USA > Iowa > Sac County > History of Sac County, Iowa > Part 13
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prevent the extension of slavery, but one that would eventually be used to destroy slavery in those states in which it already existed.
In 1860 four presidential tickets were in the field. Abraham Lincoln was the candidate of the Republicans, Stephen A. Douglas of the National Demo- crats, John C. Breckenridge of the Pro-Slavery interests, and John Bell of the Constitutional-Union party. The latter party was chiefly made up from the old American or Know-Nothing party. Early in the campaign there were threats of secession and disunion in case Lincoln was elected President. But the people were so accustomed to threats from the South that little heed was paid to it.
On December 20, 1860, South Carolina, by a convention of delegates, de- clared "That the Union now existing between South Carolina and the other states of the American Federation is dissolved, and that the state of South Carolina has resumed her position among the nations of the earth as a free and sovereign and independent state, with full power to levy war and conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and do all things which inde- pendent states may of right do."
On the 24th Governor Pickens issued a proclamation declaring that "South Carolina is, and has the right to be. free and independent as a state. and as such has right to levy war, conclude peace, and do all acts whatsoever that rightfully appertain to a free and independent state."
On the 26th Major .Anderson evacuated Fort Moultrie and occupied Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor. Two days previously he wrote President Bu- chanan's secretary of war, John B. Floyd, as follows: "When I inform you that my garrison consists of only sixty effective men, and that we are in very indifferent works, the walls of which are only fourteen feet high ; and that we have, within one hundred and sixty yards of our fort, sand hills which com- mand our works and which afford admirable sites for batteries and the finest coverts for sharpshooters ; and that besides this there are numerous houses, some of which are in pistol range, and you will at once see that if attacked in force, headed by anyone but a simpleton, there is scarcely a possibility of our being able to hold out long enough for our friends to come to our succor."
His appeals for reinforcements were seconded by Gen. Winfield Scott, but unheeded by President Buchanan, and entirely ignored by Secretary of War John B. Floyd.
On the 28th South Carolina troops occupied Fort Moultrie and Castle Pinckney, and hoisted the Palmetto flag on the ramparts. On the 20th John B. Floyd resigned his place in the cabinet, charging that the President, in re-
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fusing to remove Major Anderson from Charleston harbor, designed to plunge the country into civil war, and added: "I cannot consent to be the agent of such a calamity."
On that same day the South Carolina commissioners presented their offi- cial credentials at Washington, which on the next day were declined. Georgia declared secession January 2, 1861, and took possession of the United States arsenal in Augusta and Forts Pulaski and Jackson. The Southern states, one by one, kept "going out of the Union," as secession was termed. On Febru- ary Ist the rebels seized the United States mint at New Orleans. February 9th, that year, a provisional constitution was adopted at Montgomery, Ala- bama, it being the constitution of the United States "reconstructed" to suit their purpose. Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, was chosen president, and Alexander H. Stevens, of Georgia, vice-president of the "Confederate States of North America." Jeff Davis was inaugurated February 18, 1861, and President Lincoln on March 4th. April 12, 1861, the surrender of Fort Sum- ter was demanded of Major Anderson, but he stoutly protested. Fire was at once commenced upon the little garrison of about sixty men by thousands of guns in the hands of the rebel troops. Sunday morning, April 14th, the news flashed everywhere over the country that Fort Sumter had been surrendered by the brave commander. Thus commenced the long-drawn-out Civil war.
"Slow to resolve. be swift to Do! Teach ye the False, how fights the True!"
On Monday, April 15th, President Lincoln issued this famous procla- mation to the people of the country :
"I'hereas, The laws of the United States have for some time past, and are now opposed and the execution thereof obstructed. in the states of South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, by combina- tions too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial pro- ceedings, or by the powers vested in the marshals ; now therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution and the laws, have thought to call forth the militia of the several states of the Union to the number of seventy-five thousand, in order to suppress said combinations and to cause the laws to be duly executed.
"The details for this subject will be immediately communicated to the state authorities through the war department. I appeal to all loyal citizens to favor, facilitate, and to aid this effort to maintain the honor, the integrity
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and the existence of our National Union and the perpetuity of popular government, and to redress wrongs long endured. I deem it proper to say that the first services assigned to the forces hereby called forth will probably be to re-possess the forts, places and property which have been seized from the Union ; and in every event the utmost care will be observed, consistently with the object aforesaid, to avoid any devastation, any destruction of or interference with property, or any disturbance of peaceful citizens in any part of the country ; and I hereby command the persons composing the com- binations aforesaid to disperse and retire peaceably to their respective abodes, within twenty days from this date.
