USA > Iowa > Lee County > Story of Lee County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 17
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POSTOFFICES
The following list of Lee County postoffices is taken from the United States Postal Guide issued in July, 1914, the figures in paren- theses showing the number of rural delivery routes emanating from the office immediately preceding: Argyle, Belfast, Charleston (I), Cottonwood, Croton, Denmark, Donnellson (4), Fort Madison (3), Franklin, Houghton, Keokuk (2), Montrose (4), Mount Hamill (2), New Boston, Pilot Grove, Primrose, Summitville, Vincennes (1), West Point (5), Wever (2). Domestic money orders are issued by all these offices and international money orders by the postoffices at Fort Madison, Keokuk, Montrose and West Point.
CHAPTER XI
EARLY MILITARY HISTORY
WAR WITH MEXICO-ANNEXATION OF TEXAS-GENERAL TAYLOR'S ARMY OF OCCUPATION-WAR DECLARED-ACTION OF CONGRESS CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS-IOWA'S RESPONSE-A REGIMENT ENROLLED BUT NOT MUSTERED-FIFTEENTH UNITED STATES INFANTRY- INDEPENDENT COMPANIES-GENERAL BENJAMIN S. ROBERTS-A FEW VETERANS.
For many years after the conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards the territory now comprising the State of Texas was left unpeopled, the object being to make it act as a barrier between the United States and the Spanish settlements in Mexico. When Mexico achieved her independence in 1821, the new government adopted the policy of developing the district so long neglected. To inaugurate this policy a large tract of land was given to Moses Austin, of Connecticut, on condition that he would establish a colony of 300 American families thereon. The grant was later confirmed to his son, Stephen Austin, who was given the privilege of increasing the colony to 500 families. Under this arrangement a nucleus of American settlement was placed in Texas by 1823, and a few years later the colonists from the United States were strong enough to dominate the affairs of the province.
Under the leadership of Samuel Houston, of Tennessee, these Americans instituted an armed revolt in 1835 against the Mexican authorities. General Santa Anna, president of Mexico, marched against the Texans and on March 6, 1836, occurred the historic massacre of the Alamo. The following month this dastardly deed was avenged by the Texans under General Houston in the Battle of San Jacinto, in which the Mexicans were defeated and General Santa Anna made prisoner. This forced a peace and the Republic of Texas was established with Houston as president. The inde- pendence of the new state was acknowledged by the United States, Great Britain and France.
It was not long until Houston, and other Americans, sought the an- nexation of Texas to the United States, as more than a hundred thou-
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sand emigrants from the States had already settled in Texas. In the po- litical campaign of 1844, the democratic party, with James K. Polk as the candidate for President, declared in favor of annexation, while the whigs, led by Henry Clay as their candidate, opposed it. Polk was elected and on March 1, 1845, Congress passed the annexation bill, which was signed by President Tyler, three days before Polk was inaugurated.
At that time the military forces of the United States in the South- west were commanded by Gen. Zachary Taylor, who was ordered to take possession of the country and hold it until the boundary dispute could be adjusted. Early in 1846 General Arista began gathering a large force of Mexicans directly south of the Rio Grande, to which stream Taylor was ordered to advance. Establishing a depot of supplies at Point Isabel, on the Gulf coast, he built Fort Brown op- posite the Mexican Town of Matamoras, which was General Arista's headquarters. The Mexican commander was defeated in the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma and the news of these engage- ments aroused the war spirit all over the United States. Whigs forgot the old political differences of opinion regarding annexation and offered their services to put a stop to Mexican aggression. On May II, 1846, two days after the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, Congress declared that "war already exists by act of the Mexican government," placed $10,000,000 at the disposal of the administration, and au- thorized the President to accept the services of 50,000 volunteers.
President Polk approved the act on May 13, 1846, and called upon the various states and territories for eighty-six and one-half regiments (the half regiment to be raised in the District of Colum- bia). On June 1, 1846, Governor James Clarke, of Iowa, issued his proclamation calling for one regiment "to consist of ten companies, each company to have one captain, one first and one second lieu- tenant, four sergeants, four corporals, two musicians and sixty-four privates. The enlistment is to be for twelve months after they shall have arrived at the place of rendezvous, or to the end of the war, unless sooner discharged."
