USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > Historical and reminiscences of Chickasaw County, Iowa > Part 12
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CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOWA.
ment incident to the action of the southern states in passing ordinances of secession, and all business was brought to a stand.
An extra session of the legislature was called, and hiring a horse from George Mor- ton, I started on horseback for Des Moines. I was four days on the road, and left my horse out in the country for keeping during the session. At the close of the session I returned with a commission from the Gov- ernor to raise a company of volunteers, and was requested to act as aid to the Gov- ernor. The forepart of the season was used in the drilling of squads in different parts of the county.
There had been a fire company organized at Bradford under the name of "Fontenelle Co., No. 1," and they had secured belts with the name emblazoned upon them, although there was no engine, ladders, truck or pails to be used in case of fire. As was remarked by an old citizen, "They were h-1 on par- ade, but not of much use." This appeared to be an opportune time for the exhibition of their special talent, and securing wooden guns, and buckling on their belts, they passed through evolutions that would have sur- prised a drill-master. As I now recall their
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. " hollow squares," "labyrinthine wind," and many other evolutions, I can but think how little any of us comprehended what war meant. Word came to me that a company had been accepted, and then came the enlist- ing for three years, or during the war, and when this tine company of dress parade men were called to enlist in earnest only one man was willing to volunteer and that was D. A. Babcock. Afterwards there was a change of sentiment, and probably sixty to seventy per cent of the fire company enlisted. Most of them were mustered into Company "B," 7th Iowa Infantry. The company was to start on the 14th of July, and there was to be a general gathering of the company at Chick- asaw on the 4th, where there was to be a celebration. and it seemed that the whole country came to see the boys before they left for the field of conflict.
It was an anxious day, long to be remem- bered, and little attention was paid to the address, but little knots of friends gathered around the men who were so soon to start to the front, and the suppressed sobs of mothers, wives, sisters, and loved ones who dare not show the intensity of their feelings, was trying in the extreme. There was a
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CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOWĄ.
little incident when the president of the day said that "the Rev. Witted would now pray to them." The Reverend Witted arose and remarked that the president was mistaken, for he "should not pray to the people, but to Almighty God," and if there ever was an earnest invocation that ascended to heaven, then I believe he then and there uttered one. The day, the surroundings, the state of feel- ing, all conspired to bring out to its fullest intensity, the aspirations of the people and a desire that God would protect the boys and the loved ones so soon to be left at home. There was to be a gathering of the company at Bradford on the morning of the 14th day of July, and squads of men that had enlisted in other counties came on the 13th. The night before the company was to start three of the boys were married.
At Bradford, on the 13th inst., by Rev. Mr. Nutting, Mr. George Morse to Miss Adelia Bird, all of Bradford.
Also at New Hampton, same date, by G. A. Hamilton, Esq., Mr. F. D. Bosworth to Lizzie Smith, both of Bradford.
Also at New Hampton on the 14th inst., by C. O. Case. Esq., acting county judge, Mr. G. S. Arnold to Miss Lois Amelia Gillett, both of New Hampton.
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After the battle of Donelson, F. D. Bos- worth, he having been promoted from Orderly to Second Lieutenant on the death of George Dodge, who was killed at Belmont, resigned and returned home, but Sheldon Arnold never saw his wife again. as he died at Iron Mountain, Missouri, being the first to die in the Company. Early on the morning of the 14th the New Hampton contingent went to Bradford, and there met the balance of the Company. A large number of farmers were present with their teams to take the volun- teers as far as Cedar Falls. At Cedar Falls the boys thought they were badly treated, as they were obliged to lie on a carpeted floor in the Odd Fellows' hall, and were not furnished beds. When they were on their road home they would have felt that they were being treated as lords if they could have found such luxuriant quarters, but then they had become soldiers, and were no longer simply country boys. We were quartered at the "Peosta" in Dubuque, and a high old time we had while there. There was a circus in town and we were passed in as soldiers. When the performance was about half through word came that there was a boat to take us to Burlington, and rising above his
249
CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOWA.
paint and garb. the clown gave us one of the most patriotic speeches I ever listened to.
The following is the muster roll of the Company, showing from what county each man came:
FROM CHICKASAW COUNTY.
