USA > Iowa > Story County > History of Story County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization. > Part 32
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The fact is that before the war was over such bounty was offered by the county, and paid and sometime after the war the matter was equalized by the payment of similar amounts to the soldiers who had enlisted without waiting for a bounty. The amount of bounties paid up to the close of the war, but not including the subsequent equalization of bounties, was completed by the editor of the Ægis, who was also county clerk, as follows :
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Bounty to soldiers $ 4,850
Bounty to soldiers' families 12,200
Relief to soldiers' families 1,100
Relief by aid societies (estimated) 500
Cash and goods to Sanitary Commission
1,000
Total
$19,650
THE SOLDIERS' ORPHANS.
In the time of the war nearly all of the systematic home work of a charitable order, had for its object the comfort of the soldiers in the field, or the care of the soldiers' families at home. And toward the close of the war, the phase of this work which appears to have engaged the largest measure of attention was the founding of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at Davenport. This institution was afterward taken over by the state, but it was inaugurated as a corporate benevolence with a number of the leading men of the state as the incorporators. The movement for the institution was well started and it appealed to the widest and best public sentiment. In the decade or more following the war, the institution thus founded, was one of the most useful in the state and its usefulness as an institution for the care of children especially needing the attention of the state may be said still to continue. But the original purpose for which the institution was founded, was in fact accomplished in the ten or fifteen years follow- ing the war, for the reason that in about that time the supply of soldiers' orphans of suitable age had about run out.
But at the close of the war, there were in the state, a lot of small chil- dren, who had the strongest sort of a claim upon the people of the state, which claim the people had every disposition to honor. In this part of the state the movement for the support of the institution, centered largely in a fair which was held at Marshalltown in September, 1865. For this fair, contributions of articles had been solicited and made all over this part of the state, and when the fair was held there was a general turn out. Among those who went down from Nevada to the fair, was the editor of the Ægis from whose report it may be best judged about how the people were trying to proceed in their efforts to do justice to the soldiers' orphans. The editor's report was as follows :
"We stole a march on time last week and visited the orphans' fair at Marshalltown. Taking the train on Wednesday noon in ninety minutes we caught sight of the booths and banners of the fair, and soon were swelter- ing through the torrid atmosphere to the scene of operations. We must acknowledge our indebtedness to our friends, Messrs. Woodbury, Abel Wil- liams and others, who took us and our party in charge and soon showed us the ropes whereby we secured an eligible tent and the other etceteras necessary to commence the nomadic life we proposed to indulge in while on
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this excursion. Of the fair proper we do not propose to give a description, as most of our readers are subscribers to the 'Spirit of the Fair,' in whose columns the works of art and other matters pertaining to the exhibition have had appropriate mention. Having bought our entry ticket, we went to the gate, and a man with a red ribbon on his breast said 'go in,' and taking him as he meant we proceeded to go in. The first 'go in' we ex- perienced was induced by a beautiful damsel with a cerulean eye whose brows were shaded by one of the new a-la-mode bread basket hats and who held in her hand a tiny pass book and a black lead pencil. She showed us a fine piano which she assured us we would certainly draw in the lot- tery, and we bought it, paying the cerulean-eyed lass two dollars and fifty cents therefor. We are expecting it by every train, and when it comes are going to set it up in our sanctum and have the 'devil' play upon its thou- sand strings to assuage the pangs of a broken heart and scare away the mice. Having bought the piano, we turned away, and our eyes caught the floating drapery of a five feet nine bloomer, who was lanquidly peram- bulating through the sand towards the bureau of agricultural implements. While admiring the faultless motion of her hands, as she expatiated upon the merits of a four horse McCormick reaper, whose intricacies she was explaining to a white-haired youth with a beveled hat and eye glass, and which said youth sported waxed mustaches in the form of a -; while wrapped in these contemplations we say, including observations of a pair of pretty ankles which sustained this tower of loveliness, we were