"Deeming the present condition of public affairs presents an extra- ordinary occasion, I do hereby, by virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution, convene both Houses of Congress. The senators and repre- sentatives are, therefore, summoned to assemble at their respective chambers at twelve o'clock noon, on Thursday the fourth day of July next, then and there to consider and determine such measures as in their wisdom the pub- lic safety and interest may seem to demand.
"In witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
"Done at the city of Washington, the fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and of the inde- pendence of the United States the eighty-fifth. "By the President.
"ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
"W. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State."
Seventy-five thousand men were not enough to crush the South-no nor did ten times that number suffice, but the work of raising men under the numerous calls-75.000, 200,000, 300,000, 500,000 and other calls-was pushed forward in order to raise a sufficient force to put down the Rebellion. Iowa furnished more than seventy thousand men, from first to last, in the civil conflict.
Coming now to the history made in that war by the people of Sac county, it should be stated that when Fort Sumter was fired upon in April. 1861, the population in this county was only two hundred and forty-six persons. At the end of the war it had only reached a few more than three hundred, hence it could not be expected that many soldiers could be mustered from Sac county in defense of the flag of the Union.
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During the civil conflict Sac county did all in her power to furnish volunteers and care for soldiers' families while such men were fighting at the front in the Southland. The minutes of the board of county super- visors in 1863 notes this : "Ordered, that Sarah E. Cory be allowed the sum of fourteen dollars out of the volunteers fund."
Another order in December of the same year reads : "Ordered that the board offer seventy-five dollars each to any four men who shall volunteer in the United States service, by January 5, 1864."
Other such entries include the following: That "Thirteen dollars be allowed from the volunteer's fund of Sac county to the wife of William Allen, a soldier's wife, who has four children to care for." This was protested by M. S. Lee, member of the board, on the ground that Mr. Allen was not accredited to Sac county by the military records of the department.
In 1864 the war was beginning to be more frightful and serious than at any time before that. In January of that year, the board made this entry : "Ordered that the county offer three hundred dollars to any four men who shall volunteer under the last call of President Lincoln for more troops."
In February, 1864, it was raised to three hundred dollars for any single man who would enlist in the Union army from Sac county.
The great war ended on April 9, 1865. and in August of the same year. thinking well of the valiant services rendered by Sac county soldiers, the board of supervisors made this resolution: "Ordered that Sac county pay the sum of three hundred dollars to each soldier volunteer accredited to this county, who has not already received a bounty for his enlistment." With this was the following patriotic resolution: "Therefore be it resolved, that the prayer of certain petitioners in Sac county, Iowa, be granted with the following expression of sentiment, viz: First, that three hundred dollars bounty be allowed to each soldier who served in said military service from Sac county. Iowa, as so accredited. in putting down the Rebellion-that is, he who really enlisted from Sac county. Second, that the board shall be the judges of who shall receive said bounty, when sufficient evidence is produced. Third, that said bounty shall be paid in the shape of orders drawn on the volunteer fund of said county and delivered after being drawn and shall draw interest from their dates at the rate of ten per cent. per annum until paid."
In September, 1865. it is shown that it was "Ordered that James P. Kromer and James Shelmerdine each be paid three hundred dollars bounty."
The last of such entries appears to be that of October, 1865, when
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William Cory was allowed three hundred dollars bounty from the volun- teer's fund of Sac county.
From year to year the needy soldiers have been cared for by the county. as well as by the general government. In 1910 the "relief fund" for soldiers in Sac county amounted to one thousand seven hundred and three dollars.
According to the state census reports of 1905, the classified list of Union soldiers residing in Sac county at that date is as follows: Total number soldiers, in county, 176; number who enlisted in lowa regiments, 53 : number in Illinois regiments, 45: number in Wisconsin regiments 21 : number in Indiana regiments, 10; number in Ohio regiments, 10.
VETERANS IN 1884.
