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Southern Border Brigade
(State Militia)
Historical Sketch
Inseparably connected with the history of the operations
of the Iowa troops who were never mustered into the service of the
United States, but who performed service of inestimable value on the
southern border of the State, is the record of those companies composed
of men whose homes were constantly in danger in the early days of the
War of the Rebellion. Living as they did in the counties bordering
upon the State of Missouri, they were compelled to organized for self
protection. Rumors -- which proved to be well founded -- that
armed bodies of citizens of the slave holding State of Missouri were
being formed for the purpose of invading the State of Iowa, kept the
inhabitants of those border counties in a constant state of excitement
and apprehension. Under the direction and command of
Lieutenant Colonel John Edwards, Aid-de-Camp to Governor Kirkwood, the
various companies, which had been hastily organized were concentrated
into camps, and were held in readiness to move promptly across the
border, and to resist any attempt of the rebel forces to invade the
State of Iowa and plunder the homes of her citizens. The prompt
and determined action thus taken undoubtedly saved the people of that
part of the State from the horrors of invasion.
In the meantime, the Union men in the State of Missouri
were placed in a most desperate situation. They were engaged in a
fierce and relentless war with their rebel neighbors. They were
being driven from their homes and their property confiscated for the use
of the rebel army. They had appealed to their loyal neighbors
across the border in Iowa to aid them in their fight for existence and
they did not appeal in vain. In his report to the Governor, (dated
at Pleasant Plains, Iowa, July 26, 1861,) Colonel Edwards states that he
had sent to Keokuk and Burlington for two pieces of artillery, and that
he was about to start with the forces under his command to reinforce the
troops under Captain W. C. Drake of Corydon, then stationed at
Allenville, on the border of Ringgold County, Iowa, with the purpose of
moving across the line to the support of the loyal Missourians, under
Colonel Cranor. The following brief-extracts, from the report of
Colonel Edwards, will serve to show the condition of affairs on the
southern border at that time.
. . . . . . . Captain Cranor, of Gentry County, Mo.,
had sent to Captain Drake for assistance, as the rebels were fortified
on Grand River, reported to be from eight to twelve hundred strong,
with three pieces of artillery. Colonel Cranor had under his
command about three hundred Union Missouri men, badly armed, and over
one hundred Iowans who had volunteered under him. I dispatched a
messenger to the various armed companies within reach, ordering them
to march and concentrate at Allenville, immediately, also at Chariton.
I also sent a messenger to Captain Drake to ascertain more minutely
the facts as to the condition of affairs in his vicinity.
I started for Captain Drake's camp, but was met twenty-five miles this
side by the returning messengers whom I had sent the day before.
They confirmed the intelligence brought me the day previous. On
reaching Captain Drake's camp, I ascertained that messengers had just
arrived from Colonel Cranor's command, conveying the information that
the belligerents -- then within four miles of each other -- had made a
treaty of peace. . . .
The "treaty of peace" referred to proved to be
but a hollow mockery. It was simply a temporary truce, which
served to prevent the armed forces from becoming engaged in battle at
that time, but did not put an end to the depredations to which the
property of Union citizens was subjected. Continuing his report,
Colonel Edwards says:
. . . . . . The secessionists in that region are more
bold than before, and have recommenced mustering under the military
laws of the State, which are obnoxious to the Union men and to which
they will not submit. The Union men are indignant and mortified
at the terms of the treaty. Many have become disheartened --
have abandoned their homes and their crops, and are leaving the State.
The same feelings have taken hold of many families on the border, in
Iowa. I have seen families who, abandoning everything to the
fates, have returned to friends in other states. The loyal men
of both States, separated merely by an imaginary line, have the same
sympathies in a common cause. When the rebels of Missouri
seek to injure the property and destroy the lives of Union men of that
State, appeals for aid are made to friends and neighbors in Iowa; nor
do they appeal in vain. The arming and military parades made by
our companies along the border, at most points have produced salutary
effects. It strengthens and inspires the Union men of Missouri,
and carries over to them the neutrals and a great many terror stricken
secessionists. At least fifteen hundred citizens of Iowa left
their harvest fields and families and rushed into Missouri to
the relief of the Union men. These citizens were armed in every
conceivable manner, and were without officers, system or drill.
