John McCullough enlisted on August 26, 1861, and was mustered into the 23rd Missouri Infantry as the regiment’s major. McCullough was also a member of the Missouri legislature, and was granted leaves of absence in order to serve with the regiment when the legislature was in session.

On April 6, 1862, while engaged at the Battle of Shiloh, McCullough was captured. He was held as a prisoner of war at Camp Oglethorpe, Macon, Georgia, until he was paroled on October 12, 1862.

In 1863, Major McCullough became ill with typhoid fever and died on October 7, 1863, at Rolla, Missouri.

Carte-de-Visite by F.A. Simonds, Chillicothe, Ohio

Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 31920