Iowa was at that time a territory, the bill admitting it into the Union as a state being passed on December 28, 1846, while the troops were still in the service. In closing his proclamation Governor Clarke said: "The President, in thus offering us an opportunity of participating in the danger and glory of inflicting merited chastise- ment upon the invaders of our soil, has, I am confident, but antici- pated the wishes of the great body of our people. It remains for us to prove by our acts that he has not formed too high an estimate
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of our devotion to country, and that the flame of patriotism burns not less brightly in Iowa than elsewhere."
The Thirty-second General Assembly of Iowa passed an act, which was approved on April 10, 1907, providing for the compila- tion of a roster of Iowa soldiers in all the wars in which the state has borne a part. Volume VI of that work (p. 789) says : "On June 26, 1846, the ten companies, which were to compose the regiment from Iowa, had been organized and were ready for service. In fact, two more than the requisite number had been organized, in the fol- lowing order : Des Moines County, two companies ; Lee County, two companies; Van Buren County, two companies; Muscatine County, one company; Louisa County, one company; Washington County, one company; Dubuque County, one company; Johnson and Linn counties, one company, and Jefferson County, one company."
Although the companies were ready for service in June, no order for their muster in and organization into a regiment came from Washington. The summer passed and still the men waited for an opportunity to enter into active service. Late in the fall Governor Clarke wrote to the War Department and received the following reply :
"War Department, Washington, November 25, 1846. .
"His Excellency James Clarke,
Governor of Iowa,
Burlington, Iowa.
"Sir :- I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Ex- cellency's letter of the 19th instant, stating that the regiment of Iowa volunteers are anxious to be called into active service, and to inform you that their patriotic wishes cannot now be gratified consistently with the claims of other states.
"Very respectfully your Obt. Servt., "W. L. MARCY, "Secretary of War."
It would be interesting to give a roster of the Lee County com- panies that were formed for service in the war with Mexico, but as the regiment was never called into service the muster rolls, it appears, were not preserved. E. L. Sabin, writing in the "Annals of Iowa" (Vol. IV, page 314) says : "The names of the organizations of troops that took part in the operations on Mexican soil, and published in one of the histories of the war, in the library of the State Historical Department, have no representation from Iowa, save the Mormon battalion and Company K, Fifteenth United States Infantry."
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
The Fifteenth Regiment was recruited in the central part of the Mississippi Valley, Company K being raised in Iowa and a large part of that company in Lee County. Edwin Guthrie, of Fort Madi- son, was commissioned captain by President Polk on March 8, 1847, and a month later was assigned to the command of the company. He was one of the early wardens of the penitentiary at Fort Madison. In the skirmish at Lahoya Pass, on the road from Vera Cruz to Perote, June 20, 1847, Captain Guthrie was severely wounded and died on the 20th of July. In 1850 the Iowa Legislature named Guthrie County in his honor.
Henry E. Vrooman, of Fort Madison, was first sergeant of the company. He enlisted on April 6, 1847, and died of disease on the 5th of the following September, in the hospital at Puebla, Mexico.
Isaac W. Griffiths, first corporal, was also from Fort Madison. In the 'Battle of Churubusco, August 20, 1847, he lost his right arm and was discharged on account of the disability. From this fact he was called "Old Churubusco" by his comrades. Before entering the United States service he had held the rank of captain in the terri- torial militia. After the war he served as a member of the Iowa Legislature; as bailiff of the State Supreme Court; as doorkeeper of the United States Senate, and as sheriff of Polk County.
John Moyes, the third corporal, enlisted at Fort Madison on April 6, 1847, served throughout the entire term of enlistment and was mustered out with the company at Covington, Kentucky, August 4, 1848.
Isaiah B. Taylor, generally called by the members of the com- pany "Zack" Taylor, was from Fort Madison and was the fourth corporal of the company. He was mustered out with the company at Covington.
Among the privates of the company, the following were from Lee County : Jesse B. Barber, William Benton, Warren W. Bixby, Thomas Courtney, Edmund Derrick, Samuel Foulton, Thomas L. Gannon, George A. Gray, George Grigsby, William B. Hampton, Philip J. Hanes, Henry McC. Jewett, John Levitt, Thomas J. Mc- Kean, Gushorn C. Norris, Grosvenor Norton, John W. Roberts, Andrew R. Sausman, John Schuyler, John R. Snyder, Theodore B. Sparks, Samuel D. Thompson, West Walker and William H: Woodbridge.
