USA > Iowa > Webster County > Fort Dodge > History of Fort Dodge and Webster County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 16
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Companies A, B and C. of the Fourteenth Iowa Infantry, were detached from the regiment very soon after it was mustered into the service of the United States, and were ordered to proceed to Fort Randall, Dakotah Territory, for the purpose of relieving the battalion of United States troops, which com- posed the garrison at that fort. These three infantry companies marched from their camp near Iowa City, by way of Des Moines, to Council Bluffs and Sioux
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City, Iowa, to Fort Randall, a distance of 550 miles, in thirty-five days. They were subsequently permanently detached from the Fourteenth Iowa and became the Forty-first Iowa Infantry Battalion, and were assigned to service on the frontier. Upon the organization of the Seventh Iowa Cavalry, these companies were transferred to that regiment, which constituted a part of the command ot General Sully, and remained in the Northwest, engaged in active service against the Indians, until the close of the war.
The foregoing statement, as to the conditions which existed on the northern border and the part taken by Iowa troops in the early part of the war with the Indians, has been made as an introduction to the history which follows. It became evident that the Indians could not be completely subdued by the forces then operating against them, and that adequate protection could not be furnished to the settlers, without the establishment of a regularly organized body of state troops and the erection of a chain of defenses along the Iowa frontier. In his official report, Adjutant General Baker, after making a preliminary statement of the condition then existing, quotes the reports made to the governor, and his orders and instructions, with reference to the formation of the Northern Border Brigade. The statement, copies of some of the reports in full, and of others in part, are here given as follows :
"The Indian outbreak in Minnesota in the latter part of August and in September, 1862, as well as the threatening attitude of the Indians on our own frontier, having alarmed our citizens on the border, and numerous appeals for aid and protection being made by them to the governor, his excellency, on the 13th of September, 1862, appointed S. R. Ingham, Esquire, of Des Moines, as his agent to proceed to the exposed frontier of the state, to give the matter his personal and immediate attention. His reports show his prompt, energetic and able performance of his duty."-Adjutant General.
" 'To His Excellency, S. J. Kirkwood, Governor of Iowa,
Sir : Under your instructions, placed in my hands, August 29, 1862, of which the following is a copy :
August 29, 1862.
S. R. Ingham, Esquire,
Sir: I am informed there is probable danger of an attack by hostile Indians, on the inhabitants of the northwestern portion of our state. Arms and powder will be sent to you at Fort Dodge, lead and caps will be sent with you. I hand you an order on the auditor of state for one thousand dollars. You will please proceed at once to Fort Dodge, and from there to such other points as you may deem proper. Use the arms, ammunition and money placed at your disposal, in such manner as your judgment may dictate as best to promote the object in view, to-wit: the protection of the inhabitants of the frontier. It would be well to communicate with Captain Millard, commanding the company of mounted men raised for United States service at Sioux City.
Place any men you may deem it advisable to raise under his command. Use your discretion in all things, and exercise any power I could exercise if I were present, according to your best discretion. Please report to me in writing.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Samuel J. Kirkwood.
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"'I have the honor to report that, in compliance therewith, I at once proceeded to the northern border of our state, to ascertain the extent of the supposed difficulties, and to do the needful for the protection of our frontier settlements, should circumstances warrant or demand. I visited Dickinson, Emmet, Palo Alto, Kossuth, Humboldt and Webster counties; found many of the inhabitants in a high state of excitement, and laboring under a constant fear of an attack by Indians. Quite a number of families were leaving their homes and moving into the more thickly settled portions of the state. This feeling, however, seemed to be more intense and to run higher in the more inland and remote counties from the border than in the border counties themselves. In Emmet and Kossuth, both border counties, I had the settlers called together in order that I might learn from them their views and wishes as to what ought to be done for their safety, or rather what was necessary to satisfy and quiet their fears and apprehensions. They expressed themselves freely and were very temperate in their demands. They said all they wanted or deemed necessary for the protection of the northern border was a small force of mounted men, stationed on the east and west forks of the Des Moines river, to act in concert with the United States troops, then stationed at Spirit Lake; but that this force must be made up of men, such as they could choose from amongst themselves, who were familiar with the country and had been engaged in hunting and trapping for years, and were more or less familiar with the habits and customs of the Indians, one of which men would be worth half a dozen such as the state had sent up there on one or two former occasions. In a small force of this kind they would have confidence, but would not feel safe with a much larger force of young and inexperienced men, such as are usually raised in the more central portions of the state.
