History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county, Vol. I, Part 23

Author: Kershaw, W. L
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 500


USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county, Vol. I > Part 23


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46


Isaac N. Shepherd, August 29, 1862; discharged for disability, Feb- ruary 27, 1863.


Homer Shepherd, August 29, 1862.


Robert B. Smith, August 29, 1862.


John Snodderly, August 29, 1862.


W. G. R. Snodderly, August 29, 1862.


James S. Williams, August 29, 1862 ; died of disease at Ironton, Mis- souri, January 30, 1863.


George C. Cleaver, December 28. 1863: died at Memphis, Tennessee, February 20, 1864, of meningitis.


William R. Barnum, January 1, 1864; killed by guerrillas at Centralia, Missouri, September 27, 1864.


Christian C. Berry, December 19, 1863.


Alexander Cunning. March 28, 1864: died at Duvall's Bluffs, Arkansas, December 22, 1864, of remittent fever.


Dorvill Chamberlain, December 19, 1863.


Samuel E. Edenfield, February 6, 1864.


Robert L. Edwards, January 5, 1864.


William C. Floyd, December 19, 1863.


Finley S. Gregg. December 19, 1863.


Cyrus W. Hendricks, January 10, 1864.


Owen Irvin, January 2, 1864; died at Morganza, Louisiana, August 29. 1864.


Frank Kridelbaugh, January 1. 1864; wounded at Spanish Fort, Ala- bama, April, 1865.


David Leighton, January 1, 1864.


John Love, January 5, 1864: wounded at Spanish Fort, Alabama, March 27, 1865.


John D. Litzenburg, February 9. 1864: died at Duvall's Bluffs, Arkan- sas, December 18, 1864: buried at Tarkio.


Frederic Mayerhoof, February 27, 1864.


Samuel P. Macomber. January 4. 1864: died at Morganza, Louisiana, August 13. 1864.


William Margerum, January 5, 1864.


Augustus H. Polsley, February 9, 1864; died at Duvall's Bluff's Ar- kansas, December 9. 1864.


Thomas J. Ray, December 1. 1863: died at Natchez, Mississippi, July 20, 1864.


Chancy L. Wall, January 5. 1864 ; died at New Orleans, Louisiana. Sep- tember. 12, 1864.


Andrew J. Walker, January 1, 1864.


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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY


EIGHTH IOWA CAVALRY, COMPANY A.


George W. Burns, captain, September 30, 1863; captured at Atlanta, June 30, 1864 ; promoted major, August 22, 1865.


Charles Linderman, second lieutenant, August 25, 1863 ; mustered out as second; commissioned first lieutenant, August 25, 1865.


Robert M. Rawlings, first sergeant, July 25, 1863 ; mustered out first ser- geant ; commissioned second lieutenant, August 22, 1865.


John Kinkade. quartermaster sergeant, July 14, 1863; discharged for disability at Waverly, Tennessee, February 28, 1864.


William W. Russell, commissary sergeant, July 14, 1863; captured at Newnan, Georgia, July 30, 1864.


Isaac T. Feltch, second sergeant. July 16, 1863; captured at Newnan, Georgia, July 30, 1864.


James B. Short, third sergeant, July 18, 1863.


Joseph I. Haskins, fifth sergeant, July 14, 1863 ; drowned at East Sipsey river, Alabama, April 15, 1865.


Charles C. McDonald, sixth sergeant, July 14, 1863.


Peter H. Seay, first corporal, August 24, 1863 ; wounded and captured at Newuan, Georgia, July 30, 1863.


Joseph B. Chamberlain, second corporal. July 6. 1863; wounded and died at Andersonville prison.


Wilson H. Beighler, third corporal, July 14, 1863.


Augustus J. Martin, fifth corporal, July 14. 1863.


Lewis T. Smith, seventh corporal, July 26, 1863 ; discharged. August 18, 1864.


Francis M. Riggin, bugler, July 6, 1863.


Henry Dorsey, farrier. August 13, 1863 ; discharged for disability, March 17, 1865, at Chickasaw, Alabama.


James A. Hughes, saddler, July 26, 1863.


Henry Clabaugh, wagoner, July 9. 1863.


PRIVATES. -


Lewis Akin, July 14, 1863.