1. Babcock, D. A Bradford.
2. Biggar, Thomas Bradford.
3. Campbell. D Bradford.
4. Campbell, D. L Bradford.
5. Dodge. G. W Bradford.
6. Felt, A. J. Bradford.
7. Foster, C. W Bradford.
8. Haskell, E. A Bradford.
9. Horton, Truman Bradford.
10. Laird, John . Bradford.
11. Morse, George Bradford.
12. Newman, William Bradford.
13. Pettit, L. C Bradford.
14. Rutherford, J. A Bradford.
15. Pannahill, William Bradford.
16. Thomas, Jefferson
Bradford.
17. Albertson, Fernando. Chickasaw.
18. Case, Allen Chickasaw.
19. McTaggart. Daniel Chickasaw.
20. Thomas, John Chickasaw.
21. Witted, Matthew Chickasaw.
22. Witted, Rev. J. G Chickasaw.
23. Peaso, Geo. Fredericksburg.
24. Mills, Robert Jacksonville.
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HISTORICAL AND REMINISCENCES OF
25. Bean, Henry Nashmua.
26.
Bean, Levi L.
Nashua.
27. Fisher, I. M. Nashua.
2S. Holmes. O. A. Nashua.
29. Hurley, Frank H Nashua.
30. McConnell. John Nashna.
31. ' Montrose, H. W
Nashua.
32. Shannon, D. H
Nashua.
33. Trott, Chas. H Nashua.
34. Arnold, G. S.
New Hampton .
35. Bordwell, Frank
36. Carkins, Levi. New Hampton.
37. Gardner, Gideon New Hampton.
New Hampton .
38. Jackson, A. D
New Hampton .
39. Morton, B. E.
New Hampton .
40. Magee, John . New Hampton.
41. Morton, A. H New Hampton.
42.
Powers, J. H
New Hampton.
43.
Rollins, Thos. E.
New Hampton.
44. Tisdale, G. J. New Hampton.
45. Wisner, H. S New Hampton.
46. Nye, Meltiab Washington.
47. Bailey, J. P Williamstown.
4S. Bailey, Zelotus. Williamstown.
49.
Birdsall. W. W
Williamstown.
50. Bosworth. F. D. Williamstown.
51. Jackson, Win. H Williamstown.
52.
Poppleton, B. H
Williamstown.
53. Smith, H. P Williamstown.
54.
Taylor, Ed. J
Williamstown.
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251
CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOWA.
FROM FLOYD COUNTY.
55. Haughey, Sylvanus Floyd.
56.
Hoisington, P. M
Howardville.
57. Wolling, John C. Howardville.
5S.
Baker, Jas.
Marble Rock.
59. Cornelia, Geo Marble Rock.
60. Clark, Henry H. Marble Rock.
61. Folsam, Samuel Marble Rock.
62. Hawks, Everett Marble Rock.
63. Hawks,
Marble Rock.
Marble Rock.
64. Smith, James Nora Springs.
66. Gregory, H. A
65. Ford, O. C .. Nora Springs.
67. Mead, G. W.
68. Wilson, James A Nora Springs.
Nora Springs.
69. Wilson, Joel C Nora Springs.
70. Brown, J. Shell Rock City.
71. Brown, E. B Shell Rock City.
72. Myers, J. R. Shell Rock City. 73. Smith. H. J Shell Rock City. 74. Craig, Robt St. Charles City.
75. Doan. Robt St. Charles City.
76. Doan, Wm. G. St. Charles City.
77. Reiniger, Robt. G St. Charles City. 78. Andrews, Davis C. Watertown.
FROM HOWARD COUNTY.
79. Benson, H . Howard Center. 80. Seeley, David Howard Center.
81. Thayer, W. E Howard Center.
82. Gallahan, J. M New Oregon.
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המין
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HISTORICAL AND REMINISCENCES OF
FROM MITCHELL COUNTY.
S3. Wilbur. Charles. Osage.
Sł. Johnson, Knut Osage.
S5. Sprague, P. T. Osage.
S6. Wright. John Osage.
ST. Howard, J. R. Dayton Twp.
