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INCIDENTS OF ENLISTMENT
Up to the 19th of July, 1861, Jones County had sent no company of its own to the war, but had contributed many of its best citizens to companies raised in adjoining counties. At least a half-dozen men went into Capt. Leffingwell's mounted company. Four went from the village of Bowens Prairie, viz., Howard Smith, Orin Crane, Theodore Hopkins and Isaac White. Their departure for the seat of war was the occasion of a very pleasant scene which occurred at their rendezvous in the beautiful grove near the residence of Otis Whittemore. The Home Guards of that town, under command of Lieut. Isaac Willard, escorted them some miles on their way, after a solemn leave-taking and addresses by Messrs. Bates, Searle, Johnson, O. Whittemore, Willard Briggs and Hopkins. Rev. Mr. Searle was with the mounted escort, and offered, on horseback, a prayer that was alike impressive in itself and in the circumstances and situation of its delivery. Mr. White had not volunteered with the rest, but sat watching the proceedings, when Curtis Stone, Esq., rode upon a fine horse, the best he owned. "If I had that horse," said White, "I would go too." "Take it," was the reply. "It is yours." No sooner said than done. White vaulted into the saddle and started to fight for his country. Here is another incident, which we take from the Dubuque Times (dated in July, 1861): "A Patriotic Clergyman-A gentleman from this city has been enlisting men in Jones County for the cavalry company of which Col. Heath is Lieutenant. In Scotch Grove Township, a young man enlisted and went to a clergyman to buy a horse. The reverend gentleman said he had no horse to sell for this war, but, pointing to the best one he had, 'There's one,' said he, 'which you are welcome to.'" Such patriotism is praiseworthy. |
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FIRST COMPANY OF VOLUNTEERS
About the 10th of August, 1861, William T. Shaw, Esq., who had been appointed Commissary by the Governor, was notified that a company of volunteers would be accepted, and he immediately went to work to raise it. The various companies of Home Guards were invited to come to Anamosa, and on Monday, the 12th of August, twenty-eight wagons came in from Rome, Hale, Jackson and Madison Townships, bringing a company under Capt. Carpenter. Tuesday, some eighteen or twenty wagons arrived from Scotch Grove, with thirty-five men, under Capt. Magee, and accompanied by thirty ladies. This latter company was met at the depot by those who came the day previous and the Greenfield Home Guards, who escorted them to the Fisher House, the Scotch Grove ladies falling into the procession behind, and remaining in line with them until dismissed for dinner. In the afternoon, a meeting was held at the City Hall, for the purpose of filling the company, electing officers, etc. But, unfortunately, a split occurred in regards to the destination of the company. The Scotch Grove boys said they volunteered under a promise to be taken to Washington, and did not want to go anywhere else, while Mr. Shaw had orders for the company to proceed to Davenport, from whence they were to go to Missouri. The Scotch Grove boys and fifteen volunteers from Bowen's Prairie finally withdrew, declaring they would make up another company. The company under Capt. Carpenter remained, and most of them signed the muster-roll. The election resulted in the unanimous choice of D. A. Carpenter for Captain. The company not being full, men were sent out to drum up recruits, and at the time of starting, the company numbered sixty-three men. Thursday morning was the time fixed upon for the departure of the company. At an early hour, the friends of the volunteers came pouring into town by hundreds. The men were formed into line in front of the Fisher House, and each one was presented with a Testament by the Jones County Bible Society, Rev. Mr. Eberhart making a few appropriate remarks during the presentation. Mr. Buell was then called upon, and briefly addressed the company, giving them some good advise, wishing them God-speed and a safe return, and bidding them farewell. The company was then marched to the depot, where was assembled the largest crowd seen in the town for a long time. Many ladies were present through the entire morning and up to the moment the cars started. There were many sad faces and a few cheerful ones; many tears, and some manly tears, too, were shed. The boys took their seats, the conductor gave the word, and the cars and their precious load were off. Thus the first Jones County company was formed and took its departure for the seat of war. | ||||||
GRAND TURN-OUT OF MILITARY AND CITIZENS