William L. Bagley, July 16, 1863.


Thomas H. Butler, July 29, 1863 ; discharged for disability at Daven- port, December 12, 1863.


John P. Benbow, July 14, 1863.


Robert M. Benbow, July 14. 1863; discharged for disability, August 5, 1864.


Barclay I. Benbow, July 24, 1863.


Charles Britt, July 15, 1863.


Wilson H. Brown, July 30, 1863 ; captured at Tuscaloosa, Alabama, April 4. 1865.


James L. Berry, July 30, 1863.


Joseph R. Berry, August 22, 1863.


George W. Babcock. July 16. 1863.


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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY


Francis Carlin, July 15, 1863; transferred to invalid corps, January 10, 1805.


John R. Delany, July 14, 1863; discharged June 7, 1865.


John H. Drace, July 14, 1863.


Hiram Davison, August 3, 1863.


John Edmonson, July 24, 1863; died between Macon and Atlanta, Georgia, July 26.


William Y. Ewing, August 3, 1863.


David M. Fruits, July 14, 1863.


Henry B. M. Friar, July 14, 1863 ; died at Davenport, November 4, 1863. William Fisher, July 14, 1863.


John S. Goudie, July 27, 1863.


Isaac Griffith, July 15, 1863 ; died of disease, April 5, 1865.


L. H. R. Hutton, July 17, 1863; discharged May 31, 1865.


Noah Hollingsworth, July 31, 1863; died at New Albany, Indiana, November 23, 1863.


Pleasant M. Hall, July 3, 1863.


Nathan Helmick, August 1, 1863.


H. H. Handorf, August 25, 1863.


Asa Jackson, July 25, 1863.


Henry Loranz, July 14, 1863 ; captured July 30, 1864.


William M. McClellan, July 9, 1863.


Joseph Mulkins, July 14, 1863.


John N. Miller, July 14, 1863 ; captured July 30, 1864.


Lewis H. Miller, July 30, 1863.


Julius F. Pendergraft, July 15, 1863.


Jackson Plummer, August 7, 1863.


John Q. A. Roberts, July 14, 1863 : died of typhoid fever, at Nashville, Tennessee, March 30, 1864.


William A. Rector, July 14, 1863.


John P. Reynolds, July 17, 1863.


Oliver P. Stafford. July 7, 1863.


Ambrose C. Stouder. July 9, 1863.


Henry H. Snodderly, July 14, 1863.


George W. Scoles, July 17, 1863.


Robert W. Soward, July 30, 1863 : died at Nashville, Tennessee. April 9. 1864.


Harvey D. Taylor, August 19. 1863.


Robert L. Veach, July 27, 1863 : captured at Newman, Georgia, July 30, 1864.


Evan Wilson, July 18, 1863.


FIFTH IOWA CAVALRY, COMPANY C.


John Morris Young, captain, October 3, 1861 : promoted to major November 1, 1862; afterward colonel.


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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY


C. A. B. Langdon, second lieutenant, October 3, 1863; commissioned major July 7, 1865.


John Casky, fifth sergeant, September 19, 1861 ; died on steamer be- tween Fort Henry and Smithland, Kentucky.


Samuel S. Harry, third corporal, September 19, 1861.


John Toner, fourth corporal, September 19, 1861 ; captured near New- nan, Georgia, July 31, 1864.


Thomas J. Bull, seventh corporal, September 19, 1861.


PRIVATES.


Gilbert P. Britt, September 19, 1861 ; discharged for disability at St. Louis, October 4, 1862.


Christian Brenner, September 19, 1861 ; killed at Pulaski, Tennessee, December 25, 1864.


Sampson Casky, September 19, 1861 ; captured at Newnan, Georgia, July 13, 1864 ; died in prison.


Lewis Loun, September 19, 1861 ; died at Fort Heiman, Kentucky, March 31, 1862.


Stiles Malone, September 19, 1861 ; died at Montgomery, Alabama, May 3, 1865.


William M. Murphy, September 19, 1861 ; died of wounds received at Jonesboro, Georgia, September 21, 1864.


William McCrory, September 19, 1861.


John McLarnon, September 28, 1861 : captured at Newnan, Georgia, July 31, 1864.