Private Thomas J. McKean graduated at the United States Mili- tary Academy at West Point in July, 1831, and received the rank of brevet second lieutenant in the Fourth United States Infantry. After the Florida war, in which he took part, he settled in Iowa and
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
was a delegate to the first constitutional convention. On May 10, 1847, he was made sergeant major of the regiment and was mustered out with that rank at Covington, Kentucky, August 4, 1848. He was wounded at Churubusco. After the war he settled in Linn County.
The company reported at Vera Cruz on July 10, 1847, and was at once attached to the regiment. From that time until the close of the conflict it was on active duty, taking part in numerous battles and skirmishes and losing about forty per cent of its aggregate num- ber. Nearly every one of its officers received honorable mention for gallant and meritorious conduct on the field of battle and several were promoted for similar service.
Notwithstanding the failure of the War Department to accept the regiment called for from Iowa, three independent companies were mustered into the service of the United States. The first of these was Capt. James M. Morgan's infantry company, which was mustered in at Fort Atkinson on July 15, 1846, for one year, and was mustered out at the same place promptly at the expiration of that period. It was employed in garrison duty and was not or- dered to Mexico.
Capt. John Parker's company of Iowa Dragoons was mustered in at Fort Atkinson on September 9, 1846, and was employed in watching the Winnebago Indians, keeping them upon their reserva- tion, and in performing scout duty. It was mustered out by order of the War Department at Fort Atkinson, November 5, 1846.
After Captain Morgan's infantry company was mustered out he organized a company of mounted men, which was mustered in at Fort Atkinson immediately after the infantry company was disbanded, many of the members of that company becoming members of the new organization. It was engaged in watching the Indians of the Northwest until mustered out at Fort Atkinson, September 13, 1848.
In these three companies there were few Lee County men, but the muster rolls give imperfect records of the members and it is im- possible to distinguish which should be credited to the county. There were also a few Lee County men in other military organizations. J. J. Brown, of Fort Madison, enlisted as a private in Company F, First United States Infantry, in 1846, and served with the regiment in Mexico until the end of the war. Benjamin S. Roberts, of Fort Madison, was commissioned a first lieutenant in the United States army by President Polk on May 27, 1846, and was assigned to duty with the regiment of Mounted Riflemen. He distinguished himself Vol. 1-12
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by his bravery and skill and was promoted to captain. At the close of the war he was given the brevet rank of lieutenant-colonel.
Benjamin Stone Roberts was born at Manchester, Vermont, No- vember 18, 1810, and died at Washington, D. C., January 29, 1870. He was a grandson of Christopher Roberts, who was with Ethan Allen and his "Green Mountain Boys" when that intrepid officer demanded the surrender of Ticonderoga "in the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress." In 1835 he was graduated at the United States Military Academy and served as second lieu- tenant in the First Dragoons until 1839, when he resigned. After a few months spent in civil engineering, he was appointed assistant state geologist of the State of New York. He next studied law with General Skinner, of Plattsburg, and in 1842 went to Russia to aid in the construction of railroads. Not liking the conditions in that country, he soon returned to his native land, and in February, 1843, located at Fort Madison, Iowa.
He was the ranking first lieutenant of the Mounted Riflemen in the Mexican war, which regiment served in the army commanded by General Scott. In February, 1847, he was promoted to the rank of captain. He commanded the advance guard at the battle of Con- treras; was actively engaged at Churubusco; led a picked storming party at Chapultepec; marched with his regiment at the head of the army when it entered the City of Mexico, and with his own hands raised the first United States flag over the ancient palace of the Montezumas.
For his distinguished services during the war he was given the rank of brevet lieutenant-colonel by President Polk and continued in the regular army. While in the war with Mexico he captured a sword from General Torrejon, the notorious Mexican guerrilla. This sword he afterward presented to the State of Iowa and it is now among the state's historical collections. In 1849 the Iowa Legisla- ture gave him a vote of thanks for the luster shed upon the state through his military services.
