USA > Iowa > Polk County > Des Moines > Des Moines, the pioneer of municipal progress and reform of the middle West, together with the history of Polk County, Iowa, the largest, most populous and most prosperous county in the state of Iowa; Volume I > Part 26
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3 Indiana, Illinois and Iowa.
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City, was chief marshal, Revs. E. W. Peet and Thompson Bird were chaplains ; Judge J. H. Gray was orator of the day. A big parade preceded the gathering.
Des Moines Guards, a cavalry organization, reorganized and officered by Captain H. H. Griffiths; First Lieutenant, W. S. Simmons; Second Lieutenant, Isaac Whicher, were duly accepted by Col. G. M. Dodge of the Second Iowa Cavalry, and ordered to be in rendezvous at Council Bluffs by the 20th of July. The company was sworn in July 4. A recruiting station was opened the same day on Capitol square. The company started for Council Bluffs July 17.
A correspondent of the Gate City, July 10, wrote that Major Crocker was in command of the Second regiment, in the absence of Colonel Tuttle. "There is no better officer then Crocker in the service. His voice, like the roaring of many waters, can be heard above the din of small arms-a proof that he is not near dead." To the Register of July 24, '61, this was good news "from our fellow citizen, who but a few months since, was supposed to be treading on the margin of the grave. 'Camp life and fighting secessionists have accomplished wonders for the physical restoration of Major Crocker."
A detachment of the Des Moines Guards started for its rendezvous in Council Bluffs on the 16th of July, and next day the remainder followed. The Register noting their departure, said, "Another void is left in our community through the stern necessity of war."
James A. Williamson, lawyer, editor, politician and capitol-location pro- moter, caught the war-spirit in the summer of '61 and organized a company for the Fourth Iowa.
As the sun neared the horizon line in the early evening of July 17, an event occurred which lingers fondly in the memory of many a citizen of Des Moines. The Des Moines cavalrymen on their way to Council Bluffs, lined up in front of the old Savery block on Walnut street, and the patriotic ladies of the Capital city, through their spokesman, F. C. D. Mckay, Esq., presented the company with a beautiful flag of their own making. In the absence of Captain Griffiths, Lieutenant Whicher feelingly responded. In the course of his brief response he emphasized the point, generally made prominent at the outset, that the war was waged not against any institution in the South but solely to put down armed rebellion.
A second cavalry company organized in Des Moines about this time, for detail on the western frontier, was officered by John Mitchell, captain; A. B. Miller, first lieutenant and H. M. Bush, second lieutenant. The names of the men published July 17, include many of the then well known citizens of Des Moines. 4
The Cass County Gazette of July 20 chronicles the transit of Captain Grif- fiths' company through the town of Lewis. It reports the company as num- bering 108 men, "all muscular, dashing young fellows, who will not be afraid to march up to the mouth of the enemy's cannon," adding: "Des Moines may well be proud of her representatives in the Union army."
Captain Graves's Cavalry company were in August accepted by the Second Cavalry. The captain was a fine officer, having received a military education in Germany and in the Mexican war.
Surgeon Rawson of the Second Iowa,, writing home from the front early in August, acknowledged the receipt of quilts, sheets, shirts, eye-shades, etc., donated for hospital use.
About the middle of August, Mrs. J. A. Moore of Des Moines received one
4 The published list is as follows: John Mitchell, captain: A. B. Miller, H. M. Bush, John Tyler, Samuel Adams, Joel M. Walker, A. M. Newton, William Mitchell, James Bran- non, William Murray, Frank Cockerel, A. D. Walker, Charles Warner, J. C. Gregg, S. Stutsman, R. W. Cross, G. W. Cleveland, L. S. Martin, J. Wright, John Wright, Ed. Din- widdie, John Byrone, Rhodes Swinn, L. P. Baker, Frank Rudge, J. Church, J. Swift, A. Stebbins. George Lunn, G. W. Snyder, H. Y. Smith, T. J. Saylor, S. S. Griffith, J. H. Dourn. W. H. M. Smith, J. G. Balen, J. W. Gill, L. Haskins, S. P. Lodenburger, Samuel Noel, C. P. Reinig, Dr. Skinner.
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of those trying letters which many a tender-hearted comrade was compelled to write from the field. Captain Griffiths wrote that "while on the steamboat Sucker State, on the 13th, about ten miles below Hannibal, the cry was raised, 'A man overboard !' The accident occurred in the night. The boat was stopped but the unfortunate man was not seen afterward. The boat was so crowded with soldiers, that the name of the missing man was not known till next morn- ing. In response to the roll call, every man appeared but Mr. Moore."