"'I at once authorized a company to be raised in Emmet, Kossuth, Palo Alto and Humboldt counties. Within five days forty men were enlisted; held an election for officers, were mustered in, furnished with arms and ammunition, and placed on duty, twenty at Chain Lake, and twenty at Estherville, on the west fork of the Des Moines. I authorized them to fill up the company to eighty men, if necessity should demand such an addition to the force. At Spirit Lake, in Dickinson county, I found some forty men stationed, under command of Lieu- tenant Sawyers, of Captain Millard's Company, Sioux City Cavalry, in the United States service. From the best information I could obtain, I deemed this a sufficient force and therefore took no action to increase the protection at this point, further than to furnish the settlers with thirty stand of arms, and a small amount of ammunition, for which I took bond as hereinafter stated. Not being able to see Captain Millard, he being at Sioux City, I did not place the company raised under his command, but simply made an arrangement with Lieutenant Sawyers, by which the forces were to act together until such time as I should be able to see the captain * *
The remainder of Mr. Ingham's report relates mainly to the further distri- bution of arms and ammunition to responsible men among the settlers, to be distributed for use only in case of emergency, when it might become necessary for all who were capable of bearing arms to unite their strength for the con- mon defense, and act in conjunction with the regularly organized companies who were constantly on duty. He concludes his report as follows :
"Having done all that seemed necessary for the protection of the settlers of
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CENTRAL AVENUE, FORT DODGE, LOOKING EAST FROM SEVENTH STREET Parade 35th Annual Encampment, Department of lowa, G. A. R., June 9, 1909
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HISTORY OF WEBSTER COUNTY
the more exposed of the northern border counties, I returned to Fort Dodge on the 8th day of September, intending to proceed at once to Sioux City, and make all necessary arrangements for the protection of the settlements on the north- western border. At that point I was informed that the legislature, then in extra session, had passed a bill providing for the raising of troops for the pro- tection of our borders against hostile Indians. I therefore deemed it best to report to you for further instructions, and did so report on the 10th of September."
Mr. Ingham was given full power and authority to put into effect the law authorizing the organization of the Northern Border Brigade. The good judg- ment which he had exercised in forming the companies already raised, and in the entire discharge of his duty under his former commission from the governor, fully justified the confidence reposed in him. He at once proceeded to organize and muster into the service the companies named in the order, at the places designated, as follows: Webster City, Fort Dodge, Denison and Sioux City. He also ordered the construction of blockhouses and stockades at Correctionville, Cherokee, Peterson, Estherville and Chain Lakes. At Spirit Lake a strong stockade had already been constructed. These places formed the nucleus of the principal settlements on the northwestern border of the state. With the com- pletion of these defenses, and their occupation by the four companies last organ- ized, and the two previously stationed at Chain Lakes and Estherville, a force of 250 mounted men, well armed and equipped, were ready at all times to cooperate with the cavalry forces under General Sully, then operating against the hostile tribes of Indians beyond the border. The wisdom of the action of the governor, in asking for the necessary legislation to enable him to place an adequate force upon the border, was demonstrated by the security subse- quently afforded to the settlers. Most of those who had fled in terror from their homes, returned and resumed tlie cultivation of their farms, with the knowledge that, in case of attack by the Indians, there were places of refuge provided for them. Mr. Ingham, in closing his official report, says: "From information in my possession, I am entirely satisfied that it will be necessary to keep this entire force on duty after the completion of the blockhouses and stockades on which they are now engaged."
While the danger from attack was not so great as it had been before these precautions were taken, the fact remained that the number of Indian warriors then engaged in hostilities far exceeded the number of troops under the com- mand of General Sully. In spite of the disparity in numbers, however, the splendid troops, under the command of that brave and intrepid general, had defeated the Indians in several pitched battles, and had driven them far beyond the frontier. The danger was that other Indian tribes, which had thus far refused to join those actively hostile, might be induced to go upon the war path, and, with greatly increased numbers, succeed in compelling General Sully's forces to fall back to the settlements on the frontier. Keeping in mind the horrible events of the recent past, there was still much to justify the feeling of anxiety which pervaded the minds of both settlers and soldiers in those border counties of Iowa. To show how well this feeling was justified, the following extract from the report of George L. Davenport, Esquire, who had been sent by Governor Kirkwood to confer with Governor Ramsey, of Minnesota, is here given :
Vol. I-9
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* Upon my arrival at St. Paul, I called upon Governor Ramsey, who gave me all the information in his power. He informed me that the out- break of the Sioux Indians is of the most serious character, and the massacre for men, women and children of the frontier settlements, the largest known in the history of the country. Nearly six hundred persons are known to be killed, and over one hundred women and children are in the hands of the savages as pris- oners. The Indians are very bold and defiant, repeatedly attacking the forts and the troops sent out against them. They have plundered many stores and farm houses, and have driven off a very large number of cattle and horses. The Indians continue to attack the settlements almost every week, keeping up a constant alarm among the people. It is estimated that over five thousand persons have left their homes and all of their property, causing immense loss and suffer- ing. Governor Ramsey informs me that he will have, in a short time, about four thousand troops to operate against the Indians, "one thousand of which will be cavalry, as soon as horses can be obtained
"It is proposed to erect stockade forts, at short distances apart, along a frontier of two hundred miles, and garrison them with forty or fifty men each. This, it is supposed, will induce many to return to their farms and feel that they are protected, and, in case of alarm, have a place to fly to. I am much alarmed in regard to the safety of the settlements on the northwestern border of our state. I think they are in imminent danger of an attack at any moment, and will be in constant danger and alarm during the coming winter. As the Indians are driven back from the eastern part of Minnesota, they will fall back towards the Missouri slope, and will make inroads upon our Iowa settlements
The foregoing official report, showing the terrible calamity that had come upon the hapless settlers in Minnesota, afforded full justification for the prompt action taken by the Iowa legislature and Governor Kirkwood. Had such action been delayed, the depopulation of those border counties would have resulted, either on account of the actual warfare which would have been waged by the Indians, or the fear of it, which would have caused all the settlers to have abandoned their homes and removed to the interior of the state.