Monday, the 19th of August, 1861, was an epoch in the history of Jones County. If any one had ever doubted the patriotic feeling of its citizens, they could no longer do so. The fires of patriotism burned brightly in their bosoms, and their devotion to the cause of civil and religious liberty was clearly evinced by their ardor in responding to the call of their country, and showed, beyond a doubt, that the noble blood of '76 was still coursing in their veins; and they were prepared, if necessary, to shed their blood for the preservation of those rights and that liberty which were won by the blood and sacrifices of our fathers. It had been announced that on Monday, the 19th inst., the company of Jones County volunteers, under Capt. Harper, would meet at the picnic grounds near Monticello, and be presented with a flag by the ladies of Bowen's Prairie. About noon, the volunteers from Scotch Grove, Clay and vicinity, began to arrive at Monticello accompanied by a large concourse of friends. After partaking of dinner provided by the landlord at Monticello, the procession, consisting of sixty-four teams, proceeded to the grounds with banners flying and drums beating. Upon arriving at the grounds, the procession from Bowen's Prairie was seen winding its way into the grove, consisting of volunteers, people, colors and music. The two processions soon formed themselves around the speaker's stand, and the meeting was organized by calling John D. Walworth to act as President. An appropriate and eloquent prayer was then offered by the Rev. Mr. Bates, of Cascade. Mr. Clark then sang the "Red, White and Blue." After the song, Miss Emma Crane, in behalf of the ladies of Bowen's Prairie, then presented the company with an elegant flag accompanied by the following address: "Jones County Volunteers: As the representative of and in behalf of the ladies of Bowen's Prairie, I appear before you holding in my hand the emblem of our country's purity, liberty and greatness-the Stars and Stripes. I have the honor and pleasure of bestowing upon you and consigning to your charge this banner, as the free gift of the ladies of Bowen's Prairie; and, upon your reception of this simple favor, may I be allowed the privilege of briefly expressing the sentiments of its donors; and I would especially impress upon your minds the idea that I come not fresh from the school-girl's sanctum, with a labored essay of fairy scenes and flowery fields, to quite your minds to a standard of peaceful home life. No! I come to speak to you of the agitated state of your country, in which woman feels, or should feel, the same spirit of animation that governs your purposes and actions. And if, in thus assuming this prerogative, my language should seem uncouth or lack versatility, I hope I may receive the charitable indulgences of all, for, you must be aware, to communicate upon a topic that very seldom falls to the lot of a woman, and in a time and under circumstances that have never before presented themselves to the women of our country, is an effort that demands the tongue of excellences. "We now look upon you in a military capacity, organized as a band of soldiers, and each of you more or less animated by the enthusiasm that universally pervades every true American heart at this time. While looking out upon the scene before you, of mighty convulsions, an extensive civil war threatening the very foundation of the noble institutions of our government upon which our individual prosperity is based, we come to ask of you: What is the standard of your enthusiasm? Is it a lofty standard of public morality? Do pure and exalted conceptions of truth and justice pervade your hearts? We shall acknowledge nothing less than this from each of you. You want our reason? You shall have them. This is no time for idle speculations or timid misgivings. For a score or more of years the mighty sluice-ways of political corruption have been opening and swelling, fed and fostered by an arbitrary disposition on the part of a few, to curtail and crush out the noble privileges enjoyed by the masses, till the people see looming fires of destruction in the distance, and awake at once to a sense of their danger and act as exigency dictates. Our country's traitors are aroused, and announce their right to destroy the Union, and they have placed themselves in an attitude to carry out their intentions at the point of the bayonet. * * * Soldiers! We have put to you one plain question, and we will now submit one still plainer. Are you afraid to fight? If so, you are not worthy recipients of that flag which was purchased, and that dearly, by blood; and it must be sustained and protected, however difficult, by the same element, else look at the result-the country broken and ruined in all her