as- saulted by another damsel with red ripe lips and a certain hazy atmosphere in her peepers, prognostic of a shower of tears, on slightest provocation, who demanded of us, 'Would we take a share in her afghan?' Still having in our mind the Acadian life we proposed to lead while at the fair and pre- suming this nymph to be the proprietress of a booth where all care was driven away, and which for the poetry implied in the name she chose to denominate her 'afghan,' we said we'd share. Ah, how her eye brightened at those words of ours! With what an angelic smile she turned and waved us to follow! We followed, smacking our lips in fond anticipation of mint-juleps, flavored with nectar and embellished with pretzels, or per- haps we would be treated to some other rare ambrosia dealt out by some fair damsel who should gaze sympathetically upon us as we cooled our internal thirst with the icy lotion. Our fall was complete, when instead of sherbets or nectar or soda water or even lager beer, we beheld before our astonished eyes a great fancy colored woolen horse blanket. But we were 'going in,' and we suffered ourself to be taken in, and gave the last dollar in our name. At that instant her liquid eye caught the glance of a modest bachelor from our town who had just escaped from the clutches of a female with wire twist curls and the attempts to sell him a full suit of nicely embroidered little girl's clothes. The last we saw of liquid eyes she stood wonderingly gazing at the modest bachelor, and he stood gazing at the wondrous 'afghan.' At this moment we caught sight of our Agatha
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Ann, who had been covertly watching our motions and who now came up to us in fever heat and proceeded to 'go in.' We charitably drop the veil over this domestic scene, not wishing by word or pen to discourage the rapidly rising tendency to marry, displayed by our returned boys. Suffice it to say, we soon found ourselves 'going out,' and when we next went in we had prudent counsels whispered continuously in our ear."
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CHAPTER XXVI. THE CLOSE OF THE WAR.
SCENES PICTURED BY THE EGIS.
The temper of the people, while the great drama of the war was being brought to a close, their rejoicing over the victories, their terrible grief over the assassination of Lincoln and their resentments afterwards were all very clearly depicted in the editorial columns of the Ægis during this time. A historical review of the time would be quite incomplete without some lib- eral citations from this source, and we are fortunate in being able here to quote from the contemporary expressions and reports of Editor John M. Brainard.
Perhaps, however, the series of quotations had better begin with an issue in May, 1864, in which were reports and comments concerning the battle of Pleasant Hill. Story County had been strongly represented in the very forefront of this battle in both the Fourteenth and Thirty-second Iowa regiments. Both regiments had suffered notably, and the editor said : "For the first time since the contest commenced have we at home been called to mourn for friends and neighbors killed and wounded in battle in such numbers as at present. It adds no little to the poignancy of our sor- row that their loss was without avail, that no enduring success was achieved by their sacrifice. * * In the light of this great sorrow what is glory or honor to the poor weeping wife and helpless children? What shall still the heart of her who fears and trembles for him who is reported missing? The painful uncertainty attending the fate of prisoners in the hands of such scoundrels as the rebels have lately been, is more unendurable than the sad knowledge that our friend is dead. We can only tender our sym- pathies in common with the whole public to the sorrow-stricken friends and patiently wait and hope for more cheering news."
As the last scenes in the war were being enacted, there was joy and oc- casion for joy. The fall of Richmond was chronicled thus in the first report : "The news of the capture of Richmond was received by our people about noon on Monday last by favor of Mr. Mills, the telegraph operator at this place, and was at first hardly credited; but by noon of the next day we all knew it was a sure thing, and the bunting was flung out. At this
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writing (Tuesday) the big flag floats from the top of the school house; the Ægis office has its rag out, the bells are ringing and the boys and men are bawling until all are hoarse. Posters are out calling the people together for a grand jubilee at the court house tonight, and all feel gay. Business is irksome, and all feel, Let 'er swing."
"P. S .- The jubilation at the court house was well attended. The build- ing was illuminated, as was the school house and many residences of the town. Bonfires were burning in the streets, and general hilarity prevailed. Speeches were made by Captain Hambleton, Colonel Scott, Sheriff Hoggatt and others, all brim full of patriotism and good feeling."
