USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 35
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At Duck River, Tenn., Captain Dance, with the first battalion, consisting of Companies A, G, K and D, was directed to hold the fords, seven in number, at and near Columbia, "as long as possible," until orders came to retreat. This battalion held the fords until after the infantry had gone and the pursuing rebels had closed in around them, when Captain Dance, finding it impossible to get orders, and having a good knowledge of the country, undertook to pass through the en- emy's line, who were pursuing General Schofield's forces. By personating Major Williams, of Forrest's cavalry, and claiming to have been sent by Forrest to at- tack the "d-d Yankees," he was enabled during the night, to pass through the midst of the enemy, traveling six miles by the side of a rebel battery, and re- ported his command safely to General Johnson, who had given him up for lost.
The regiment joined in the attack upon Hood, at Nashville, and in the pur- suit of his forces out of Tennessee. They then went into quarters at Waterloo, Alabama, until the 15th of March, when they joined the Wilson raid through Alabama, and were mustered out at Macon, Ga.
Major John Dance, com. Capt. Co. K, Sept. 30, 1863, com. maj. Aug. 22, 1865, m. o. as a capt. before promotion.
COMPANY C.
Shurley, F. M., Aug. 15, 1863.
COMPANY K.
First Lieut. Jno. S. Robertson, e. as Ist. sergt. July II, 1863, captd. at New- man, Ga., July 30, 1864, com. Ist lieut. June 16, 1865.
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
Second Lieut. Smith H. Beeson, com. Sept. 30, 1863, resd. March 22, 1864.
Second Lieut. Jacob T. Haight, e. as Ist sergt., prmtd. 2nd lieut. March 23, 1864, m. o. May 15, 1865.
Second Lieut. Ephraim L. Beeson, com. Aug. 22, 1865, m. o. as regt. com. sergt. before promotion.
Corp. Giles Vanhooser, e. July 31, 1863.
Corp. A. D. Coleman, e. Aug. 11, 1863.
Farrier Wm. H. Ives, e. Aug. 15, 1863, wd. and captd. July 30, 1864, at Newman, Ga.
Wagoner Jacob Henning, e. Aug. 11, 1863.
Callahan, C. W., e. Aug. 19, 1863.
Collins, J. W., e. July 4, 1863.
Craighead, Jas. S., e. July 16, 1863.
Edmiston, E. C., e. Aug. 24, 1863.
Frisbie, David C., e. Aug. 5, 1863.
Gillilan, Delaney, e. Aug. 25, 1863.
Grewell, Daniel T., e. Aug. 11, 1863.
Harris, Hiram, e. Aug. 8, 1863.
Hawley, I. G., e. Aug. 23, 1863.
Johnson, Jos. S., e. Aug. 11, 1863, wd. July 29, 1864, at Lovejoy Station.
Kisenger, Philip, e. Aug. 10, 1863, captd. July 30, 1864, at Newman, Ga., died March 25, 1865, at Annapolis, Md.
Long, Alfred, R., e. Aug. 24, 1863.
Lyons, Morris, e. Aug. 5, 1863.
Macy, Cyrus F., e. Aug. 11, 1863, wd. and captd. July 30, 1864, at Newman, Ga., died Oct. 29, 1865, at Davenport.
Millett, Wm. W., e. Aug. 10, 1863.
Pruitt, Thos., e. Aug. 11, 1863.
Rider, David O., e. Aug. 18, 1863, died Oct. 29, 1863, at Davenport.
Rucker, Samuel, e. Aug. 15, 1863.
Schooley, I. N., e. July 10, 1863.
Slater, Geo., e. Aug. 10, 1863.
Smith, Jno. C., e. Aug. 23, 1863.
Ward, Jas., Sr., e. July 16, 1863.
Ward, Jas., Jr., e. July 16, 1863.
Wright, Wm. T., e. Aug. 19, 1863, captd. July 30, 1864, at Florence, S. C. Wright, V. H., e. Aug. 6, 1863.
Young, L. D., e. Sept. 1, 1863.
NINTH CAVALRY.
COMPANY D.
Capt. John W. Farmer, e. as sergt. Oct. 3, 1863, com. Ist lieut. March 9, 1865, prmtd. capt. Jan. 1, 1865, com. revoked, m. o. Feb. 28, 1866.
Farrier Basil H. Wiggins, e. Oct. 1, 1863.
Freeman, Hull, e. Oct. 12, 1863, disd. April 25, 1864, disab.