institutions, and naught left but here and there the segments of what it once was * * * We have too much confidences in you and in our country's defenders to suppose that such a state of things can ever exist in our land. Here we see men ripe with patriotism, sound in sentiment, full of vigor, quick in conception to thus early see and do their duty and their country's need, full of pride, ambition and native dignity, freely responding to their country's call. And now, soldiers, divesting myself of every disposition to flattery, we have reason to feel proud of you-Jones County has reason to feel proud of you-that thus you so willingly enroll yourselves, and freely leave your homes, your firesides, your parents, brothers, sisters and families to support your country's flag. Now take this flag, and may its folds proudly wave above your heads wherever your country calls! Let no dishonor ever stain this emblem, and in advance upon the foe may it be found in the van! Take it! Go with willing hearts! Defend! Sustain it! Bring it back untarnished! Then look for happy homes and ever-greeting friends." The presentation address was replied to by Capt. Harper, on behalf of the company, in a few appropriate remarks, thanking the ladies for their beautiful gift, and pledging themselves to bear it aloft in the van and to defend it while one was alive to uphold it, and return with it or on it. Rev. Mr. Bates, of Cascade, was then called upon, and made an eloquent speech in behalf of the Union and the Constitution, and, among other things, urged the necessity not only of praying, but fighting. Rev. Mr. Russell addressed the crowd in a few appropriate remarks upon the necessity of maintaining the Government and sustaining law and order at any sacrifice and at any cost. Rev. Mr. Benton, of Anamosa, also spoke to the volunteers words of encouragement, and assured them of the sympathy and confidence of their friends, and maintained that the cause for which they were engaging to fight was a righteous one and must be triumphant. In accordance with a resolution of the Jones County Bible Society, a Testament was presented to each of the volunteers, in behalf of the Society, by the Rev. James. McKean, of Scotch Grove. In making the presentation, Mr. McKean briefly addressed the company, urging each to be governed by the precepts taught in that book. John Russell, of Clay Township, replied in behalf of the company. Appropriate remarks were made by the Chairman, urging the duty of volunteering for the defense of our country, our dearest rights and our blood-bought principles. The recruits then fell in and were marched to the table, where they and a large number of others partook of a bountiful collation, prepared by the generous-hearted people of Bowen's Prairie. After partaking of refreshments, a large portion of the crowd dispersed, while some remained to listen to other patriotic addresses. The day was one long to be remembered by the patriotic citizens of Jones County, and fraught with bursts of enthusiasm for Liberty and Union. Capt. Harper's company was the second sent out from Jones County. | ||||||
FLAGS PRESENTATION AND DEPARTURE
Monday, the 4th of November, 1861, witnessed a large turn-out of the inhabitants of Anamosa and vicinity to attend two flag presentations; one to Capt. Buell's company and one to Capt. Warner's company, and the departure of Capt. Buell's company for camp at Davenport, Capt. Warner's company having already left for the same place the week previous. Early in the morning, teams and people began to come, and Capt. Buell's company formed in front of the Fisher House, under First Lieut. Calkins, preceded by the Anamosa Brass Band, and next by the ladies who got up and were to present the flags, and followed by the soldiers in ranks, the procession marched to the hill west of the depot, where the ceremonies took place. The Committees were: For Capt. Buell's company-Mrs. L. A. Eberhart, Miss Eliza Isbell and Miss Emma May; Standard Bearers, Miss Emma May and Miss Lecia Hopkins. For Capt. Warner's Company-Mrs. P. Smith, Miss Carrie Heacox and Miss Emma Crane; Standard Bearers, Miss Alice Crane and Miss Marcia Crane. Miss Eliza Isbell presented the flag to Capt. Buell's company, with the following eloquent remarks:
Capt. Buell responded in a feeling manner, thanking the ladies for their beautiful gift, and pledging himself to defend it to the best of his ability. Three cheers were then give for the ladies of Anamosa, three more for the Stars and Stripes, and three more for the Jones County Volunteers.
Capt. Warner thanked the ladies in behalf of his company, for the flag, and said they would always hold them in grateful remembrance.
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