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 PROCLAMATION IOWA'S RESPONSE-WAR MEETINGS BRIEF HISTORIES OF THE REGIMENTS IN WHICH, LEE COUNTY WAS REPRESENTED— ROSTERS OF LEE COUNTY COMPANIES MISCELLANEOUS ENLISTMENTS 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 Compromise," 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 "Omnibus 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.

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, January 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 Moultrie. The secessionists claimed that this was a violation of an agreement made with President Buchanan, and the press of the North. was almost unanimous in demanding that reinforcements and supplies 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

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 continued throughout the day. Fire broke out in the fort and the Confederates increased their fire, hoping to force a surrender. Anderson 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 differences 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 telegram 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 regiment. Nevertheless, he immediately issued the following proclamation:

"Whereas, the President of the United States has made a requisition 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

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 readiness 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 requirement of the President be cheerfully and promptly met.

"Iowa City, April 17, 1861."

"SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD.

The statement in the proclamation that the companies must hold themselves in readiness for duty by the 20th of May was in accordance 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.

On Thursday evening, April 18, 1861, a rousing meeting was held at Fort Madison. Fred Hesser was chosen to preside and M. Ashby and George H. Albright acted as secretaries. In the resolutions adopted was the following declaration: "Forgetting the past, and resolving neither to criminate nor accuse those whose political opinions and views of public policy differ from ours, we will cooperate with all patriotic citizens of all parties who love their country and are prepared to stand by her in this hour of necessity."

Speeches were made by Judge Philip Viele, J. M. Beck, Dr. W. H. Davis, J. H. Knapp and others, and a committee, consisting of John H. Knapp, W. H. Davis, R. Lange, W. W. Stevens and M. Ashby, was appointed to accept enlistments.

War meetings were also held at West Point, Montrose, and, in fact, in nearly every schoolhouse in the county. In Cedar Township, Saturday, April 27, 1861, two companies were started-one of infantry and one of cavalry. Within an' hour fifty-four names were upon the roll of the cavalry company and fifty men had enlisted in the infantry organization. The sentiment expressed at these meetings quickly removed any doubt Governor Kirkwood might have entertained as to the willingness and ability of Iowa to raise a whole regiment of volunteers. Companies were rapidly formed and during the first ten days of May they rendezvoused at Keokuk, where the First Regiment was mustered in on May 14, 1861, for three months, with John F. Bates, of Dubuque, as colonel.

FIRST INFANTRY

Although the work of recruiting was pushed forward with all possible vigor, some of the Lee County boys went to Burlington and enlisted in Captain Mathes' company, which was mustered in as Company D, First Iowa Infantry. George Schaefer and Henry Rose were made sergeants, and the following privates were from Lee County: Ernest Becker, William Bush, Ferdinand Fahr, Philip Grunschlagg, Anton Henrichs, John Klay, Charles Knapp, John Kohler, Jack Koppenhoefer, Henry C. Kummer, Philip Lang, Frederick Leonhard, Conrad Limburg, Charles F. Limle, Adolph Lotz, Robert Merz, Andrew Nagel, Adolph Rinker, Fridolin Rommel, Ernest Rotteck, John Ruokert, Henry Schaelling, George Schlapp, Robert Scholtz, Charles Schulz, David Seguin, Frederick C. Soechtig, William Starkman and Frank H. Westerman.

In Company F, Conrad Balbach, Henry C. Bowen, John Brothers, Goodcil Buckingham and Thomas J. Zollars were credited to Lee County. Hugh Brady was mustered in as second lieutenant of Company I; Frye W. Thompson was a private in Company H, and John R. Teller served as first lieutenant of Company C and later as captain of Company K, after the regiment was reorganized for the three years' service.

On June 13th the regiment was ordered to Hannibal, Missouri. On the 21st it joined Gen. Nathaniel Lyon at Boonville and started on the campaign that culminated in the Battle of Wilson's Creek on August 10, 1861, where General Lyon was killed. It was engaged at Dug Springs and McCulloch's Store, and at the Battle of Wilson's Creek lost 13 killed, 141 wounded and 4 missing. The regiment was mustered out at St. Louis, Missouri, August 21, 1861.