Allen McLarnon, September 28, 1861 ; captured at Newnan, Georgia, July 31, 1861.


John McMichael, September 28, 1861 ; died at Benton Barracks, Mis- · souri, January 11, 1862.


Marcellus Pruyn, September 26, 1861 ; promoted to batallion commis- sary sergeant.


ELEVENTH MISSOURI CAVALRY, COMPANY C.


Charles W. Pace, captain, December 1, 1862.


John Buckingham, first lieutenant, March 24, 1863. Charles S. Hinman, first sergeant, December 1, 1862.


Harland Scarlett, first sergeant, December 18, 1862; promoted second lieutenant Company B, August 22, 1863.


PRIVATES.


Jolın Barnes, December 1, 1862. John A. Busey, December 1, 1862. George Goodman, December 1, 1862. Harvey C. Hall, December 1, 1862. John Jeff Hill, December 1, 1862. William Loughry, December 1, 1862. Jonah Reed, December 10, 1862.


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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY


John J. Thomas, November 1, 1862: died at St. Joseph, Missouri, of inflammation of the brain. April 25, 1862.


John Vanhouten, January 27, 1863.


TWENTY-NINTH JOWA INFANTRY, COMPANY F.


Charles B. Shoemaker, major, September 16, 1862; resigned January 7, 1865.


Isaac Damewood, second lieutenant, December 1, 1862; commissioned December 1, 1862: resigned August 16, 1864.


PRIVATES.


John W. Duncan, November 12, 1862; discharged at Davenport for disability, May 16, 1865.


Alexander Duncan, November 12, 1862; captured at Jenkins' Ferry, Arkansas, April 30, 1864.


William Glasgow, November 16, 1862; discharged March 27, 1865.


Alva Inscho. November 12, 1862 ; died at Helena, Arkansas, February 13, 1863.


Alfred Madden ; died at Helena, Arkansas, August, 1863.


William Ridgely, December 18, 1862.


Allen M. Campbell, February 18, 1864.


James H. Davis, February 9, 1864.


Solomon McAlpin, February 13, 1864.


TWENTY-NINTH IOWA INFANTRY, COMPANY K.


Allen J. Chantry, second lieutenant, August 13. 1862; commissioned December 1, 1862.


PRIVATES.


D. A. Thompson, August 9. 1862 ; promoted to commissary sergeant. December 2, 1862.


William Anderson, August 9. 1862 : discharged-over age.


FOURTHI MISSOURI CAVALRY, STATE MILITIA, COMPANY C.


James H. Brown, first lieutenant, March 1, 1862.


Orren R. Strong, first sergeant, April 1, 1862.


Wilson H. Brown, first sergeant, March 18, 1862: discharged for dis- ability at Springfield. Missouri.


Isaac E. Woods, first sergeant, April 1, 1862: reduced to ranks, June 25. 1862.


PRIVATES.


Thomas Cunningham, March 18, 1862; died at St. Joseph, Missouri, May 14, 1862.


Harlan P. Dow. April 1, 1862 ; promoted to second lieutenant.


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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY


FOURTH MISSOURI CAVALRY, STATE MILITIA, COMPANY G. PRIVATES.


James M. Donnell. April 5, 1862 ; appointed captain July 30; resigned December, 1862.


Joseph Smith, March 24, 1862.


James Shoaf, April 10, 1862 ; discharged by post surgeon at St. Joseph, April 29, 1862.


FIRST IOWA CAVALRY, UNASSIGNED. PRIVATES.


Benjamin F. Martin, December 9, 1863.


Willis C. Smith, January 4, 1864.


Ishmael S. Wilson, January 1, 1864.


MISCELLANEOUS COMPANIES IN WHICH PAGE COUNTY CITIZENS SERVED DURING THE REBELLION.


FIRST IOWA CAVALRY, COMPANY A.


Abraham Wilson, private, September 8, 1862. FIRST IOWA CAVALRY, COMPANY M.


James B. Kempton, private, January 4, 1864.


SEVENTH IOWA INFANTRY, COMPANY G.


Stephen Reasoner, private, March 17, 1863.


George Woods, September 8, 1862; died at Davenport, January 27. 1863, of typhoid fever.