At the beginning of the Civil war in 1861, he was with his regi- ment in New Mexico, where he played a conspicuous part in re- pelling the invasion of the Confederate general, Sibley. He was then ordered to Washington and was appointed a brigadier-general of volunteers. Subsequently he was made chief of cavalry of the Army of the Potomac, under Gen. John Pope, and distinguished himself in a number of engagements in Virginia. He was one of Iowa's most valiant soldiers in two wars.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
When it became known that the ten companies called for by Governor Clarke, in his proclamation of June 1, 1846, were not to be accepted for active service, a few men from Lee County enlisted in other organizations. Soon after the conclusion of the conflict a num- ber of Mexican war veterans settled within the limits of the county. Among those known to have served in the war with Mexico were Eli P. Ramsey, Frank Seitz, James Graham, J. M. Love and Nicholas Mckenzie, of Keokuk; and William Winters, August Ehinger, James J. Brown and William C. Brandes, of Fort Madison. Wash- ington Galland, who served through the war with Mexico, entered the Union army in the Civil war as captain of a company and in the summer of 1914 was still living in Lee County-one of the very few survivors of the Mexican war.
مكة
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CHAPTER XII THE CIVIL WAR PERIOD
CONDITIONS LEADING UP TO THE WAR-THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE -- THE OMNIBUS BILL-THE KANSAS-NEBRASKA BILL-POLITICAL CAMPAIGN OF 1860-SECESSION OF THE SLAVE STATES-FORT SUMTER-CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS-GOVERNOR KIRKWOOD'S PROCLA- MATION-IOWA'S RESPONSE-WAR MEETINGS-BRIEF HISTORIES OF THE REGIMENTS IN WHICH. LEE COUNTY WAS REPRESENTED - ROSTERS OF LEE COUNTY COMPANIES-MISCELLANEOUS ENLIST- MENTS-THE WORK AT HOME.
Almost from the very beginning of the American Republic, the slavery question became a dominant issue in political affairs. In 1808, the earliest date at which such action could be constitutionally taken, Congress enacted a law abolishing the foreign slave trade. By 1819 seven of the original thirteen states had abolished slavery within their borders. Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama had been admitted as slave states, and Vermont, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois as free states, making eleven of each. This was the situation when Missouri sought admission in 1820. After a long and somewhat acrimonious debate, that state was admitted under the provisions of the act known as the "Missouri Compro- mise," which provided that Missouri should be admitted without any restrictions as to slavery, but in all the remaining portion of the Louisiana Purchase north of the line marking the latitude of 36° 30' slavery should be forever prohibited.
The Mexican war gave to the United States a large expanse of territory to which the advocates of slavery laid claim. The "Omni- bus Bill," or Compromise of 1850, was a violation of the Missouri Compromise, according to the views of the opponents of slavery, because it sought to extend slavery north of the line 36° 30', and the Kansas-Nebraska Bill of 1854 added fresh fuel to the already raging flames. The passage of this bill was one of the potent influences that led to the organization of the republican party, which was opposed to the further extension of slavery beyond the territory in which it already existed.
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In the political campaign of 1860 some of the southern states declared their intention of withdrawing from the Union in the event of Abraham Lincoln's election to the Presidency, but the people of the North regarded such announcements as idle threats, made solely for political effect. Through the split in the democratic party, Lincoln was elected and on December 20, 1860, South Carolina, by a convention of delegates chosen to decide what course to pursue, passed an ordinance of secession, declaring that all allegiance to the United States was at an end. Mississippi followed with a similar ordinance on January 9, 1861 ; Florida, January 10th; Georgia, Jan- uary 19th ; Louisiana, January 26th, and Texas, February 1, 1861.
On February 4, 1861, delegates from all of these seven states, except Texas, met at Montgomery, Alabama, adopted a tentative constitution, and elected Jefferson Davis provisional president and Alexander H. Stephens, vice president of the Confederate States of America. These officials were inaugurated on February 22, 1861, the anniversary of the birth of George Washington. Consequently, when Mr. Lincoln was inaugurated on March 4, 1861, he found seven states, with an organized government, in opposition to his administration. However, the President, his advisers and the people of the North generally entertained the hope that the situation could be met without open rupture between the North and South, and that the people of the seceded states could be persuaded to return to their allegiance.
