Josiah Temple became the paid substitute for former Company D Captain William Watson. Taking money to fight for another man became symbolic of the life Temple would lead. He became a lawyer, politician, and temperance advocate, but beneath the surface, he was a con man and a crook. He was forced to move repeatedly as his legal and ethical lapses hounded him, until he ended up in Minnesota as a candidate for the state Supreme Court. Listen to the trailer for "The Intolerant Life of Josiah Temple" and hear the full episode on January 28, 2026.
What is Company D?
Company D brings the American Civil War to life through the eyes of citizen-soldiers. One Regiment. One Company. Countless stories of courage, sacrifice, and betrayal—exposing the human toll of a war that transformed the United States.