. . . . . . The loyal men of Missouri express their gratitude to
the people of Iowa, for their timely aid and support on every trying
occasion; everything they possessed was cheerfully offered free of
charge, to render our citizens as comfortable as possible. I
know several gentlemen who not only fed hundreds of Iowa citizens and
their horses, daily, for a week at a time, but spent hundreds of
dollars -- sometimes their last dollar -- in this benevolent manner.
On account of the excitement and constant alarm along the border, our
citizens lost much valuable time, by frequent hurrying to arms;
therefore a vast amount of grain was lost in the fields. . . . . .
Realizing the necessity of maintaining a permanent force
of State troops along the southern border, Colonel Edwards exercised the
authority given him by the Governor, and proceeded to thoroughly
organize the companies, and to bring them up to a good state of
efficiency in drill and discipline. In his official report he
makes the following statement, showing the conditions then existing, and
his efforts to establish a military system, under which more prompt and
effective service could be rendered:
In view of apprehended outbreaks, sooner or later, on
the borders of Ringgold and Taylor Counties, I have ordered into camp
at this place those companies which have received marching orders, and
are already on the way to the scene of difficulty. For the
reasons before stated, coupled with the news of our late reverses at
Manassas Junction, the rebels here and elsewhere will be inspired with
new vigor. I came into camp last night with three companies; the
rest will follow today and tomorrow. I have commenced
systematizing every department of the service, placing the most
competent men in the various positions. The strictest discipline
will be adopted and drill performed as in the United States service.
Every arrangement necessary for the comfort and health of the soldiers
will be carried out. The most rigid economy will be practiced,
and an exact account rendered of every cent of expense incurred.
The times are such that the people demand that something be done at
once and effectively. We are so situated on the border
that, when we are called upon to act, we must act at once.
Heretofore we have had no system, and if called into action our men
were liable to be cut off by the enemy and by one another. . . . . .
I will keep out scouts for the next ten days, in the vicinity where
danger will be most likely to occur. I will be ready to
strike at a moments notice. . . . . . The principal design of
the secessionists in the northern part of the State of Missouri is to
keep up the excitement there as much as possible, in order to divert
attention from Governor Jackson's operations in the southern part of
the State. They will do all in their power to harass Union men
in both States. . . . . . (Note:
Report of the
Adjutant General of Iowa, 1863, Vol. 2, pages 873, 4. Official
report of Lieutenant Colonel John Edwards to Governor Kirkwood.)
About the time these militia organizations were being
perfected -- as shown in the foregoing extract -- the Fourth Regiment of
Iowa Volunteer Infantry was in rendezvous at Council Bluffs, and, in
accordance with instructions from Governor Kirkwood, Colonel Grenville
M. Dodge marched with eight companies of his regiment, for the purpose
of co-operating with the Iowa Militia in the defense of the border
counties, and, if found necessary, to cross the line into Missouri and
reinforce the loyal Missourians, commanded by Colonel Cranor. In
his official report to the Governor, Colonel Dodge states, that he
proceeded with his command to a point thirteen miles north of the
Missouri line, where he was met by his scout -- Sergeant Teal -- who had
been in the rebel camp near Gentryville, Mo., and found them about six
hundred strong, occupying a good position, but poorly armed and
equipped. The Sergeant confirmed the report of the truce (or
compromise), and stated that the rebels had apparently disbanded and
returned to their homes. At the close of his report, Colonel Dodge
made the following statement:
There is no doubt but great excitement exist on both
sides of the line. My scout canvassed pretty thoroughly
all the counties of northwest Missouri, and found that the rebels of
that section were fearing an invasion from Iowa equally as much as the
people of southern Iowa were from Missouri. The rebel camp was
made chiefly for the purpose of drilling their forces, in order that
when Jackson came (which was confidently anticipated), they might be
ready to assist him in driving the Union men out of North Missouri.
Gentry and Nodoway Counties are now nearly vacant; crops are neglected
and farms for miles deserted. On breaking up their camp but very
few -- say one hundred eighty -- appeared to ratify the compromise,
the balance scattering, sinking their field pieces in the river, and
burying their small arms. I am fully persuaded that arms
distributed in our border counties, to at least one company in each
county, will render everything safe, as the Union forces in North
Missouri are now stronger than the rebels. (Note:
Report
of Adjutant General f Iowa, 1863, Vol. 2, pages 876, 7. Official
report of Colonel G. M. Dodge, Fourth Regiment Iowa Infantry.)