Jeremiah Young, January 1, 1864; company not known.


FIRST IOWA BATTERY.


David Edwards, January 2, 1861.


James C. Iker, January 1, 1864.


FIFTEENTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY, COMPANY K.


H. A. Huston, private, November 1, 1861.


TWENTY-FIFTH MISSOURI INFANTRY, COMPANY II.


Charles H. Page, November 27, 1861.


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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY


A BORDER WAR EPISODE.


Il. H. SCOTT.


In 1861 the dread alarm of war made considerable disturbance along the line between lowa and Missouri. Trouble had been brewing for years before the Civil war began. In 1857 the question as to whether Kansas should be a free state or a slave, agitated the entire nation and among those who lived in as close proximity as did the people of northwestern Missouri and southwestern lowa, it was often a matter of serious dis- cussion. Bad blood, to some extent at least, had been engendered by the operation of an underground railroad, for the purpose of running slaves to the free soil of Canada. It was claimed by the people of northern Missouri, and possibly with some degree of truth, that College Springs (then known as Amity), in this county, was the first station on that line. If the true facts had been known at the time, the residence of Dr. Albert Heald, some four miles north of Clarinda, on the farm now owned by the McDowells, was the second station, and the old town of Quincy, in Adams county, another, with division headquarters at Grinnell, Iowa. After a slave had got as far north as Grinnell, he was, to say the least, comparatively safe. There was a number of men in and around College Springs at the time who, from their actions, had such an abiding faith in their innocence that they took but little, if any pains to deny the rumor.


In 1861 and 1862 quite a number of negroes made their appearance in and about College Springs. It is within the recollection of men yet living that the black man of that day always spoke of the place as "Stop and Start." meaning that it was the first stopping place in his escape, and the place from which he started when he struck out for parts farther north, ending usually at Clarinda. So, in 1861, it was a question worthy of discus- sion whether the Missourian might not seek to make reprisals. In any event, the citizens of College Springs called a public meeting for the 4th day of May, 1861, and then and there organized a company with an en- rollment of thirty-nine men. There was no pretense that this company was organized for the suppression of the rebellion, for the resolutions showed quite the contrary and were as follows :


"Whereas, In view of the existing state of the country we believe it wise for all able-bodied men to organize themselves into companies. There- fore, Resolved, that we, citizens of Amity and vicinity, without distinction of party, recommend the organization of a military company, not for ag- gression. but for the protection of ourselves and our county."


A meeting was held in Clarinda on the same day and twenty-seven men were organized into a company merely for home protection. Between the 4th and the 11th of May, companies were organized in Harlan and Buchanan townships with the same purpose in view.


An editorial in the Page County Herald of May 24th, 1861, says:


"Intelligence reached us yesterday of a contemplated attack upon Amity, and in response to their call for assistance, Captain Bowen of Clarinda Guards, marched his company to the threatened place. Captain McCor-


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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY


mick of the Harlan Blues, also marched down with his company, as did Cap- tain Smith with his company. The news of an attack reached Amity through a Union man residing in Missouri, and his information was such that there can be no doubt but the hell-hounds were congregating at Grave, six miles below Amity, for the purpose of making an attack upon the town, but the presence of three hundred armed and drilled men may have deterred them from their purpose for the present, but there is no doubt but that an at- tack is contemplated and will be made as soon as a suitable opportunity presents."


Now there is little doubt, if any, but that this editorial had its in- spiration in the general staff of the military command of the vicinity. The idea that there were three hundred drilled and armed men, in view of the fact that there were not to exceed one hundred and twenty men enrolled. and only a period of not to exceed two weeks in which to drill and equip, and a part of that time having been devoted to plowing corn, it seemed somewhat preposterous. It was evidently a strategic movement of the campaign to impress the enemy with the idea that they were outnumbered by a well disciplined, armed host of men. If this was the intention and there had been a particle of truth in the rumor, the article in the Herald may have gone a long way to defer the attack.


This was not the only time the people of College Springs felt they had cause for alarm. At a later period another call was made for aid and succor, and this time the marshaled host was under command of Cap- tain Whitcomb. However, no attack was made and in fact none occurred during the Civil war.