407
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
COMPANY E.
Chapman, Wm. H., e. Sept. 15, 1863.
COMPANY G.
Q. M. S. Jackson D. Mitchell, e. Sept. 1, 1863.
Clark, D. W., e. Sept. 26, 1863.
McCroskey, C. B., e. Oct. 1, 1863, died Sept. 5, 1864, at Duvall's Bluff, Ark.
Snyder, Henry, e. Oct. 1, 1862.
Tiller, T. J., e. Sept. 25, 1863.
Van Meter, Wm. L., e. Oct. 1, 1863.
MISCELLANEOUS CAVALRY.
FIRST CAVALRY.
Blood, Albion, e. Oct. 13, 1864, disd. Sept. I, 1865, disab.
Dwigans, R. C., e. Oct. 5, 1864, m. o. Feb. 15, 1866.
Dwigans, Jos., e. Oct. 5, 1864, m. o. Feb. 15, 1866.
Wingrove, e. Oct. 13, 1864, m. o. Feb. 15, 1866. Bray, Wm. H., e. Sept. 12, 1862, m. o. Feb. 15, 1866.
Willford, Johnathan, e. Jan. 5, 1864, m. o. Feb. 15, 1866.
Cunningham, W. H. H., e. July 18, 1861, disd. March 24, 1863, disab.
Potter, Henry C., e. Jan. 1, 1864, m. o. Feb. 15, 1866.
Ford, Johnathan, e. Oct. 5, 1864, m. o. Feb. 15, 1866.
Gillett, Ed. P., e. March 30, 1864, m. o. Feb. 15, 1866.
SECOND CAVALRY.
McDonald, David, e. July 30, 1861, disd. Dec. 18, 1862, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865. Smith, R. B., e. Sept. 17, 1862, re-e. as vet. Jan. 1, 1864, prmtd. to Q. M. sergt, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
Chase, Ed., e. Feb. 13, 1864, m. o: Sept. 19, 1865.
Leech, Lewis, e. Feb. 13, 1864, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
Sergt. Seth Hartzell, e. Sept. 1, 1861, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
Corp. John B. Kelly, e. Sept. 1, 1861, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
Hilburt, J. J., e. Aug. 14, 1861, died at St. Louis, Jan. 12, 1862.
Scales, Jas., e. Aug. 14, 1861, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
Safley, J. W., e. March I, 1864, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
Simmons, Wm. H., e. March 31, 1864, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
Ferguson, Daniel B., e. Aug. 16, 1861, re-e. as vet. March 1, 1864, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865. Schroeder, August, e. Aug. 24, 1861, re-e. as vet. March 1, 1864, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
Q. M. S. Eugene Rigby, e. Aug. 30, 1861, re-e. as vet. March I, 1864, disd. June 25, 1865.
Sergt. Geo. Heppenstall, e. Sept. 21, 1861, re-e. as vet. March 1, 1865, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
408
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
Corp. I. M. Smith, e. Sept. 3, 1861, died at Farmington July 15, 1862.
Saddler Jas. Walters, e. Aug. 30, 1861, re-e. as vet. March 1, 1864.
Embree, B. J., e. Aug. 30, 1861, re-e. as vet. March 1, 1864, captd. at Palo Alto, Miss., April 21, 1863, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
Gould, F. T., e. Aug. 30, 1861, re-e. as vet. March 1, 1864, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
Morfeitt, Wm., e. Aug. 30, 1861, re-e. as vet. March 1, 1864.
Crammer, Wm., e. Aug. 30, 1861, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
James, Hiram, e. Aug. 30, 1862, disd. Sept. 16, 1862, disab.
Varner, Harvey, e. Aug. 30, 1861, re-e. as vet. March I, 1864, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
Hammond, Josiah W., e. Feb., 1865, m. o. Sept., 1865.
Leech, Chas., e. Feb., 1865, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
Crozer, Chas. e. Feb., 1865, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
Corp. M. L. Simmons, e. Sept., 1861, re-e. as vet., m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
Sergt. Morrean Carroll, e. Aug., 1861, re-e. as vet., m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
Davidson, Jas. W., e. Sept., 1861, prisr. of war, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865. Mann, Jas., e. Sept., 1861, re-e. as vet., wd. Dec. 17, 1864.
Finley, John, e. Dec., 1861, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
Wade, John F., e. Sept., 1861, disd. March 6, 1863.