Subsequent events proved that the fear of the rebels of
northwest Missouri, of an invasion from Iowa, was well founded.
The First Regiment, Western Division, Iowa Volunteer Militia, under
command of Colonel John R. Morledge, made three expeditions into the
State of Missouri, the last of which extended to the city of St. Joseph,
which was evacuated by the rebel forces upon the approach of the Union
troops. Colonel Morledge, in his official report to Governor
Kirkwood, gives a detailed account of these expeditions, in the last of
which five or six of the enemy were killed, and two rebel flags and many
prisoners were captured. During the progress of the last
expedition, the number of Union troops was constantly augmented by the
accession of loyal citizens of Missouri who had joined the column at
different points along the line of march and, upon arriving at St.
Joseph, the number had increased to four thousand. The rebel
forces retreated in the direction of Lexington, and subsequently joined
the rebel army under command of General Price. At the conclusion
of his report, Colonel Morledge says:
St. Joseph looked desolate, and as though she had been
despoiled of all her goods. Whole blocks of business houses were
closed up, many of which had been broken open and robbed of all or
nearly all their contents, by the rebels in their flight through the
city two days before. (Note: Report of Adjutant General of
Iowa, 1863, Vol. 2, pages 877, 8. Official report of Colonel
John R. Morledge.)
Colonel Morledge remained in camp at St. Joseph for
three days, and then returned with his regiment to Iowa.
Adjutant General N. B. Baker, in his report, published
in 1863, (Vol. 1, page xv,) says:
The General Assembly at the Extra Session, 1862, with
almost entire unanimity directed the organization of the Northern and
Southern Border Brigades. As these organizations are of great
interest to the State, I have inserted in the Appendix their rosters
-- Northern marked (B), and Southern marked (C). These rosters
show that the number of men enlisted in the Northern Border Brigade
was two hundred fifty, and in the Southern Border Brigade seven
hundred ninety-four. In the Appendix, marked (K), will be found
reports of Colonels Edwards, Dodge and Morledge, relating to the
difficulties on the southern border, in 1861, and the Governor's
instructions in relation to the organization of the Southern Border
Brigade, in 1862.
The following order was issued by Adjutant General
Baker, soon after the passage of the act by the General Assembly:
Adjutant General's Office,
Davenport, Oct. 8, 1862.
General Orders No. 98: Under the law of the last
session of the General Assembly, Chapter 17, entitled an Act to
provide for the better protection of the southern border of this
State, the Governor has ordered that four battalions of troops, for
the purpose indicated in said law, be forthwith raised, to be numbered
and located as follows:
First Battalion to be composed of troops raised in the
counties of Lee and Van Buren.
Second Battalion will be composed of troops from the
counties of Wapello, Davis and Appanoose.
Third Battalion will be composed of troops from the
counties of Wayne, Decatur and Ringgold.
Fourth Battalion will be composed of troops from the
counties of Taylor, Page and Fremont.
These battalions will constitute the Southern Border
Brigade. The companies composing these battalions will be
designated by this Department alone.
By order of the Commander-in-Chief.
N. B. Baker, Adjutant General of Iowa.
(Note: Report of Adjutant General of Iowa 1863, Vol. 2, page 757.)
Reference has been made -- in the foregoing part of this
sketch -- to the reports alluded to by Adjutant General Baker, embracing
the period from the commencement of the troubles on the southern border
to the date of the organization of the Southern Border Brigade. It
will be noted that, in his letter of instructions in relation to that
organization, Governor Kirkwood practically adopted the suggestions made
by Colonel Grenville M. Dodge, in the concluding portion of his report,
heretofore quoted in this sketch. The letter gives a clear view of
the conditions then existing in that part of the State, and is
therefore, here quoted in full, as follows:
Executive Office, Iowa, Sept. 11, 1862.
W. W. Thomas,
Corydon, Wayne Co., Iowa.