One day three men on good horses rode up in front of the Delevan House in Clarinda. One of the horsemen was large in stature, and wore a white hat. He was rather a superior looking man. The horsemen hitched their steeds to the sign-post of the hotel and loitered around about the town for a short time, making a few purchases of provisions and other things. Then mounting their horses, they rode on toward the west. At that time Nebraska was known in this part of the country as "Missouri Heaven." because it was the place where all civilly-disposed Missourians were aiming for, no matter what their views might be on questions in- volved in war, and the emigration to that state was made up of Unionists and Confederates, about in equal proportions, they all being desirous of escaping the strenuous time then existing in the border state. But to re- turn to the horsemen: It was not long after they departed before some enterprising person discovered that in all human probability, the largest man of the three was old "Pap" Price, better known in history as Gen- eral Sterling Price, commanding the Confederate forces in Missouri, and that the other two were rebel spies : that their purpose was the locating of a route for the rebel army to make its march on to Des Moines. Only a few hours sufficed to have a detail of home guards at the several crossings of the Nodaway river and Buchanan creek. The three horseman con- tinued their journey and over in Fremont county they excited the sus- picion of the Home Guards and a running skirmish took place, in which.


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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY


according to tradition, a horse or two was shot and, it is presumed, the three men finally escaped further part in the great conflict between the two sections of the country. On another occasion a sorry-looking team hitched to an old wagon stopped on the north side of the square in Clar- inda. It was discovered that under some bedding in the back part of the wagon were two kegs. After the owner of the wagon had continued his way, it was concluded by the citizens of the town that the two kegs con- tained gun poy. der, which was being conveyed to the rebel sympathizers in Nebraska. Captain W. K. Harrel, who commanded the local com- pany, at once sent out a squad of men to investigate the suspicious con- ditions. They overhauled the mover where he was camping out on Snake creek, some four miles west of town, and discovered that the kegs con- tained soap grease. At about this time the general government of the state of Iowa sent some three hundred Springfield muskets into the county and for the first time the militia was really armed.


While matters looked exceedingly serious to the people of Page county during the early days of the war, the probable truth is that they had but little to fear from the people of Missouri, as the people of Nodaway county, that state, were in sympathy with the Union by a large majority and, pos- sibly, the only real danger was from guerrilla bands, that infested the cen- tral portions of the state and sometimes straggling remnants of organized outlaws who made themselves felt near the border. Unquestionably, in the early days of the war, partisan rancor was worked up to an intense pitch and it is yet a matter of wonder that the dire results of the conflict was not felt along the border. There were unquestionably good men, ir- respective of their views, and undoubtedly bad men, without regard to party, who made their home in northeastern Kansas and the parts of Iowa and Missouri mentioned, and many of these bad men were what is com- monly known as gun fighters. Possibly the overland and freight business and the mines of the far west went a long way toward attracting that ele- ment out of the country.


What was known as the Gentry county war offered the greatest amount of interest and excitement of any event in connection with border dis- turbances. This difficulty should be considered separate and apart from the local excitement incident to Page county. It was more general in its nature and embraced a number of counties.


There was a singular incident, or rather coincident, in connection with the organization of the First Regiment, Western Division, Iowa Volunteer Militia. On the 24th of June, 1861, John R. Morledge, commanding the several companies, but yet unorganized as a regiment, issued an order to each captain in Page, Taylor, Adams and Montgomery counties to report with their companies at Clarinda. July 3d, at nine o'clock A. M., for the purpose of forming a regiment to protect the border. In the same order he directed them to bring with them camp equipage sufficient for one night, and one tent for each mess of eight men, and two days' rations for each man, and that they should be discharged on the 4th, when they could re- turn to their respective homes.


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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY


In response to this order, fifteen companies, ten on foot and five mounted, assembled at Clarinda and effected a regimental organization. John R. Morledge of Clarinda was elected colonel, L. F. McCoun, of Bedford, lieutenant colonel, and David Ellison, major. On the evening of the 4th the regiment broke camp and the men started for their homes. At mid- night of the next day, July 5th, Colonel Morledge was called upon by the Union men of Nodaway county, Missouri, for assistance, as the rebels, according to their claim, were about to overpower them and drive them from their homes and the state. Morledge, from midnight until daylight, mustered some two hundred and fifty men and marched to Maryville, where on the third day Colonel Tuttle, with a part of the Second Iowa, arrived on the scene. On the 16th of the month the citizens of Maryville held a public meeting and gave an expression of thanks to "the brave boys of southern Iowa," and among the resolutions adopted, the following ap- pears :


"First, That by their timely aid the backbone of secession in Nodaway was broken and all the horrors of Civil war averted.