After being mustered in at Burlington. I came up the river with Governor Kirkwood and Adjutant-General Baker, and was given a commission to raise another company, as I had refused a commission in the first, that was tendered me by the Governor, knowing as I did the elements that formed the com- pany, composed as it was of politicians and county seat partizans that had been a dis- turbing element in the county. That there were faults in the Captain commissioned to the company is probable, but no man could have been a successful officer in that company, until the men were accustomed to military orders, and I was not surprised when the company, led by G. J. Tisdale, showed their insubordination, by requesting the Captain to resign. Under the direction of the Gov- ernor, I raised another company, and was commissioned as a Captain, and was mustered into the 9th Iowa Infantry. Haring ex- pended every thing I could raise in enlisting
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CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOW.1.
men, my family were left with the allowance given by the county to families of enlisted men, and until late in 1851 their only support was from that source. A young wife and a little babe here upon the bleak prairies, rely- ing upon a county stipend, was not calcu- Jated to make life cheerful, but like hosts of others, she met the demands of our country in giving up her natural provider and pro- tector, and wore the crown of self sacrifice in the spirit of an American woman.
In the winter of 1862. our little boy that I had embraced and placed in the arms of his mother, was taken sick. As I was laying in Missouri at the time, with typhoid fever, it was kept from me. My wife hearing that I had died, sent her father to bring home my body for burial. The day after he left the boy died, and not hearing from her father, she kept his body five days to bury him with me. She then heard that I was alive and had the boy buried at once. so as not to have the sorrow of burying him take from my chances of recovery. It was a sad home to come to, but there were loving and tender ones to nurse me back to health. The fol- lowing summer, while camping back of Hel- ena, Arkansas, one of the men brought me a
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HISTORICAL AND REMINISCENCES OF
paper which gave the detail of the drowning of the wife of Capt. J. H. Powers, of an Iowa regiment. At this time no leave of absence was allowed. but when I showed the com- manding offcer this account, an exception was made in my case, and I had leave of ab- sence to come home. On my way home, many of my acquaintances who had seen the account, sympathised with me in my af-
fiiction. When I reached Bradford, my heart failed me and I decided to return to duty without coming to New Hampton. The friends there insisted that it would be better for me to go home before returning, and G. W. Howard offered to come over with me. When about two miles ont of New Hampton, we met J. A. Sawin, who then lived just opposite my house. I had not the heart to mention my wife, but after telling me that his family were all well, he added, "and I guess your folks are, for your wife was at my house when I left." The next thing I realized, Howard had me by the coat, and was saying, " hold on Powers, I am going too, and you had better ride."
The mistake arose in giving the J. H. Powers as being of an Iowa regiment, in place of an Illinois regiment, according to
255
CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOWA.
the facts. It is not often that both husband and wife mourn their partners as dead while they yet live.
After most of the able-bodied men had enlisted there began to crop out a feeling of disloyalty to the government, and mutter- ings of discontent with the administration and the conduct of the war. From a grumbling and fault-finding spirit it grew into outspoken and threatening opposition. This was but the result of an influence that had been assiduously introduced among the northern stay-at-homes by southern emis- saries. The wave that passed over Iowa was but a ripple. but it brought to the sur- face a class that only wanted an opportunity to show their true sentiments. In the propa- gating of this sentiment secret organizations were formed under the name of " Knights of the Golden Circle," and one was formed in Chickasaw county, and a list of its members came into my possession, but I refrain from publishing it, for if there was no other reason, the sins of the fathers should not be visited upon the children. These rebel sympathizers were called " copperheads " and "butternuts," and aroused very bitter feel- ings against them by the friends of the men
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HISTORICAL AND REMINISCENCES OF
in the army, and by the loyal element at home. Their denunciation was bitter, and even the pulpit partook of this feeling. There was a United Brethren preacher who came to New Hampton occasionally to preach, and on one occasion when there had been some overt act that aroused his feel- ings. he took the occasion to pour forth the vials of his wrath against all " copperheads." After he had piled up denunciation after denunciation, he reached the climax of hyperbole by declaring that "If God was to roll a pill into hell as big as this earth, He could not physic out as mean a thing as a copperhead."
Ed Rollins who lived between New Hamp- ton and Fredericksburg, was home on sick furlough, and in derision the "butternuts" used to wear sections of the butternut for bosom pins, and the Secretary of the Chick- asaw circle attended a spelling school wear- ing one, and was asked what it was. He answered that it was a butternut. He had hardly got the word out of his mouth before Rollins grabbed for it, and not only took the butternut, but took the whole front of his shirt as well. After William Everingham was discharged for disability, they attempted
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CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOWA.
to meet in the school house near him, and he took his rifle and started for the school house, and on his approach they all fled into the brush. They knew better than to trifle with William. When some of the boys came home on furlough and learned who was President of the Circle, they sent word to have him appear the next morning with his gun, for drill. He came, and although he had declared that before he would recognise the right of Lincoln, or any of his hireling soldiers, to coerce a State that had seceded from the Union, he would wade in blood knee deep, he came on time and was put to drill under the command of one of the boys, and when he became tired. another relieved him, and before they were through with him, there was little brag left, and he went home a subdued and loyal man, so far as future words showed.