And then again, the fall of Richmond was elaborated at a date in fact after Lee's surrender but apparently before the news thereof had been re- ceived. This article was fitly entitled, "The Great Rejoicing," and it ran as follows:
"The outburst of joy throughout the loyal states over the fall of Rich- mond was the most universal and heartfelt that has been enjoyed since the surrender of Vicksburg, and as compared with that occasion it is deeper and with better reason. The capture of the city of Richmond, besides being the culmination of the hopes and struggles of the gallant army for four long years, entails in its fall the sure and, may we not confidently hope, the speedy end of the rebellion and of fighting. Lee's shattered forces, broken and dispirited, are melting away before the tempestuous charges of Sheridan's army, and if not totally annihilated, will so far have lost cohesion and morale as an army as to cease to be an object worthy of the solicitude of our generals, their only use to serve as a body guard to cover the retreat and escape of their chief.
"But the capture of Richmond means more to the nation than mere oc- cupancy and possession of the strongest fortified town and the rout of its defending army. It is by public acknowledgment of its defenders the last ditch of the rebellion. When New Orleans and Vicksburg fell, we were still pointed to Richmond as defiantly baffling and to baffle all our efforts. When Atlanta and Charleston and Columbia were in ruins and the popula- tion of Savannah were crouching like whipped curs at the feet of Sherman, the proud finger still pointed to Richmond, inclosing in its defence the 'government' of the confederacy. So long as the city stood and the traitors went through the mocking forms and kept up the pomp and circumstance of the national authority, so long there was a gleam of hope for the most despairing, and so much longer could the southern soldier be induced to fight.
"With the fall of the city falls the last hope of the rebellion-falls the spirit of the soldiers-fall the hope of foreign monarchs and aristocrats of seeing the dismemberment and destruction of the model republic; and in like proportion arises the hope of the loyal of our country and of the op- pressed in all the nations of the earth, who are and have been looking with painful interest in this great struggle between justice and error. And for
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all this, let the people praise God for His manifold blessings to us as a nation."
The next issue of the Ægis reported Lee's surrender, the capture of Mobile, the negotiations in North Carolina for the surrender of Johnston to Sherman and the practical collapse of the rebellion; but there was no en- thusiasm over such consummation, for the joy had gone from the hearts of the people when the news had come of Lincoln's assassination. The editor reports the reception of the news as follows:
"The saddest record we have been called upon to make during our ex- perience as a journalist in this place is that of the universal gloom which pervaded our people (without exception, we believe we can truly say) on Saturday last upon the reception of the news of the untimely death of President Lincoln. As the stunning intelligence flew from mouth to mouth, each lip became pallid in the communication, proud heads bowed as the stricken oak before the storm, and tears unbidden started from eyes long unused to weep. Old men turned away their heads and wept, and young men ground their teeth and stamped their feet in rage. There was only wanting some tangible object to give vent to their feelings. Mothers and sisters who had mourned a husband, brother, father, offered up at the shrine of their country's altar, again unsealed the fountains of their tears and mourned anew the loss of our national father. When the sad intelligence was fully confirmed by successive dispatches, by common consent the places of public business were closed, their door knobs clothed with crape, the farmers stopped their trading and sadly entering their wagons, returned sorrowfully to their homes; the smith his anvil ceased to ring; the law- yers and the mechanics dropped their calling and either shut themselves in silent communication with their grief or went abroad in search of sympathy and consolation. Flags were raised at half-mast and draped in mourning from the Ægis office and other buildings. So passed the day, still as the Sabbath, while anxious squads waited impatiently the reception of special dispatches ordered from the agent of the Associated Press in Chicago."
And writing more elaborately under the heading of "Our Fallen Chief," he says :
"Our chief is fallen. Lincoln is dead. Such was the intelligence which crushed like a dead weight upon the hearts of the nation but a few short days ago-so cruelly crushed when they were abounding with high hope and yet joyous over the news of important victories. Now, like King David, we exclaim: 'O, my son Absalom! my son, my son, Absalom! Would God that I had died for thee! O, Absalom, my son, my son !'
"The cruel bullet did too well its fatal work. The column of his life is broken! and the nation mourns their fallen father Abraham. Through the dark quartette of years just gone his was the mind and voice 'com- manding, aiding, animating all, where foe appeared to press or friend to fall.'