Montgomery, John, e. Sept., 1865, wd., disd.
Gill, Davis H., e. Dec., 1863, m. o. Sept., 1865.
Varney, Allen, e. July, 1862, wd. near Prairie Station.
Corp. E. B. Chamberlain, e. Aug. 14, 1861, died Nov. 9, 1863.
Corp. Patrick O'Hara, e. Aug. 21, 1861, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
Gill, John B., e. Aug. 14, 1861, died at Corinth Oct. 1, 1862.
Morgan, Richard, e. Aug. 14, 1861, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
Speakman, T. J., e. Aug. 14, 1861, disd. Sept. 29, 1862. Burleston, R. G., e. Aug. 12, 1864, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
James, Jesse, e. March 23, 1864, wd. Nov. 29, 1864, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
Leech, John, e. March 23, 1864, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
Smith, E. P., e. Oct. 1, 1864, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
Smith, H. L., e. Oct. 1, 1864, m. o. Sept. 19, 1865.
THIRD CAVALRY.
White, John, e. Jan. 1, 1864, m. o. Aug. 9, 1865.
FOURTH CAVALRY.
Morrison, Wm. S., e. Sept. 14, 1861, re-e. as vet. Dec. 14, 1863, m. o. Aug. 10, 1865.
Ferguson, Hugh, e. Oct. 1, 1864, m. o. Aug. 10, 1865.
Miller, Jos. H., e. Oct. 1, 1864, m. o. Aug. 10, 1865. Safley, Jas. F., e. Sept. 28, 1864, m. o. Aug. 10, 1865. Safley, John H., e. Sept. 28, 1864, m. o. Aug. 10, 1865.
409
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
SIXTH CAVALRY.
Com. Sergt. Wm. W. Clark, e. Sept. 26, 1862, m. o. Oct. 17, 1865. Sweet, Wm. W., e. Nov. II, 1862, m. o. Oct. 17, 1865. Vericis, Antonio, e. Nov. 12, 1862, disd. Wright, Homer, e. Oct. 13, 1862, disd.
Roberts, Wallace, e. Feb. 18, 1863, m. o. Oct. 17, 1865. Flattas, David, e. Nov. 21, 1863, m. o. Oct. 17, 1865. McKinley, Wm., e. Oct. 7, 1863, m. o. Oct. 17, 1865.
Quinn, John, e. Dec. 19, 1862, m. o. Oct. 17, 1865. Scott, Thos. H., e. Dec. 25, 1862, m. o. Oct. 17, 1865.
Thompson, Francis, e. March 5, 1863, m. o. Oct. 17, 1865. Corp. E. M. Stanton, e. Aug. 15, 1862, m. o. Oct. 17, 1865. Corp. Ed. Hall, e. Aug. 15, 1862, m. o. Oct. 17, 1865. Curran, Mathew, e. Aug. 15, 1862, m. o. Oct. 17, 1865. Downing, Henry, e. Dec. 18, 1862, m. o. Oct. 17, 1865. Fern, Thos., e. Aug. 13, 1862, m. o. Oct. 17, 1865. Green, Patrick, e. Aug. 17, 1862, m. o. Oct. 17, 1865. Carroll, Vincent, e. Sept. 29, 1864, m. o. Oct. 17, 1865. Coleman, John, e. Oct. 3, 1864, m. o. Oct. 17, 1865. Dolan, Thos., e. Sept. 29, 1864, m. o. Oct. 17, 1865. Franks, E. H., e. Oct. 3, 1864, m. o. Oct. 17, 1865. Lewis, Jas. W., e. Sept. 28, 1864, m. o. Oct. 17, 1865. Mclaughlin, Jas., e. Oct. 3, 1864, m. o. Oct. 17, 1865.258
ABBREVIATIONS.
Adjt., adjutant. Art., artillery.
Bat., battle or battalion. Col., colonel.
Capt., captain. Corp., corporal.
Comsy., commissary.
Com., commissioned. Cav., cavalry. Captd., captured. Desrtd., deserted.
Disab., disabled. Disd., Discharged® E., enlisted.
Excd., exchanged. Inf., infantry. Inv., invalid.
I. V. I., Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Kld., killed.
Lieut., lieutenant.
Maj., major.
M. O., mustered out.
Prmtd., promoted.
Prisr., prisoner.
Regt., regiment.
Re-e., re-enlisted.
Res., resigned.