From a list published in the Sac Sun in 1884, the following appears to have been the correct list of Civil war veterans drawing pensions in Sac county, given by towns :
Odebolt-H. W. Vandermark, B. F. Stearns, Mart Shelley, John D. Evans, George W. Johnson, widow of comrade Mckinney, Cornelius Shea. Arthur H. Montgomery. George Long. William F. Bettis, Jacob Meyer, Catherine (widow of comrade ) Mummy, John H. Scott, Asa B. Smith, Charles R. Dingman, Owen K. Boort. John Guilford, John W. Savage. James Level. Hiram B. Smith, Marsh Duane, Simeon Bowker. James M. Stratton.
Sac City-Farnsworth Cobb. A. M. Cory, Denziel Clark, William E. Cooper, Joseph K. Staton. Henry W. Shumake, Byron Hovey, Charles W. Hammond. Harman A. Jones, Alexander Watterson, Catherine ( widow of comrade) O'Shea, John T. Wallen, Johanna (widow of comrade) King, William L. Reed, Eli Haradon, Sarah B. ( widow of comrade) Grimes, Francis M. Rother, David Ross. McClosky. James E. Armstrong. Truman Churchill.
Wall Lake-Adam Hovender, Wallace Bedford, George Blass, Horace B. Allen. Nathan Allen, William Johnston.
Early-James Magclin, Clarrissa ( widow of comrade ) McClure. James Shelmerdine.
Fletcher (now Lake View)-Charles Potts.
Grant City-Orin C. Crandall.
Total number, fifty-eight; total amount received monthly as pension, $476.33.
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SAC COUNTY'S FIRST CAMP FIRE.
In September, 1884. there occurred a splendid old soldiers' Grand Army campfire, in the beautiful grove of the late Judge Eugene Criss, a half mile to the east of Sac City, lasting three days and over. It was participated in by many adjoining towns and cities, and thousands of comrades attended, be- sides as many more civilians. The grounds were in excellent condition and at their entrance there stood several brazen cannon ready to belch forth on a moment's warning. The program commenced on Tuesday morning, when cannon boomed and musketry was heard up and down the Coon valley, as it had been on Southern battle fields in the Civil-war period. The night was made noisy throughout the entire hours, the "boys" who had worn the blue were in evidence on every hand, in and out of town, with guns and without. It rained during the night, but that made no difference. the old veterans were not afraid of the elements, but kept thinking of other nights of rain and storm, far from home and friends, in a real enemy's land.
On the second day there was a great sham battle enacted and success- fully fought between the North and South. This was on the Sac county fair grounds. The Union forces were in command of "General" P. H. Hankins, and the rebel forces were under command of "Lieut .- General" D. Cars- kaddon. The following is a pen picture of the engagement by the editor of the Sac Sun James N. Miller, who was a veteran and took part in the battle : "Finding the fire from the fort too hot for the skirmishers General Hankins ordered up the reserve commanded by 'Brigadier-Generals' Webster and Goldsmith ( assumed titles. ) They presented a fine appearance as they marched in solid phalanx across the open field, flags and banners streaming and the band playing inspiring strains under a fearful fire from the rebels, who could be seen mustering their clans for the final conflict. Halting within a hundred yards of the fort. the order to charge was given and with fixed bayonets the boys sprang forward with wild cheers. But within twenty yards of the fort the fire became too hot for mortal men to endure, and for once they wavered, then halted. and finally fled, while the rebels poured out over the breast-works in pursuit. It seemed as if the day was lost, but it was only for a moment. By the superhuman effort of its officers, the line was halted and again formed for a second charge. It seemed like certain death to face the fierce fire from the fort, but it was death or capture to re- main. The ammunition was almost exhausted and nothing remained but to charge. "General" Rother was ordered with his command on the left, which
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he proceeded to do with great success. Again the order to charge was given, and the boys sprang forward with a wild cheer, answered from the rebel fort with a yell of defiance, and a fire that told of deadly effect upon the ad- vancing foe. Not a shot was fired by the Union forces, until they sprang upon the breastworks, when they poured forth a volley with such terrible re- sults that the gray coats turned and ran for their lives, leaving their dead and wounded. Allee Post captured the flag and Company E took the staff. Cheer after cheer rent the air and the victory was complete. General Cars- kaddon and all his staff were captured, with three thousand men, the balance of his force escaping across the Cedar river, the Union forces being too much exhausted to follow them. It was a glorious victory and settled the fates of the invading army, which only two days before had come flushed with high hopes of a conquest."