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"To the weak eyes of human mind his loss seems irreparable. And yet, we should never forget that our trust as a nation is in God, which faith is well founded; that though 'He moves in a mysterious way, yet He doeth all things well.'
"From out the chaos of events this affliction has arisen, and was evi- dently given us as a lesson, needed perhaps in the wild rejoicing of the people, when the mind and heart of man forgets to praise Him and says: 'By my own right hand have I done it all'-needed to teach us that our strength is not in man but in Providence."
And two weeks still later, the local memorial to the first martyr presi- dent was reported as follows :
"Last Thursday, the day appointed by the governor as a day of services throughout the state in memory of our deceased president, was appro- priately observed in Nevada. A procession was formed on the south square at eleven o'clock, in which were represented the Masonic society, the Good Templars, Sabbath schools, soldiers and citizens. The procession, after passing through several streets, halted at the school house; and in open air (no house being large enough to accommodate the assembly) the president, Hon. G. M. Maxwell, in a few appropriate words announced the object of the gathering and called on Mr. Reid to open the exercises with prayer. Colonel John Scott was then introduced as the speaker of the occasion, and in an address of considerable length recounted much of the history of the departed president, incidentally referring to many matters connected with our national history during his career as the chief executive, and paying a glowing tribute to his many noble qualities both of mind and heart. Music was improvised for the occasion by a quartette under the direction of Prof. Doughty, the regularly chosen choir having, for some of those mysterious reasons known and appreciated only by singers, failed at the eleventh hour to make their appearance. The failure was doubtless regretted; but the quartette rendered the 'Death of Ellsworth,' modified to suit the different circumstances, in a manner that brought tears to many an eye in the con- gregation. Business was suspended and many of the buildings were draped in mourning; while the black and white rosette was seen on the dress of most present. The whole affair was an earnest of the deep sympathy and sorrow of our people in the loss of the great and good man, Abraham Lin- coln."
A fortnight further on the civil chief of the confederacy had been cap- tured and public interest had returned to the doings of the day, and the editor was accordingly moved to jubilate, that is more suggestive of the sentiment of the time than of an accurate forecasting of events. The editor said :
"Jeff Davis was caught on the morning of Wednesday last at Irwins- ville, Georgia, attempting to escape to the woods dressed in his wife's petti- coats. When brought to bay by our troops he brandished a huge bowie, but was finally persuaded to give up by the presentation of several re-
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volvers. He is on his way to Washington under strong guard. We see that it is a question whether Jeff Davis will be tried for murder or treason. We hope the latter. As a murderer he was guilty perhaps of the death of one man, President Lincoln, but as a traitor he was accessory to the death of tens of thousands, and for this let him hang. Let it be recorded in history that high treason is a crime for which arch-traitors are hung. Jefferson Davis has now after four years of earnest search we hope found or is about to find his 'last ditch' to which may he be permitted to descend from the highest limb of the highest 'sour apple tree.'"
But reports of troubles of one sort or another, incident to the fact that there were copperheads in the country, continued to come in; and one lead- ing article in the Ægis recounts the treatment that was accorded to indis- creet rebel sympathizers by loyal people during the period of excitement following the assassination of Lincoln. E. G. Day on his way home from New Madrid had seen at Mendota, Illinois, a man being paraded around and subjected to sundry indignities and having also a placard on his back, "The Mendota Traitor." Sheriff Hoggatt had happened to be in Clinton on his way to Fort Madison with the murderer McMullen, when the news of the assassination came. A few minutes before a character there had called the president a "baboon;" and when the news came the crowd started after him, pounded him and ran him across the bridge into Illinois. Up in Mason City, according to the Cerro Gordo Republican, a woman had said of the assassination that "she was glad of it and hoped the deed was done by her brother." The other women took her out and ducked her, blacked her face and marched her up the street, while they sang, "We'll rally round the Flag." The list of incidents is followed with a suggestion of caution to the lady in this community "who clapped her hands and Herodias-like danced for joy that 'the old tyrant had gone to the devil.' "
Another story of the attempts of people to get together in the border country after the war is related a little later by the Ægis. It is of a neigh- borhood in East Tennessee, where the young men had enlisted in both armies, and where it was undertaken to hold a reunion picnic of all the folks, young and old, on both sides. All went well until a Secesh miss re- fused to dance with a Yankee veteran, and then the trouble began, which resulted in killing three men and wounding seven.