Sergt., sergeant. Trans., transferred. Vet., veteran.
V. R. C., Veteran Reserve Corps. Wd., wounded. Hon. disd., honorably discharged.
SECTION X.
JOHN BROWN IN CEDAR COUNTY.
Volumes have been written about this man whose name is forever associated with the history of this county. His history, in a general way, is known to some extent by almost everyone, but few are really concerned with the nearer history of this man in Iowa and in our own immediate vicinity. Some material in this chapter is first hand, sent directly to the editor from one immediately concerned in the living events of that time. They are much alive when one of the survivors of that interesting band will now give in his own way a descrip- tion of what occurred and an idea of the character of the men whom he knew personally. Such personal accounts have not been heretofore published and the full text is given as we proceed through this chapter. No attempt will be made to cover a history of John Brown, only the portion relating to this immediate vicinity and that which came just before and after, in this way preserving as near as possible what has been written and any original matter that may be procured. One must be indebted to many sources in such summaries and the references explain these.
"It was about the close of the presidential campaign of 1856 that Brown first visited Iowa City and the Pedee settlement. He was then on his way east from Kansas and was accompanied by one of his sons."260 The reasons for his com- ing through the territory are probably more than one. The article quoted above goes on to say that, "The Hon. W. Penn Clarke (1866, colonel and paymaster in the army) was the member of the Kansas National Committee for Iowa, and his residence was in Iowa City, making this town the chief headquarters west of the Mississippi for those who were Kansas sympathizers. To this point, money, arms, clothing, and other supplies were forwarded for distribution to those engaged in Kansas relief. After leaving Grinnell, where he always found a welcome, Brown's next point of safety was found at Pedee in Iowa township, this county. He might be supplied with what he happened to need in Iowa City, but his safety could never be depended upon since many were ready to deliver him up to the authorities if opportunity offered. It was in October, 1856, that Brown alighted from his mule in front of the 'Travelers' Rest,' which was the name of the little frame tavern kept by James Townsend
410
LUKE F. PARSONS, SALINA, KANSAS The only survivor of the John Brown Bond at Springdale, 1857-8, and of the fight at Ossawatomie, Kansas
413
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
in West Branch, then a small village on the west line of Springdale township. Brown asked the landlord if he had ever heard of John Brown of Kansas, after which simple introduction the landlord proceeded to chalk John Brown's hat and mule, so that both were afterward on the free list at the 'Travelers' Rest.' As the story is told an X was placed on Brown's hat, two XX's on his back and one finally on the back of the mule. Some say that a mutual exchange of enter- tainment by thrilling stories from Brown for food and shelter may be surmised. As for the mule he liked his treatment so well that he continued to reside in the Pedee settlement until his history is lost, beyond the fact that he was the most petted and pampered mule in the settlement, the envied of all for ease and con- tentment at the home of J. H. Painter, of Springdale." "Brown was in the Springdale settlement several times from '56 to '59, but the principal events occur during his later visits. These visits to Pedee settlement generally had a two-fold object-promotion of the Kansas Free State cause and the concealment of negroes, but his last visits were made chiefly with a view to perfecting his plans for a military expedition, accumulating arms, drilling his men, and taking measures for making this region a sort of base of operations preliminary to the attack on Harper's Ferry in 1859, which, according to his plan as found later, was one year after the time scheduled."
Early in the winter of '57-'58 Brown for the fifth time visited the Quaker settlements of Cedar County determined, as it now appears, to spend the winter there in preparation for his Harper's Ferry raid, the plan of which he then disclosed to some of his trusted friends-James Townsend, John H. Painter, Dr. H. C. Gill, Wm. Maxson, and probably others. On this occasion he was accompanied by his band, consisting of the following: His son Owen, A. D. Stevens, John Kagi, John E. Cook, Richard Realf, Chas. W. Moffatt, Luke F. Parsons, Chas. H. Tidd, Wm. Leeman and Richard Richardson, the latter a colored man, who with his wife and three children had made his escape from slavery in Missouri. Stevens had been an enlisted man in the United States regular service, and getting into an altercation with a commissioned officer (Colonel Longstreet, said to be the same General Longstreet of the Confederate army) he was court-martialed and sentenced to be shot, but escaping had joined Brown. Kagi, Brown's favorite, was about thirty years old and a native of Virginia. He had a fair education, was a ready speaker, and an excellent sten- ographer. Realf was the poet, claiming to have been a protege of Lady Noel Byron, widow of the poet, and to have left England for participating in the chartist riots in 1848. During the Kansas war he was a correspondent for the New York Tribune." (He was one who failed to appear at Harper's Ferry.) The sketches of these followers of Brown are given more fully farther on by one of their associates at Springdale, Luke F. Parsons.