Sir: A law has passed the General Assembly
authorizing the organization in your count, and the other border
counties, of a company of men for home defense against guerrilla bands
from Missouri. The law will soon be published, and you will be
able to see its provisions and learn its objects. I desire you
to enlist the company for your county. I am informed that in
some of the border counties there are men whose loyalty is doubtful,
and whose sympathies are with the rebels. Such men must not be
admitted into the company. I will not, if I can avoid it, be
instrumental in placing the public arms in the hands of any man whose
devotion to the Government in this hour of peril is doubtful. I
do not mean by this that none but Republicans shall be enlisted, I
only mean just what I say, that your company must consist of open,
known, unconditional supporters of the Government and of the Union,
and I hold you responsible, if you accept this service, that you
enlist none others. Your company can consist of not less than
eighty, nor more than one hundred, men, all told. When you
have enlisted the minimum number, you will call the men together and
have them elect one Captain and one First Lieutenant, and report the
names to the Adjutant General, who will issue commissions. The
men are enlisted to act as mounted men, when their services may be
needed, and each man must furnish his own horse, saddle, bridle,
blankets and clothing. It is not intended these men should all
be on constant service. A few men from each company will daily
act as scouts, and the others are to be at home, holding themselves as
minute men. Please also report to me at Iowa City your action in
this matter. I trust you will feel it to be your duty to do this
work, and to do it firmly and thoroughly. It is for the defense
of your own county, and the service should be promptly performed.
If, for any reason, you cannot act in this matter, please hand this
authority, indorsed by you, to some man who will do it in the manner
herein set forth, and report his name and post-office address to me
immediately.
Very respectfully,
Samuel J. Kirkwood.
Similar letters were addressed to James H. Summers,
Decatur City, Decatur County; Charles W. Lowrie, Keokuk, Lee County;
John R. Morledge, Clarinda, Page County; E. S. Hedges, Sydney, Fremont
County; D. W. Dixon, Ottumwa, Wapello County; R. A. Moser, Lexington,
Taylor County; Joseph Dickey, Farmington, Van Buren County; H. Tannehill,
Centerville, Appanoose County; H. B. Horn, Bloomfield, Davis County;
Thomas Ross, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County. (Note:
Report
of Adjutant General of Iowa, 1863, Vol. 2, page 879.)
Supplementing the foregoing instructions of the
Governor, Adjutant General Baker, under date of October 14, 1862, issued
an order which reads as follows:
In order that the Southern Border Brigade shall not be
an unnecessary expense to the State, it is directed that not more than
ten men shall be detailed for special service from any company in any
battalion, unless there be an actual invasion, and then the additional
force must be ordered out by the Major of the battalion; and in every
case full report must be made to the Governor, with a statement of the
facts upon which the additional force was ordered into the field, and
the officer making the order will be held responsible for the
correctness of his statements and actions. (Note:
Report
of Adjutant General of Iowa, 1863, Vol. 2, page 757.)
The wisdom of the action taken by the Governor, in thus
creating an efficient and adequately strong force upon the southern
borders of the State, was subsequently demonstrated most fully by the
better conditions which existed in that section, from the time the
organization was established until the close of the war. It
is true that the inhabitants of that part of the State did not at any
time, while the great struggle was going on, enjoy the feeling of
complete immunity from danger which was held by those whose homes were
farther away from the scene of strife. They had -- in addition to
contributing their full quota to the regiments at the front -- to
maintain the militia organizations, from their own numbers, and for
their own protection. The burdens of war therefore rested
more heavily upon the people of those border counties than upon those
who lived in the interior of the State.
The report made by Colonel Edwards -- at the special
request of General Baker - gives such a complete summary of the
operations of the Iowa State troops on the southern border and in the
State of Missouri, that the compiler deems its quotation appropriate to
the completion of this historical sketch. It is therefore quoted
in full, as follows:
Springfield, Mo., December 24, 1862.
N. B. Baker, Adjutant General, State of Iowa.
Sir: In compliance with your request of the 7th
inst., to furnish you a brief statement of the expedition under my
command, which marched into the State of Missouri during the month of
September, 1861, I have the honor to report: that, as
Aid-de-Camp to his Excellency, Governor Kirkwood, I had charge of the
border between the States of Iowa and Missouri, from the east line of
Appanoose County to the west line of Taylor County. The Civil
War, which then convulsed the people of Missouri, raged with great
violence in the northern part of the State, loyalists and rebels
striving for the ascendancy. The bitter feelings engendered
between them often broke out to open hostilities, which more or less
involved the peace and security of the citizens of Iowa residing near
the border. The rebels, acting on the offensive, were the first
to arm and unite themselves into bands, to compel the loyalists either
to unite with them or take the other alternative of leaving the State;
hence thousands abandoning their homes, fled to Iowa for refuge.