And still another story following shortly after the fall of Richmond and illustrating some topsy turvy conditions in the south is given by the Ægis on the authority of the Philadelphia Press whose correspondent said :
"A large squad of rebels being escorted through the streets yesterday by colored guards, came to a halt in front of Libby, when one of them observed his former slave passing up and down the line with genuine mar- tial bearing. Stepping a little out of the ranks, he said: 'Hello, Jack, is that you?' The negro guard looked at him with blank astonishment, not unmingled with disdain, for the familiarity of the address. The rebel cap- tive, determined upon being recognized, said entreatingly: 'Why, Jack,
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don't you know me?' 'Yes, I know you very well,' was the sullen reply, 'and if you don't fall back into that line I will give you this bayonet,' at the same time bringing his musket to position of charge. This course terminated attempts at familiarity."
THE SULTANA EXPLOSION.
One other story from the Ægis, not from the editor himself, but written by Corporal S. A. Daniel of Company E of the Third Iowa, comes as a local report of the saddest event, aside from the assassination of Lincoln, pertaining to the close of the war; and with it we will conclude this chap- ter. Corporal Daniel was at this time engaged in looking after the welfare of transient soldiers at Memphis, and as it appears, he was right on hand when the Sultana blew up. The Sultana was a river boat and she was on her way up the river from Vicksburg loaded to her limit and beyond with Union soldiers who had been prisoners of war and had survived the hor- rors of Andersonville and similar prisons. And it was while thus loaded down with men for whom above all others there was the greatest and most general commiseration at the time, that the Sultana's boiler exploded. The scene is depicted by Corporal Daniel thus :
"War mingled with some pleasures had brought its sorrows-and let me picture some of the varied scenes of a day at Memphis. Last night the steamer Sultana from Vicksburg lay at the levee freighted with more than two thousand persons, mostly paroled prisoners from rebel camps. Be- tween two and three hundred of these came to the Soldiers' Lodge, where a good supper was prepared, and we kept feeding them as long as a loaf of bread could be had or coffee made, and then a barrel of soda crackers was rolled out and distributed among them. I never saw a more pleasant and cheerful set of men-the goodly eatables set before them formed such a contrast to their prison abode at Andersonville. But ere this morning dawned we were awakened from our slumbers and could distinctly catch the sounds of 'Help, help, fetch a boat, oh God, can't you do something?" Many voices were heard away up the river, and presently away down the river and seemingly all over the broad bosom of the mighty river half stifled cries of 'help, help.' The gleaming light six or eight miles above revealed to us that the steamer was a mass of flames, her boiler had collapsed, and she had delivered up her burden of living souls to the current of the Father of Waters. It was soon announced that quite a number had been picked up.
"Mrs. Daniel and myself each took an arm-load of shirts, drawers and socks, and started to the sufferers-some bruised, some were burned and scalded, some partially clad and some entirely naked, unless perhaps a quilt or blanket thrown over them. When we had delivered our load Mrs. Daniel threw to a fellow her cloak as he stood partially hid behind a com- rade. I took from my feet my socks and gave to a poor fellow who was
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nearly chilled to death, and we started for a new supply. The U. S. Sani- tary agents were now on hand with more clothing and with the aid of sur- geons who began to arrive, much suffering was relieved. Gunboat No. 8 was coming in. I hastened to her landing and found about sixty nearly naked, some badly scalded. As the sanitary agents by this time had gone either up or down the river to distribute clothing, I immediately sent a messenger to the clerk at the sanitary rooms for sixty shirts and a like number of drawers and socks, all of which were on hand in a very short time and the clerk to boot. Flannels were selected for the shivering boys, except in case of scalds or burns cotton garments were preferred. Other boats came in with more of the needy ones, and all the forenoon we were distributing clothing.
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