"Second, that the presence of Iowa soldiers is a sure antidote for seces- sion.


"Third, That if the ladies of southern lowa are as pretty and modest as their soldiers are brave and generous, the charms of the one and the arms of the other are alike irresistible."


It is safe to say that if this occurrence had taken place a hundred miles south of Maryville, true southern chivalry would have left the word "if" out of the first line of the last resolution. It is a strange oversight on the part of the good people of our neighboring town but the ladies of Page county soon forgot the qualification as to the question of beauty.


Rumors of war were rife about this time on the border. On the 10th of July, 1861, the rebels collected in considerable numbers in Gentry and Worth counties, Missouri, and threatened the Iowa border south of Tay- lor county. Colonel Cranor, who commanded a regiment of Missouri militia, was watching them, and according to the reports of the lowa commanders, undertook to put them down, but that they were too strong for him and that the Confederates advanced to within eight miles of the state line. halting at a place known as Allenville. From what occurred afterwards it may well be doubted if the maneuvers "to put them down" was seriously undertaken. There is nothing in any of the reports of the officers of any one being either wounded, killed or missing. However, it was reported that the rebels, some twelve hundred strong, were fortified on Grand river, with three pieces of artillery and that Cranor had about three hundred Union Missouri men insufficiently armed and over one hundred loval lowa men under his command. On the 18th of the month Colonel Morledge with about five hundred men of his own regiment and two hun- dred volunteers of Fremont county, marched to Cranor's relief. When this force was within a few miles of Allenville it was learned that the rebels had fled to Gentryville, some forty miles south, and that Cranor had been re- inforced from other parts of Missouri. Colonel Morledge, being without


V


NISINABOTNA RIVER AT SHENANDOAH


SCENE IN FOREST PARK. SHENANDOAH


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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY


provisions and with but little ammunition, sent on to Colonel Cranor two companies of infantry and one of cavalry, in command of Lieutenant Col- onel McCoun, and marched the rest of his force back to Taylor county, Iowa, where the men were discharged. In the meantime, troops of all kinds, both militia and volunteers, were being pushed by Governor Kirk- wood, of Iowa, to the prospective battlefield. John Edwards, the governor's aid-de-camp, was concentrating militia at Chariton and Allenville and orders had been sent to Burlington and Keokuk for two pieces of artillery. Colonel Dodge, with two hundred and fifteen men, left Camp Kirkwood, near Council Bluffs, on the morning of the 23d, and three miles south of Glen- wood was reinforced by a company of twenty-four men, with two six- pound field pieces. Colonel Dodge arrived at Clarinda and went into camp about noon on the 26th, the distance marched being about seventy- five miles in less than three days. From the Colonel's rapid movement it is not a matter of surprise that he afterwards attained the rank of major general and commanded a corps in Grant's and Sherman's armies. Even before reaching Clarinda he began to receive news of the strangest kind from the seat of war, and at Clarinda the rumors were confirmed. An extract from the report of Colonel Edwards to Governor Kirkwood fully explains the strangest proceedings that occurred in the annals of the Civil war :


"On reaching Camp Drake I ascertained that messengers had just ar- rived from Colonel Cranor's command, conveying the information that the belligerents, then within four miles of each other, had made a treaty of peace. I have seen a copy of it and it is in substance as follows: ‘Each party was to lay down its arms, return home and assist each other in en- forcing the laws of Missouri against all offenders.' This was a decided victory gained by the rebels, as the terms were general and embraced the obnoxious military bill of that state, and such laws as the rebel legislature, then in session in the southern part of the state of Missouri might there- after pass, under the auspices of Governor Jackson. Colonel Cranor re- sides in the neighborhood of a large body of secessionists and was no doubt influenced to enter into such a treaty in consequence of intimidation and threats against his life and property."




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