Following the battle, dress parade was held by Commander Hankins and the camp was formally disbanded. Most of the veterans departed by train or otherwise, and the night passed in peace and quietude. The next day the tents were struck, the flags furled and the camp ( which was called Camp Eugene Criss, after him who owned the land) resumed the normal state. The old veterans of the Civil War returned to their homes refreshed and inspired by the stirring scenes and each resolved that so long as life lasted the memory of the great conflict should not pass away.
The commands that participated in this reunion of soldiers. and who fought the sham battle, included the following, with some others: Sac City Post No. 284; Jeff C. Davis Post No. 44, of Carroll ; Allee Post No. 113, of Manson; Sons of Veterans Post No. III, Scranton; Lander Post No. 156, Lake City ; Col. Goodrich Post No. 117, Odebolt ; McPherson Post No. 33, Manning : C. C. Washburn Post No. 282, Grant City; N. P. Wright Post No. 291, Glidden ; Bud Hazen Post No. 237, Luck Valley; Belle Post, Kingsley: John T. Compton Post, Churdan: Opedyke Post No. 322, Rock- well City ; Company E, Iowa National Guards, Carroll.
In 1886 a second reunion and campfire was held by the soldiers of this section at Sac City, at which almost five hundred veterans were in attendance. Among the features of the occasion was the hanging of a spy and the drum- ming out of camp of a supposed hog thief. Gen. Josiah Given, of Des Moines, was one of the prominent speakers. A sham battle was also fought this year, as on the former occasion. The gate receipts were about nine hundred dollars. Colonel Temple presented his famous "Union Spy." as-
(9)
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sisted by local talent. It was by all odds the finest event of all at that re- union. Among the persons who took part as actors and actresses in this play, may be recalled the names of home-folk as follows: Messrs. Parker, Hart, Goldsmith, Derby and Mrs. Nutter, Mrs. Hart, Mrs. Derby, Miss Lola Early and Charlie Woodward.
A campfire was held at Wall Lake in February, 1887, and, notwithstand- ing the fact that the mercury was twenty-two degrees below zero, the soldiers assembled from Sac City. Wall Lake, Lake City and Odebolt and, with the assistance of the ladies, had a most enjoyable occasion. A good supper was prepared by the ladies and the company listened to a rousing speech from Captain Head, of Jefferson.
A great soldiers' reunion for all northwestern Iowa was held at Sac City, in June, 1890, which brought its thousands of old veterans here.
SOLDIERS' MONUMENTS.
Among the beautiful soldiers' monuments in Sac county is the one at Sac City, in Monumental square, opposite the court house, erected by a one- mill tax provided for by law, in 1892. It was built at an expense of three thousand four hundred and seventy-two dollars, and dedicated November 21, 1894, when it was unveiled in the presence of a large throng of people from all parts of this and adjoining counties. Hon. Philip Schaller acted as pre- siding officer of the day. The cord which held the draping of the statute was unloosened by little Miss Emily Needham, of Lake View. Chairman A. B. Smith, of Odebolt, presented the monument to the county, and was replied to by County Supervisor M. E. Wright. I. A. Cory, who fifed on the same spot in 1861 to recruit volunteers, was called out and played again the stirring music he had played thirty-four years before. The speaker of the day was Hon. George D. Perkins, member of Congress and editor of the Sioux City Journal, who made a long, telling and well-received oration. Dur- ing his remarks he stated, "Sac county was a babe in the arms of Iowa when the Civil War broke out. It was little then that you could give. The federal census only gave you two hundred and forty-seven population in 1860, and of course not many could be expected from so few, but you sent some, even under the early calls and Sac county is thereby credited with ten or a dozen altogether. But after the war many soldiers returned and sought homes and fought here as pioneers. Iowa and Sac county owes to them a debt of grati- tude. You have put up this monument here for the Union soldiers ; a tribute
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to the defenders, in the name of the soldier citizenship of Sac county for the republic. In this broad spirit you dedicate your work and in this spirit it is to be remembered of you while its foundations endure."