He adds: "This is and has been to me a great loss and to the whole com- pany. Mr. Moore was commissary sergeant, and through his efficient and willing hands, all our subsistence passed. His duties were numerous and ardu- ous-in fact he was the hardest working man in the company."
Robert Allen, sergeant in Captain Mills's company, and a nephew of B. F. Allen, was in August promoted to second lieutenant in the first dragoons, U. S. army
A meeting was held on the 22d of August in Griffiths' block to organize a company under the militia law of the state, and 53 names were enrolled. At a subsequent meeting Isaac Brandt was chosen captain; C. A. Mosier, first lieutenant; and James Hall, second lieutenant. It was designed to have the company uniformed, armed and equipped and thoroughly drilled "ready to enter the field whenever called upon by the government."
The Des Moines Greys, a new military company "formed for home pur- poses" met on the 19th of August at the M. E. church, the company numbering 65. It organized as follows : Captain, M. V. Mckinney; First Lieutenant, D. Kooser; Second Lieutenant, L. T. Filson ; Orderly Sergeant, D. D. Skinner ; Second Sergeant, J. Osfield; Third Sergeant, William Deford; Fourth Sergeant, James Simington; First Corporal, H. Smith; Second Corporal, J. H. Given ; Third Corporal, George Entwistle; Fourth Corporal, Z. Hunt.
The Des Moines Rifles is the name of a company organized in Des Moines in August, for service at the front with R. Lusby, captain; Jule Bausman, first lieutenant ; N. Curl, second lieutenant; and John W. Gill, orderly sergeant. The company hoped to be in active service within thirty days.
David M. Sells, son of the Secretary of State, was in August promoted to a second lieutenancy in the Second Iowa.
Dwight Fenn, of Captain Mills's company was in August detailed to bring home to Des Moines a younger brother of Madison Young, the pioneer lawyer, also William, son of Rev. Thompson Bird, both discharged because of protracted illness.
The streets of Des Moines witnessed many stirring events during that his- toric summer. Take a single day as an illustration. On Monday, August 26, the Boone county company, Captain Berry in command, arrived in the city, all "anxious to see service." That same day Captain Henderson's company arrived from Warren county, numbering 10I men. They left in detachments on the two days following.
In 1861 Des Moines was the scene of a fierce contention between the loyal and the so-called "copperhead" wings of the Democratic party in Iowa. On the 24th of July, the Democrats met in State Convention, and nominated Charles Mason for governor. The convention in its platform resolved that the authori- zation of "War and Defense bonds" to the amount of $800,000 made at the special session of the General Assembly was "unauthorized by the Constitution."
Another resolution put the convention' on record as "irreconcilably opposed to all paper money banking" characterizing it as "legalized swindling." This, at a time when the state was looking to the several branches of the State Bank for funds with which to put soldiers into the field, resulted in such demorali- zation that Judge Mason, who had accepted the nomination for governor, saw fit to retire. Colonel Merritt, of Des Moines, a War Democrat, was put on the ticket in his place. The situation became so distasteful to many loyal Demo- crats that a second convention was held in Des Moines on the 25th of August :
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but the forces that dominated the first convention controlled the second, re- nominated the ticket and made the majority report on resolutions, essentially the same as the platform of the July convention. A minority report did not reach the convention. On the adoption of the majority report, Lincoln Clark, of Dubuque, president of the convention, vacated his chair and, followed by the entire delegations from Dubuque and Des Moines counties, bolted the convention. Judge Nourse, of Des Moines, in a letter to Governor Kirkwood, thus pictured the interesting situation :
"The convention was in session till after midnight. There was a fierce quarrel between the Mahoney men and the Union portion of the convention. The fight over the platform was rare and racy. A great many truths were told by the loyal men to the secession wing that controlled the convention." 5
On the preceding day, a convention of Republicans and Democrats, under a call for a "People's" or "Union Convention," met in Des Moines and nomi- nated Gen. N. B. Baker for governor, on a war platform. General Baker promptly declined the nomination.
Frank W. Palmer, of the State Register, led a movement for a joint dis- cussion between Governor Kirkwood and Judge Mason, but the Judge declined to meet the Governor. It was next arranged that a mass-meeting should be held at the State Capitol, at which a keynote address should be delivered by Governor Kirkwood.