About the beginning of the year 1861, Maj. Robert Anderson, who was in command of all the defenses of the harbor at Charleston, South Carolina, secretly removed his garrison and supplies from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter, because the latter place was better calculated for defense, after which he spiked the guns at Fort Moul- trie. The secessionists claimed that this was a violation of an agree- ment made with President Buchanan, and the press of the North was almost unanimous in demanding that reinforcements and sup- plies be sent to Major Anderson. The steamer Star of the West, with 250 men, a stock of provisions, ammunition, etc., was dispatched to Fort Sumter, but on January 9, 1861, the vessel was fired upon by a masked battery on Morris Island and forced to turn back. This incident is regarded in the official records as the beginning of the Civil war, though the popular awakening did not come until about three months later.
General Beauregard, in command of the Confederate forces at Charleston, then opened negotiations with Major Anderson looking to the evacuation of Fort Sumter. Anderson's provisions were run-
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
ning low and on April 11, 1861, he informed General Beauregard that he would vacate the fort on the 15th, "unless ordered by the Government to remain and the needed supplies are received." This was not satisfactory to the Confederate commander, who feared that Anderson might be reinforced. He therefore sent word to Anderson at 3.20 A. M. on Friday, April 12, 1861, that within an hour he would open fire on the fort. At 4.30 Capt. George Janes fired the signal gun from Fort Johnson and the shell burst almost directly over the fort. A few moments later a solid shot from a battery on Cummings Point went crashing against the walls of Fort Sumter. The war had begun.
The garrison responded promptly and the bombardment con- tinued throughout the day. Fire broke out in the fort and the Con- federates increased their fire, hoping to force a surrender. Ander- son held out against desperate odds until Sunday, when he was permitted to evacuate the fort with the honors of war, saluting his flag with fifty guns before hauling it down.
When the telegraph flashed the news of Sumter's fall through the North, all hope of conciliation was abandoned. Political differ- ences of the past were forgotten in the insult to the flag. On Monday, April 15, 1861, President Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for 75,000 militia and appealing to "all loyal citizens for state aid in this effort to maintain the laws, integrity, national union, perpetuity of popular government, and redress wrongs long enough endured."
On the next day Governor Kirkwood, of Iowa, received a tele- gram from the secretary of war, to-wit: "Calls made on you by tonight's mail for one regiment of militia for immediate service." It is said that when this message was received by the governor he expressed some doubt as to Iowa's ability to furnish an entire 'regi- ment. Nevertheless, he immediately issued the following procla- mation :
"Whereas, the President of the United States has made a requisi- tion upon the executive of the State of Iowa for one regiment of militia, to aid the Federal Government in enforcing its laws and suppressing rebellion.
"Now, therefore, I, Samuel J. Kirkwood, governor of the State of Iowa, do issue this proclamation, and hereby call upon the militia of the state immediately to form, in the different counties, volunteer companies with a view of entering the active military service of the United States for the purpose aforesaid. The regiment at present required will consist of ten companies of at least seventy-eight men
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
each, including one captain and two lieutenants to be elected by each company. Under the present requisition only one regiment can be accepted, and the companies accepted must hold themselves in readi- ness for duty by the 20th of May next at the farthest. If a sufficient number of companies are tendered their services may be required. If more companies are formed and reported than can be received under the present call, their services will be required in the event of another requisition upon the state. The nation is in peril. A fearful attempt is being made to overthrow the Constitution and dissever the Union. The aid of every loyal citizen is invoked to sustain the general Government. For the honor of our state, let the require- ment of the President be cheerfully and promptly met.
"SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD.
"Iowa City, April 17, 1861."
The statement in the proclamation that the companies must hold themselves in readiness for duty by the 20th of May was in accord- ance with a telegram from the War Department to the governor late on the afternoon of April 16, 1861, which read : "It will suffice if your quota of volunteers be at its rendezvous by the 20th of May."
On the evening of the day this proclamation was issued, a great mass meeting was held in Verandah Hall, at Keokuk, with J. M. Hiatt presiding and T. J. McKenna acting as secretary. Samuel F. Miller, afterward one of the justices of the United States Supreme Court, was the principal speaker. Hugh T. Reid, S. T. Marshall, William Leighton and others also made short speeches and the sentiment in favor of sustaining the national administration was unanimous. Near the close of the meeting J. Monroe Reid invited all who wanted to enlist to meet him and Captain McHenry at Military Hall the following evening.
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