. A., left shoulder, slight, and right hip, slight; Samuel O. Smith, Co. B., left lung, mortal, left in hospital on field; Frank A. Brush, Co. K., left leg, severe, left in hospital on field.

Sergts. George W. Griswold, Co. B., right chest and right shoulder, severe; William M. Allyn, Co. E., left foot, slight; Charles O Torrey, Co. F., right hip, severe; Robert Beck, Co. G., left side head, severe, left on the field. George C. Wood, Co. I, left leg, severe.

Corpls, Andrew J. Patterson, C. A, left leg severe; Lucius Dickens, Co. B., right hip, slight; Charles D. Kitcherer, Co. E., left thigh, severe; John T. Benson, Co. E., right hand, slight; Harrison H. Love, Co. H., severe, left on the field; Hans Johnson, Co. I, right leg, severe, left on the field.

P.O.W.: Private Thornton was found alive by Rebel Soldiers and was taken prisoner of war to Camp Ford, Texas. Camp Ford, being one of the more compassionate P.O.W. camps, nursed his wounds. In June of 1864, Alonzo was released on prisoner exchange. He was mustered out Aug. 8, 1865, Clinton, Iowa.

Later Years: Alonzo was a resident to remainder of his life as a farm hand in Postville, Iowa. He passed away June 13, 1904. His wife Eliza died June 13, 1916.

Alonzo Thornton Obituary: Alonzo Thornton was born in Mansfield, Ohio, March 23, 1834, and died at Hardin, Iowa, June 13, 1904, after a lingering illness, aged 70 years, two months, and 20 days. He was married to Eliza Minnick, July 12, 1855. Of this union was born eight children, two of whom preceded their father to the better land. They had 22 grandchildren. A. Thornton enlisted in the war of the Rebellion in 1862 as a private in Co. A, 27th Iowa Inf. Vol. He was sorely wounded at Pleasant Hill, was taken prisoner of war and confined in rebel prisons. For many years he was a resident of Postville, and his face was familiar to all. And thus has another of the "old guard" answered the final call, and another name has been enscrolled on the book of a nation's honored dead.

The funeral was held from the Hardin M.E. Church Wednesday afternoon and was largely attneded. Interment in the Minert cemetery.

Sources: Postville Review(Iowa) newspaper, June 1904 The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I--Volume XXXIV--In Four Parts. Part 1--Reports. Page 362-363 History of Richland County, Ohio