Besides those who came from Kansas with Brown a number joined him from the county. Among these were Geo. B. Gill, Coppock brothers, Edwin and Barclay, and Stewart Taylor. Gill became the "secretary of the treasury" in Brown's provisional government. He was detached from the party in Can- ada and returning to his home seems to have no further connection with the expedition.
414
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
"Brown quartered his men during the winter at the home of Wm. Maxson, three miles northeast of Springdale, in the house now known in all the sur- rounding country as the first cement or gravel house ever built in this state. Mr. Maxson bought the farm on which it stands from the government in 1839, and this house was built in 1849. Here Brown's men were trained for the projected raid. Brown himself had his quarters at the home of John H. Painter, about a mile distant, and the men were under the immediate command of Stevens, who was drill master.
"Each hour of the twenty-four had its particular duty. The men were re- quired to rise at five in the morning and drill and study alternated during the daylight hours. With the exception of Tuesday and Friday, when regular de- bates were assigned and all required to attend, their evenings were spent much as they pleased.
"In the mock legislature one of the sons of William Maxson remembers that he served as the honorable member from Cedar County. The sessions were held in the large sitting room of the Maxsons or in the district school building, a mile and a half away. There were the usual officers, a speaker, clerk of the house and regular standing committees. Bills were introduced, referred, re- ported back, debated with earnestness and no little ability, and finally brought to a vote. Kagi was the keenest debater and Realf and Cook orators of consider- able power. 261
"The other evenings were spent at homes in the neighborhood. There were the Painters, the Lewises, the Varneys, the Gills, that could be visited; or Rich- ard Realf had consented to address the lyceum at Pedee, and all Springdale was going to hear him; this in part for the pleasure of hearing so good a speaker, but more perhaps because of the anti-slavery views to which he would doubt- less give utterance to the amazement and scandal of those who were not in harmony with his views.
"Brown himself did not remain at Springdale during the entire winter, but soon went east to find and send back Forbes (whom he had expected to drill the men), to raise more money, and to confer with others. Before going he took occasion to consult with his friends, Maxson, Gill, and Painter. What he disclosed to them is substantially the same as disclosed to Gerrett Smith and F. B. Sanborn at Peterboro, N. Y .- a scheme to invade Virginia. He intimated to Gill at least, that the point of invasion would be Harper's Ferry.
"These men endeavored to dissuade him from such an attempt, Mr. Maxson on more than one occasion sitting far into the night contending with Brown on the practicability of his scheme. Brown was unchanged, his faith in his band and his belief in his own mission left him still determined.
"The persons who harbored and with money and counsel assisted John Brown on the several occasions when he visited Iowa City and the Pedee or Springdale settlement, and to whom we are indetbed for the facts of this imperfectly written narrative (1866), are citizens of the highest respectability, and some of the most eminent standing as will be seen from the mention of their names, and they all, though far from approving the chief act of his life which has made Brown's name historic, believed him to be actuated by the highest motives." 262
BARCLAY COPPOCK
EDWIN COPPOCK
417
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
At the time John Brown's men were staying at Springdale there were living with their mother in the village in a quaint frame house yet standing the Coppock brothers, mentioned on a previous page. They were young men of strong char- acter, but it seems one was not strong physically and had found it necessary to travel, having served for a time in Kansas with a company of liberators. They both took much interest in Brown and his men and finally enlisted under his leadership.263
On April 27th, Brown returned from the East with some funds in hand and more promised, and gave orders for the expedition to move. He wrote to his wife, "We start today from here and shall write you again when we stop, which will be in two or three days." The immediate destination of the band proved to be Chatham, Canada. The leave-taking at Springdale was an emotional one. Ties which had been knitting through many weeks were sundered. The future was in doubt and the consciousness that great danger threatened the party intensified the sorrow. Before quitting the home of Wm. Maxson, where they had spent so long a time, each of Brown's men wrote his name in pencil on the wall of the parlor, where the writing could at a time quite recent be seen by the inter- ested traveler. The part of the wall where the names were written was protected by a door opening against it, and to this cause doubtless is chiefly due the preser- vation of the writing for so long a time. The old house, as shown in the picture, is still standing but for a good while has been unoccupied. It is falling into decay, yet is full of interest. The boundaries of the old drill ground can still be made out by patient attention. Old evergreen trees still shade the structure on all sides. The path that formerly led to the front door is grass grown and ob- structed, but still can be traced between the two large lilac bushes that today stand on either side of it as in Brown's day. The large west front room in which the mock assembly was held is now used as a store room. Then the commodious kitchen, where the meals were served by Mrs. Maxson-a woman as resolute in her abolitionism as was her husband in his. This old kitchen was on the north of the house. And the small attic bedroom where Owen Brown used to practice his short-hand, which he was learning from Kagi, and where all the band slept. The cellar of the old house is hardly less interesting than the house itself, for in it in the days of slavery, the owner was constantly hiding small parties of fugitive negroes from Missouri. The fireplace, by which it was made comfortable in winter, may still be seen, but it is not now in working order.