Like all immigration into a new country, the population was composed mostly of young men, and there were but few exempt from military duty by reason of age. In New Hampton nearly every household sent a representative. and there were many sad farewells as we left for the war. Alvin H. Morton had three little boys and a young
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25S HISTORICAL AND REMINISCENCES OF
wife, and he left them for the last time, as he was killed at the battle of Belmont, being the first man to fall in battle, from New Hamp- ton. Left as she was, without means of support, she took up the task of raising the family of boys and day after day found her bending over the wash tub, as she earned a scant living for her family. This is but a type of the sacrifices that the women made for their country. The anxious waiting. the dead monotony of intense loneliness, and the heart throbs for absent ones. had to be borne without complaint, for, in their womanhood, they never allowed one word or thought to escape from them to weaken the hearts of the boys in the field. While their loved ones were heroes in the field, they were martyrs at home. God bless them and their memory, and may we who were spared to return, feel that as the evening of life approaches, we are lovingly to shield them with the protecting mantle of love and care, and may their closing days be filled with comfort and peace. To those who lost their loved ones, we owe a duty hard to meet, for it is not in the power of the living to do them justice.
As time developed the suppressed feeling
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CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOWA.
of disloyalty, there were emissaries traveling over the state to organize and arouse opposition to the administration, and Stilson Hutchins was advertised to hold a meeting in new Hampton, but when the day arrived his place was supplied by Wm. Mcclintock of West Union. McClintock made a bitter and denunciatory speech against the administra- tion, and against the war, and he was fol- lowed by a citizen of this county who made the following speech:
Fellow citizens :- We have met here to-day to perfect an organization, to arrest the evils of our country and to bring it back to peace and prosper- ity. We have an unnecessary war, a great war debt and an unjust Conscription Act that values the life of the poor man at $300. Abolitionists tell us we can have a good jollification now, but in a few months we shall be drafted into the army or sent to imprisonment. We must have harmony in the
Democratic party. The Democratic party had always come up to the right scratch; as many Democrats had gone into the army as Republicans until the last call, when the war was changed into an Abolition war. It was so all over, so in this State and particularly in this county. Two years ago a Union Convention was called. Col. Merritt, with fresh laurels from Mill Springs was nominated. The Democrats gave up Judge Mason, their candi-
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HISTORICAL AND REMINISCENCES OF
date for Governor and united with the Union men on Col. Merritt. The Republicans were tricky and run a party candidate; so it was in this county-a mean party trick. They say it is no time for party organization and that we are getting up a traitor organization, when they are making secret organ- izations all over the country, and sent a circular to me. They are organizing at Bradford and Chick- asaw, and I presume in this place. Democrats won't organize secret societies they don't believe in them. We want a Democratic organization. Abolitionists say it is no time to oppose corruption and fraud-no time to talk of fraud, -for it is opposition to the Government, while they are up to their elbows in fraud, swindling government and plundering the public crib. Senator Harlan and the Republicans cried out against frauds two years ago; what was sauce for the goose then is not sauce for the gander now. We Democrats won't have them guardians over us now. Cameron could plunder the Government and be sustained; Morgan and Wells, in ship contracts, plundered Govern- ment; Simmons received $40,000 interest on a con- tract and was afraid of an investigation that he resigned and went home. So with Mckinstry and Fremont, both guilty of frauds, and the people, we the poor people must be taxed to pay the debts.
What shall we say of arbitrary arrests? The accused are taken from their homes without trial. I would not complain if they would only give them a fair trial; but they let them all go; released them,
261
CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOWA.
even Mahoney, with an honorable discharge with- out any trial. We Democrats at first sustained the war; but when it was changed into au Abolition war democrats complained, and were arrested for merely complaining about it.