During the winter, and a part of the summer of 1863, the work of erecting defenses at the different places indicated in the order was vigorously prosecuted. The headquarters of the brigade were subsequently established at Estherville. and from that post details were made for the other posts along the line of the frontier. Near the last of September, 1863, (owing to the defeat of the hostile tribes of Indians on the 3d and 4th of that month, by the forces under the com- mand of General Alfred Sully, at the hard fought battle of White Stone Hill, in which the Sixth and Seventh Iowa Regiments of Cavalry greatly distinguished themselves) it became evident that the danger of further attacks upon the set- tlers had greatly diminished, and it was deemed safe to disband the Northern Border Brigade, and to substitute a smaller force in its stead. This force con- sisted of Captain Ingham's Company A, which, after the Northern Brigade had been mustered out, had been remustered for this particular service. It was soon relieved by United States troops and was then mustered out of the service. The hostile Indians had been driven far to the north by General Sully's troops, and the settlers upon the frontier were comparatively free from the dangers which had formerly threatened them. With a sufficient force of United States troops,
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constantly on duty at the posts where fortifications had been erected by the state of Iowa, and the country to the north thoroughly patrolled by General Sully's cavalry scouts, the danger of the Indians committing depredations upon the homes of the settlers was reduced to the minimum.
While the records do not show that the state troops composing the Northern Border Brigade were ever engaged in serious conflicts with the Indians, they do show that they performed most important service and endured great hard- ships. During the time they were engaged in constructing the fortifications along the line of the frontier, they were in constant danger. Had the Indians proved too strong to be overcome by the troops under General Sully's command, that officer would have retreated to the state line and united his forces with those of the state. Upon more than one occasion before the works were com- pleted, such a contingency semed likely to occur. It is therefore evident that those hardy sons of Iowa, who braved the rigors of the northern winters and the risk of the fierce conflict with the hostile tribes of Indians who had murdered so many of the hapless settlers on the frontier, are entitled to an honored place in the history of their country's defenders. The descendants of those hardy pioneers, whose families and homes were saved from destruction, will ever hold in grateful remembrance the men who came to the rescue of their ancestors.
ROSTER COMPANY B, NORTHERN BORDER BRIGADE
William Williams, captain; John M. Hefley, first lieutenant; Jasper N. Bell, second lieutenant.