The events that took place in Canada and subsequent abandonment of the attack in 1858 are told in the account of Luke F. Parsons.
The last visit of Brown to Springdale occurred in 1859 on February 25th on his return from Kansas where he had gone after the postponement of the attack in Virginia. He was then accompanied by a party of negroes captured in Mis- souri. He had brought them thus far through Iowa by the help of friends, and found a safe place for the time at his former headquarters. He was in danger from capture from an organized force in Iowa City and by the United States Marshal. Kagi and Stephens disguised as sportsmen walked to Iowa City and se- cured aid from the Wm. Penn Clarke mentioned before. By strategy a freight car was secured, brought to West Liberty, six miles from Springdale, and the
418
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
negroes put aboard after much excitement and some apprehension on the part of those immediately concerned.
In this connection it is sufficient to say that Brown and his party escaped safely into Canada by the aid of Allan Pinkerton, the famous Chicago detective. Brown continued his journey east and after a hurried trip back to Ohio and soon into Pennsylvania. On July 3 he and his two sons, Owen and Oliver, were at Harper's Ferry where they met Cook. On July 15th, Brown wrote Edwin and Barclay Coppock at Springdale requesting that they join him at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. On July 25 Barclay Coppock said to his mother, "We are going to start for Ohio today." "Ohio," said the mother, "I believe you are going with Old Brown, when you get the halters round your neck, will you think of me?"
C. W. Moffatt, who had returned to Springdale, received the following from Kagi: "We hear that a warrant has been issued to search our house (in Virginia on the Kennedy farm), so we must move eight days sooner than we had intended. Start at once, study map, will try to hold out until you come."
In November Mrs. Ann Coppock received a letter from her son Edwin. It was dated Charlestown, Va., and told briefly of his capture. It ended with these words : "Give my love to Briggs' and Maxson's folks and to all other inquiring friends for of such I feel that I have a large circle, and I trust that what I have done will not make them my enemies. My love to all the family, no more." About the same time Dr. Gill received a letter which read as follows: "What- ever may be our fate, rest assured that we shall not shame our dead comrades by a shrinking fear." After his trial on December 16, Coppock wrote to Mr. J. H. Painter : "Today we have received a box of knick-knacks from Philadelphia, and some of the citizens around here send us in a pie now and then, so you see we live fat, but it is only fattening up for the gallows-a poor consolation."264 His last words were to an uncle in Ohio: "I have heard my sentence passed, my doom is sealed, but two brief days between me and eternity. At the end of these two days I shall stand upon the scaffold. But that scaffold has little dread for me, for I honestly believe I am innocent of any crime justifying such pun- ishment." The following is of extraordinary interest: "Dear Elza, Farewell. Edwin Coppock." This was addressed to a son of Wm. Maxson, but he did not receive this message until Edwin Coppock had been in his grave for twenty-six years. The reasons are given as follows: When Coppock left Springdale for Harper's Ferry he took a picture of his friend, an ambrotype, with him. The picture could be removed from the case and just before his execution, Edwin Coppock removed the picture and wrote on the back where it was accustomed to rest the message quoted. Replacing the picture it was placed among his personal effects and returned to his mother. By chance the picture remained in the pos- session of Mrs. Coppock until her death. Among other matter considered as unimportant it was thrown in a corner of the Coppock house and forgotten. It happened one day that Mr. Maxson, to whom it originally belonged, came upon it, and "under some peculiar spell," as Mr. Richman says, "opened the case to find the message after so many years."
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