Major Lathrop brings out incidentally 6 the difficulty, even at that late day, of procuring full reports of public utterances which were not committed to writing. The Capital City afforded no available stenographer, and so "the arrangement was made that four ready writer reporters should be engaged, that number one should take down the first sentence, number two the second sentence, and so on in turn to the end, as each sentence fell from the speaker's lips, and that their reports should be put together and the speech published as uttered."
The meeting was held in Sherman Hall, Des Moines, on the evening of Sep- tember 4, and was presided over by Thomas F. Withrow. It left in the minds of the citizens of Des Moines no question as to the intention of the Iowa ad- ministration to support President Lincoln in his purpose to put down armed rebellion by force of arms.
Governor Kirkwood was at his best. His keynote speech resounded through the State, a clear, loud call to arms which did much to solidify Iowa in support of President Lincoln's administration and a vigorous prosecution of the war. It was replete with quaint and stinging sarcasm. It was more than that: it was a severe criticism on the course of the two conventions held by the op- posite party and of the "Union" convention which had put a third ticket into the field. A. local allusion near the close of his speech illustrates the Governor's cleverness in repartee. Alluding to the refusal of the first democratic conven- tion to approve the conduct of Iowa's brave men at the battle of Wilson's Creek, "a voice" in the audience said: "They did pass the resolutions afterwards, Governor." Kirkwood quickly retorted: "I am sorry they had to think twice and then wait more than a month before they could adopt them !"
N. W. Doty, of Company D, Second Iowa, writing from Dent's Station, near Iron Mountain, Mo., September 8, reported the return of Captain Mills to his company looking much better in health. "And here let me remark," he adds, "that our Capt. is an officer for the men, very much respected and liked by his command, and enjoying a very large share of the confidence of his superiors."
He humorously reports a barbecue tendered the troops by the native Mis- sourians, topping off with a dance at the Station House. He relates that Ser- geant Ed. Marsh remarked to his fair partner that this was his first dance in a long while, whereupon she looked up at him and said :
5 Lathrop's Kirkwood, p. 144.
6 Lathrop's Kirkwood, p. 146.
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"You haven't had a show at dam in' ary time afore, hev ye?" To which the gallant Ed. responded, "Nary time afore."
W. H. Hoxie, writing home to his mother at about the same time, says the community are feeding Company D on the fat of the land. The boys are sup- plied with good spring water and an abundance of fruit and vegetables.
M. B. Hoxie of Des Moines was, in September, appointed chaplain of the Central Iowa regiment at Camp Fremont, Iowa City.
Hoyt Sherman's appointment as paymaster in the army was announced at the same time.
William, son of Stewart Goodrell, a member of Company B, First Iowa, in the battle at Springfield, Mo., received a severe flesh wound in his right arm; but, by catching a riderless horse, he was able to keep up with the army as it fell back on Rolla. He arrived home early in September, thin in flesh, "but full of martial. ardor."
The Soldiers' Aid Society, through its president, Mrs. Elijah Sells, in Sep- tember extended its appeal to the entire county, urging an organization of aux- iliary societies in every neighborhood. The appeal was suggested by Mrs. Wit- tenmyer, in a letter from camp in Keokuk.
Dr. T. K. Brooks, who has figured in this history in several other capacities, now appears in the role of regimental sutler, having secured the appointment as sutler to the Central Iowa regiment. The Register thought "Doc" would suc- ceed. He could "laugh good humor into the most gnarled and crabbed souls."
W. S. Barnes and Wiley Burton of Des Moines were appointed sutlers to Kansas regiments.
The Des Moines Cavalry encampment at Cherokee was tumbled over by a tornado early in September. The company was ordered to move southward toward the Missouri valley.
Will Porter, the pioneer editor and publisher, was in September appointed by Adjutant General Baker general recruiting officer for infantry at Des Moines.
The arrival of a military company organized in Fremont county, officered chiefly by Methodist ministers who "feared God and despised Jeff Davis," was the sensation of the hour one day in September. The company was on its way to Davenport.
Captain Mitchell, accompanied by a number of his frontiersmen, returned early in September from camp at Cherokee, and proceeded to Davenport to see the Governor. The company's opportunities for slaying the aborigines were reported as not good. The company wanted a change.
A second installment of ten per cent of the Des Moines Volunteers' Aid and Relief Association Fund was called for by J. B. Stewart, secretary, the money to be paid in by September IO.