Allen, Samuel F., age thirty-one; residence, Webster county ; nativity, Indi- ana; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Bass, James, age thirty-two; residence, Webster county; nativity, North Carolina ; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; promoted fourth corporal; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Bass, Jesse, age forty-four ; residence, Mineral Ridge; nativity, North Caro- lina ; enlisted, September 24, 1862, as second corporal; mustered, September 24, 1862 ; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Beem, Wickliffe C., age twenty-two; residence, Border Plains; nativity, Ohio; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Bell, Jasper N., age twenty-two; residence, Fort Dodge; nativity, Iowa; appointed second lieutenant, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Blaine, William H., age twenty-three; residence, Fort Dodge; nativity, Penn- sylvania ; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Booker, Leander, age twenty-eight; residence, Boone county ; nativity. Ten- nessee ; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Buck, William, age twenty-five; residence, Fort Dodge; nativity. Indiana; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
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Coleman, Timothy, age twenty-one; residence, Fort Dodge; nativity, Ireland; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Conlee, Smith T., age eighteen; residence, Fort Dodge; nativity, Illinois ; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Crouse, Edward, age thirty-three; residence, Fort Dodge; nativity, North Carolina ; enlisted, September 24, 1862 ; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Crouse, Irwin, age twenty-four; residence, Fort Dodge; nativity, North Carolina ; enlisted, September 24, 1862 ; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Crouse, Jacob, age thirty-six; residence, Fort Dodge; nativity, North Caro- lina; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; promoted farrier ; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Denslow, B. F., age thirty-six; residence, Ellington; nativity, Indiana ; en- listed, September 24, 1862, as second sergeant ; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Eslick, John D., age nineteen ; residence, Homer ; nativity, Missouri; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Fitch, Edward, age twenty-one; residence, Homer; nativity, Pennsylvania ; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Flaherty, James, age twenty-five ; residence, Fort Dodge; nativity, Maryland ; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Harper, John, age thirty-two; residence, Fort Dodge; nativity, Scotland; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Heffner, George, age twenty-nine; residence, Border Plains; nativity, Penn- sylvania ; enlisted, September 24, 1862, as fourth sergeant ; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Hefley, John M., age thirty-five; residence, Fort Dodge; nativity, Pennsyl- vania ; appointed first lieutenant, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Hoisington, Jesse, age thirty-eight; residence, Fort Dodge; nativity, Ohio; . enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Holt, J. M., age thirty-three ; residence, Webster county ; nativity, Tennessee ; enlisted, September 24, 1862, as farrier ; mustered, September 24, 1862; reduced to ranks; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Hubbard, John N., age thirty-five ; residence, Webster county; nativity, Illi- nois ; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Humphreys, James A., age thirty-eight; residence, Fort Dodge; nativity, Connecticut ; enlisted, September 24, 1862, as wagoner ; mustered, September 24, 1862; promoted quartermaster sergeant; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
H. C. STOUGHTON
CAPTAIN S. J. BENNETT
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILD N FOUNDATIONS.
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HISTORY OF WEBSTER COUNTY
Jenkins, Andrew K., age twenty-four ; residence, Fort Dodge ; nativity, Penn- sylvania ; enlisted, September 24, 1862, as bugler ; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Jenkins, James S., age twenty; residence, Fort Dodge; nativity, Pennsyl- vania ; enlisted, September 24, 1862, as first sergeant ; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Kaylor, Thomas J., age twenty-five ; residence, Fort Dodge ; nativity, Indiana ; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Landreth, Matthew, age twenty-two; residence, Homer; nativity, Indiana; enlisted, September 24, 1862, as fourth corporal; mustered, September 24, 1862; reduced to ranks ; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Landreth, Thomas, age forty-three; residence, Homer; nativity, Virginia ; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Landreth, William R., age twenty-three; residence, Homer; nativity, Indi- ana ; enlisted. September 24, 1862 ; mustered, September 24, 1862 ; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Landreth, Zachariah, age twenty-one; residence, Homer; nativity, Missouri; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Long, Eli, age twenty-one; residence Homer; nativity, Kentucky; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Lowe, Emanuel E., age twenty-two; residence, Webster county; nativity, Illinois ; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
McCosker, Charles, age forty-two; residence, Fort Dodge; nativity, Ireland ; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
McDonough, Martin, age twenty-four ; residence, Fort Dodge ; nativity, Ire- land; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; discharged for disability, October 15, 1862.
McGuire, Blythe, age twenty-seven; residence, Homer; nativity, Missouri ; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Morrissey, Daniel, age twenty-six; residence, Fort Dodge; nativity, Ireland; enlisted, September 24, 1862, as third corporal; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Nicholson, Alfred J., age twenty : residence, Fort Dodge; nativity, Ireland; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Payne, Jonathan W., age twenty-seven : residence, Webster county ; nativity, Tennessee ; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mus- tered out, August 26, 1863.
Phipps, Luther, age eighteen; residence, Webster City; nativity, Massa- chusetts ; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24. 1862 ; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
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HISTORY OF WEBSTER COUNTY
Pierce, Francis M., age nineteen; residence, Homer; nativity, Missouri ; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Powers, Walter, age twenty; residence, Fort Dodge; nativity, Maine; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Richey, Gasper A., age twenty; residence, Webster county; nativity, Ohio; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Starr, Peter, age forty-two; residence, Boone county ; nativity, Sweden ; enlisted. September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Weeks, Arthur, age eighteen; residence, Webster county; nativity, Ohio; enlisted, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out. August 26, 1863.
White, James P., age twenty-five; residence, Fort Dodge; nativity, Maine : enlisted. September 24, 1862, as third sergeant ; mustered, September 24, 1862; mustered out, August 26, 1863.
Willianis, William, age sixty-four ; residence, Fort Dodge; nativity, Pennsyl- vania ; appointed captain, September 24, 1862; mustered, September 24. 1862; mustered out. August 26, 1863.
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