Military arrests were only made in time of war; and in times of war tyrants seized the government to make themselves tyrants, and I believe the Administration mean to seize our Government. France elected Napoleon president and in time of war he seized the government of France aided by the army; so it was the universal practice of all governments to overturn all the rights of the people, and I believe the cry of military arrests is an organization to overturn our government. This is the danger apprehended by Jefferson, Adams, and Washington. The Democrats have held the government (except for a few years, ) since its formation. This is the maiden attempt of the Republicans and just see how our country is ruined in two years. We must arrest the wrong and save the country. The Democrats nipped the nullifica- tion in the bud in 1832, but this Administration has been two years in doing nothing but plunging the country in debt and ruin. The Abolitionists are the hell-broth of our civil war. (Great applause.) They say we have no right to question. any act of the Administration; no right to meet to-day to dis- cuss any of these questions in our country. The Abo- litionists say that publie opinion must be suppressed ; men must not be allowed to express their opinions;
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HISTORICAL AND REMINISCENCES OF
freedom of speech is forbidden us Democrats. If it is attempted Abolitionists admonish us that it is an attempt to destroy the Constitution. The Abo. litionists have made such a debt that it cannot ever be paid, but the tax-gatherer must always knock at the poor man's hamlet. We can organize and overturn them, and next fall we will see them annihilated. We must show honorable conduct and kindness to each other, and then when we have got the Government into our hands we can restore it to purity and peace; and as our country is a great and growing country, if the Democrats get the Government into their hands we believe there is vigor and energy enough left, that in a few years we could pay off all our indebtedness.
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The following resolutions were adopted:
Resolved, That we condemn the present admin- istration for the enormous indebtedness it has fastened upon the people by its reckless extrava- gance and corruption and for the taxation of the laboring white man to purchase the freedom and secure the elevation of the negro.
Resolved, That the war should be prosecuted vigorously for the Union, the constitution and the enforcement of the laws as originally commenced, and we denounce the course pursued by the party in power, for diverting it into a warfare for the abolition of slavery.
Resolved, That we denounce secession as a dangerous heresy, opposed to the spirit of the
263
CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOWA.
constitution, and as such should be suppressed that the Union and the constitution may be preserved as our fathers made it.
Resolved, That we are unalterably opposed to the "American citizens of African descent" (under former administrations, called the negro) being transported into the State of Iowa.
Resolved, That we condemn the acts of the abolition party in organizing and establishing secret political military societies in our county and State, and declare ourselves opposed to all secret political organizations.
Resolved, That the late conscript act which values the poor man's life at $300, and furnishes an casy exemption for the rich is unjust and oppres- sive in compelling that class of our fellow citizens to fight our battles who are so unfortunate as to be unable to purchase their exemption, and we hereby condemn this attempt to build up a privileged aristocracy in this country.
Indignation run high, and the women who had members of their families in the army, were aroused to a frenzy, and were deter- mined to take vengeance then and there, by attacking with brooms and mops and driv- ing the offenders from town, and had it not been for the firm stand of Mrs. Powers, an attack would have been made. She was successful in showing the outraged women that it would not be for the best, and that
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HISTORICAL AND REMINISCENCES OF
time would bring its punishment, and she has lived to see the prophecy fulfilled, and the dregs of the punishment were drastic and bitter.
Viewed in the calm of later years, I have the feeling that this speech was uttered more in the spirit of partizanship than in that of disloyalty, and with the hope to ride triumphantly upon the wave of reaction that the opposition believed was soon to sub- merge the country.
At the election of W. E. Beach to the office of Treasurer and Recorder in 1S60; Russel Baldwin, of Chickasaw, had been spoken of as a probable candidate for the office, and to promote "harmony," Beach bad to promise to make his son, Horace C. Bald- win, deputy. This bargain was charged during the campaign, and was disposed of in such a way as to make it impolitic for him to enter upon his duties at once, as it might give rise to unpleasant comment and have a tendency to verify the charge made, and then there was something more than a rumor that his son was not qualified, and under the stress of circumstances Russell Baldwin came himself to the county seat and acted as deputy, for a time, but busi-
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CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOWA.
ness, ostensibly, calling him home. his son was sent over to take his place. With little practical qualification he commenced to record instruments, and by laboriously fol- lowing the form and copy of the work of M. B. Taylor, who had been a deputy under Howard and Bosworth, and who was the best recorder ever in the office. up to that time, he soon acquired his handwriting, and with- out a previous knowledge. it is hard to dis- tinguish their writing one from the other, the copy is so complete.
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