The advertising columns of the Register of September 25 contain an order of Adjutant General Baker to boards of supervisors to prepare lists of those subject to military duty, in order that troops may be drafted. In case there should be enough volunteers to meet the requisition of the Governor there would be no draft.
"Dạn" O. Finch and "Josh" H, Hatch, both of Des Moines, were pitted against each other for State Senator that fall. Mr. Finch contended that the democratic party could alone be relied on to preserve the Union, and Mr. Hatch was faintly praised by the democratic Rock Island Argus as a republican who hadn't "a bit of abolitionism or secessionism about him."
The Frontier Cavalry Company, Captain Mitchell, returned to Des Moines late in September. With their bronzed visages and pioneer costumes they were scarcely recognizable. Cleveland, a member of the company, said his own dog didn't know him !
Early in October Captain Griffiths was reported dangerously ill in camp at Rolla, Mo. His wife started at once for Rolla.
On the 8th of October, Major John C. Bennett, of the Tenth Regiment, wrote
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the Register that General Grant-then comparatively unknown-"visited our fortifications" at Cape Girardeau, "and expressed himself highly gratified at their state of forwardness."
The recovery of Harry Griffiths was good news to the Captain's Des Moines friends.
Captain Graves and Lieutenant Jewett were in Des Moines on election day, and in their new uniforms their fine military presence was much admired.
The Frontier Cavalry Company was in October made part of the Fourth Regiment of cavalry, organizing at Mt. Pleasant.
Governor Kirkwood spent several days at the Capital soon after his re-elec- tion, and was the recipient of many congratulations.
On the 14th, Major Bennett noted the arrival of Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Percival and Mrs. Small, and referred to the expected arrival of several other ladies from home. Should the regiment remain all winter at Cape Girardeau, several officers and soldiers would send for their wives "as a matter of economy, as well as satis- faction."
About the middle of October, Captain-now Lieutenant-Colonel-Crocker returned to Des Moines. Camp life had apparently improved, rather than injured, his health. His long-standing throat affection was not removed, but otherwise he was "in fine trim." He reported the boys of Company D as doing well and Captain Mills's health as improving.
Frank P. Yokener, of Captain Griffiths' company, died of typhoid fever at Rolla early in October. Another war romance ending in tragedy! About a week before starting for the war he was married to a young woman of Des Moines. Fondly dreaming of a quick return of peace, he bade his bride farewell. He had not been in camp very long before the insidious disease made its appearance. He fought it bravely but to no avail. His body was buried in the cemetery at Rolla. More than half the regiment followed his remains to the grave. After the burial service of the Episcopal church, the Odd Fellows took charge of the ceremonies. Major English and Adjutant Williamson conducted these services. The military salute was fired over his grave.
Captain Lusby of Des Moines was, in October, promoted to the position of provost marshal at Cape Girardeau.
In October, Jack Sells, orderly sergeant, brought Captain Griffiths with him as far as Keokuk. The captain was slowly recovering from an attack of typhoid. Later in the month he returned to Des Moines and engaged in the recruiting service.
Three stages of Captain Smith's Sharp-Shooters started for Keokuk early in November. Before quitting Des Moines they got up an impromptu military ball at the Union House, where they had been guests, and many ladies helped them have a good time.
Lieutenant Colonel Crocker's appointment as full colonel of the Thirteenth Iowa was well received everywhere.
The Sharp-Shooters, sixty-six of them, were uniformed and sworn in at Keokuk, November 9.
Captain Mills utilized his furlough by opening headquarters in Des Moines and recruiting the depleted ranks of his company.
Three companies of the 14th Iowa, destined for Fort Randall, Dakota, marched on foot from Iowa City, and on the IIth of November stopped over in Des Moines to bury a comrade. That afternoon a long military procession passed through the streets, on its way to the cemetery, the musicians followed by the coffin borne by four comrades, and by soldiers and many citizens. By such incidents can we get a more vivid picture of Des Moines during the great upris- ing. than can be obtained by volumes of generalization.
Meantime, while the bugle notes of war were resounding through the Des . Moines valley and re-echoing along the bluffs and among the hills, the life of the city went on with little interruption-although the dominant note everywhere
Flag of Company D, Second Iowa Infantry, presented by the ladies of Des Moines, June, 1861, carried by Company D during its four years of service, and used as a battle flag at Shiloh. It was rent by the enemy's bullets, but the absence of many of its stars is due to the custom early adopted-but since discontinued-of burying a star with the remains of each deceased comrade. The flag was turned over by the survivors to William D. Christy, one of the original members of Company D, to be presented to the Historical Department of Iowa.