So large was the throng in attendance that the opera hall would not hold the people and the Presbyterian church was used for an overflow place, and there Mr. Perkins spoke for a short time, as well as several others, including Reverend Whitfield, Chairman Charles Early and others. Campfires were held at the Methodist Episcopal church in the evening and also at the Baptist Institute chapel, W. J. Dixon presiding at the former and W. H. Hart at the latter.
This monument was erected by contractors Woods, McNeely & Com- pany, of Marshalltown, Iowa, from Barre granite, and the bronze statue was by the world-famous Maurice J. Powers, of New York. The Hon. George D. Perkins secured through Congress four five-ton condemned cannon, which defend each of the four corners of the park, now so attractive to the passers- by. The monument consists of four bases and the entire structure is nine- teen feet high, with the volunteer infantrymen in bronze surmounting the granite shaft and spacious bases. The weight of the monument is thirty- two tons.
The corner-stone was laid with Masonic rites, August 5. 1892. The Iowa State Band and several drum corps were present. Addresses were made by W. H. Hart, of Sac City, and pioneer E. Criss served as officer of the day. Many articles were deposited in the corner-stone.
The names of every soldier who served from Sac county in the Civil War has been inscribed upon this monument, except "Chan" Browning, Laws and John Bugr, and this list is as follows:
George C. Browning, Company D. Sixteenth Iowa Infantry, died Febru- ary 28. 1864.
William Cory, Company H, Tenth Iowa Infantry, died June 6. 1886.
Harvey W. Cory, Company H, Tenth Iowa Infantry.
Thaddeus A. Grey Company C. Eighth Iowa Infantry.
John Alexander, Second Battery of Light Artillery, died February 19, 1908.
J. W. Tiberghien, Company H, Eighth Iowa Infantry.
Henry C. Hubbard, Company A, Twenty-sixth lowa Infantry. died January 2, 1863.
James Shelmerdine, Company A. Twenty-sixth Infantry.
James Kromer, Company A. Twenty-sixth Iowa Infantry.
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George W. Birch, Company A, Twenty-sixth Iowa Infantry, died De- cember 19, 1881.
William G. Wine, Company I, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry.
Hugh Cory, Company K, Seventh lowa Cavalry.
C. W. Tuffs, Company B, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, died November 10, 1876.
George W. Porter, Company L, Fourth Iowa Cavalry.
John Duncan, Company L, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, died October 15, 1903.
WV. R. Nevin, Company M, Sixth lowa Cavalry, died September 17, 1896.
Jeremiah Bugr, Company E, Sixth Iowa Cavalry.
J. O. Tuffs, Company D, Sixteenth Iowa Infantry, died June 21, 1903. On the sides of the base of the monument are the words "Shiloh," "Gettysburg." "Vicksburg," and "Winchester," while on the one side of the shaft is the inscription, "Erected by the Citizens of Sac County, Iowa, to the Memory of Her Soldier Heroes of the Civil War."
"Dedicated November 21, 1894."
Another fine monument to the heroes of the Rebellion is that erected in the new addition of Oakland cemetery, which is described in the city chapter of this work.
INSPECTION OF THE IOWA SOLDIERS' HOME.
Under appointment, Hon. Phil Schaller, of Sac City, in 1906 inspected the Soldiers' Home, at Marshalltown, and in his report he gives the follow- ing as the daily allowance for food stuffs at that state institution : 355 pounds of beef ; 300 pounds of iness pork, bacon or sausage, or 380 pounds of pork loin, or 350 pounds of ham, along with 40 pounds of sugar, 200 pounds of flour, 20 pounds of coffee, two pounds of tea, five bushels of potatoes, 160 gallons of milk, 40 pounds of butter, and two bushels of beans and pickles and other relishes.
THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.
In the spring of 1898 war was declared against the government of Spain, and President William McKinley issued the following proclamation : "Whereas, a joint resolution of Congress was approved on the twentieth day of April, 1898, entitled 'Joint resolution for the recognition of the inde- pendence of the people of Cuba, demanding that the government of Spain
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relinquish its authority and government in the island of Cuba, and to with- draw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters, and directing the President of the United States to use the land and naval forces of the United States to carry these resolutions into effect,' and
"Whereas, by an act of Congress entitled 'An act to provide for tem- porarily increasing the military establishments of the United States in time of war and for other purposes,' approved April 22, 1898, the President was authorized, in order to raise a volunteer army, to issue his proclamation call- ing for volunteers to serve in the Army of the United States :
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