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was "the war." Churches were builded and repaired; schools increased in num- bers of pupils and buildings; weddings and funerals followed one another as of old.
Let us look in upon a single July day in '61. Rev. J. A. Nash was then at the head of the flourishing Forest Home Seminary. One Wednesday evening the seminary grounds were illuminated and Judge Mckay delivered to students and citizens an eloquent address, and S. V. White, then a lawyer in Des Moines, afterwards a successful financier in the east, read a poem, which was said to be "a sprightly composition, demonstrating the fact that a man can be a poet, and yet a lawyer !" On the following evening the seminary students regaled a large audience with declamations, compositions and dialogues.
On the evening first named, a Catholic picnic was held on the fair grounds. After introductory remarks by Rev. Father Brazill, Judges Gray and Cole deliv- ered brief addresses.
Reports of bridge-building and repairing, of business successes and failures, of petty crimes and the punishments meted out therefor, of lengthened streets and new suburban homes, of fierce jangles over politics and political offices, and of weddings and funerals,-all these divided space with war news by telegraph, letters from the front and reports from returning braves.
November 23, Hardin Smith, of Saylor township, was arrested at Saylor- ville by Deputy Marshal Borners for deserting from Captain Graves's cavalry company, but was discharged by order of the Supreme court on the plea of his minority.
Captain Mills returned to his company in November, with seventeen recruits. Sergeant Weeks and Leonard Houston also returned to camp, accompanied by several recruits.
A sensation, new to Iowa, was produced late in November by the arrest of Captain William M. Hill, of Harrison county, on a charge of treason, and the incarceration of Hill in Des Moines. The charge was based on an anti-Union letter written to a confederate newspaper in Virginia. An indictment was found by the United States grand jury and Hill's trial was assigned for the 7th of January, '62, at a special term of the United States District Court to be held in Des Moines. The accused secured Judge Cole and S. V. White as counsel, and the prosecution was conducted by United States District Attorney Gurley. In the letter on which the charge was based, Hill bade "Godspeed to the noble work of the confederates" in driving back "the black hordes of unprincipled Aboli- tionists,"-and much more in the same vein.
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Vol. I-13
CHAPTER II.
DES MOINES AND THE SECOND YEAR OF THE WAR-DONELSON, PEA RIDGE AND
SHILOH.
The new year, 1862, brought with it promotions for several Des Moines men. Lieutenant Ensign was made first lieutenant in place of S. H. Lunt, resigned, and George L. Godfrey, second corporal, had been promoted to Ensign's vacant position. It was reported that Colonel Crocker had been commissioned a brigadier general; but, for some unknown reason, this acting brigadier was per- mitted to wait several months for his well-earned promotion.
On January 8, Adjutant General Baker made the sad announcement that inventories of the effects of seven Iowa soldiers had been filed in his office in Des Moines for the identification of relatives.
Lieutenant W. S. Simmons began the new year in Des Moines recruiting for the Fourth Iowa, now under the command of Colonel G. M. Dodge.
George H. Schmidt opened quarters at the American House for German recruits.
Death again entered the ranks of the Des Moines recruits. News came on New Year's day that Charles W., youngest son of Harmon Beekman, of the Fifteenth Iowa, had died of typhoid fever in the military hospital at Keokuk. His remains were brought to Des Moines and his funeral was held in the Con- gregational church. The mother was with her son during his last illness; but not even a mother's love could save the young soldier's life.
Colonel Crocker, in a letter to Elijah Sells, secretary of state, dated headquar- ters, Jefferson City, Mo., January 6, evinces his eager desire for service. He says that "if troops are to be sent into these states simply to keep the peace and protect their [the slave-owners'] property, this war will last forever." Brave soldier that he was, he frankly declared that he was "not infatuated with war." The husband and father and home-lover is seen in these added words: "I don't want to be a soldier any longer than the dictates of an ordinary patriotism will compel me. What I want is peace, so that I can come home to my wife and children."
One of the relatively unimportant items at a time when battles raged .-- and yet one which presents a picture vividly recalled as typical of "the times that tried men's souls," is this, from the State Register of January 21: "The Western Stage Company brought through this place on Sunday the dead body of a soldier belonging to Captain Orr's company, Tenth Regiment. After pushing repeated inquiries we were unable to ascertain his name. We learn that he was from Calhoun county, and that he left a wife and two children."
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