During the month of August, Colonel Patten of Gentry, and Colonel
Sanders of Andrew County, Mo., were engaged in organizing large bands
of rebels in the northern part of that State, near the Iowa line, with
the threatened intention of invading Iowa, to supply their commands
with horses, principally; then to unite their forces under General
Sterling Price, at that time advancing from Arkansas upon Lexington,
Mo. By a previous understanding between Kirkwood and General
Pope, who was at that time in command of northern Missouri, I was
authorized, in case of any emergency that might arise, to march such
of the troops of Iowa, as had been assigned to me, into Missouri, to
assist the struggling loyal citizens of that State, and, if possible,
to prevent an invasion by the rebels into Iowa.
If fighting had to be done, it was preferable to do it
in Missouri, where the trouble commenced, and to spare our citizens
the consequences of an invasion by the enemy. I was further
ordered on arriving at the line, to report to the commanding General.
I did so, and my command, while I remained in the State of Missouri,
were received as Federal soldiers. Before I called out the
troops under my command, however, a large number of citizens on the
border, on both sides of the line, advised me of the existing state of
things; also Colonel Cranor, commanding the Union forces of Gentry
County, Mo. At the numerous and urgent requests of these
persons, and after dispatching messengers to the scene of difficulty ,
and satisfying myself as to the truth of the statements made to me, I
ordered out all the troops I could collect and arm -- in all between
seven and eight hundred -- requiring them to rendezvous at Allenville,
near the line. Without camp equipage or commissary stores,
without any previous preparation, in less than one week's time for
organization, I had put my expedition on the march from Allenville.
At that time at least three hundred loyal families of Missouri had
been driven out of that Sate, and were then encamped on the prairies
of Iowa. I found the whole country in a state of great
excitement; no business on either side of the line was being
prosecuted; a large number of families in Iowa had abandoned their
crops in harvest time, and fled into the interior of the State for
safety. A band of rebels numbering some twelve hundred, were
fortified in a bend of Grand River, about twenty-five miles from the
line; several other bands were at other points near by. I
pushed my command on rapidly, when the rebels commenced retreating,
the different bands uniting before reaching St. Joseph, Mo.
Before reaching St. Joseph, I formed a junction with Colonel Cranor,
when we were ordered by General Pope to advance rapidly on that place,
the rebels having possession of the city and being engaged in
plundering the citizens. It is estimated that they took
seventy-five thousand dollars worth of goods from the loyal citizens
of that city.
At the time of my arrival at St. Joseph, there were no
Federal forces at that post, or on the whole line of the Hannibal and
St. Joseph Railroad. I was ordered to proceed to Chillicothe,
leaving three hundred of my men at St. Joseph to garrison that post.
While I was at Chillicothe, the surrender of Lexington, under Colonel
Mulligan, took place. Mine were the nearest Union forces to him
at the time, and I had but four hundred and fifty men. After the
surrender of Colonel Mulligan, the rebel General Raines advanced upon
Chillicothe with four thousand cavalry and one section of a battery,
his pickets being within fifteen miles of Chillicothe, while Lewis
Best, a noted rebel, had a band of three hundred, ten miles north of
the post, to cut off my retreat. I telegraphed to General
Fremont for reinforcements (the telegraph wire west of me being cut).
He responded that I should be reinforced in the morning with one
regiment. A rebel in the office, named Jones, looking over the
shoulder of the operator, thought it read ten regiments. (Note:
Telegraph messages were not taken by sound in those days.)
Mounting his horse, he rode to the camp of General Raines, whom he
informed of the contents of the telegram. It caused that General
to retreat to Lexington, which saved my little band, the post, and the
railroad. Later -- reinforcements having arrived, I was
relieved, and ordered to return home with my troops. Such was
the excitement of the time that my command was continually overrun
with refugees, seeking safety. I made a forced march of one
hundred mile sin four days, subsisting upon the enemy as best we
could. I took prominent rebels prisoners, whom I forwarded to
St. Louis, and some property, which was turned over to General Prentis.
The men of my command were generally substantial farmers, a large
number of them over fifty years of age. They endured the fatigue
of the campaign with fortitude. Their bravery was tested at
several critical periods; they never flinched or complained of their
hard fare. They deserve well of their Country. These
troops served one month.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, you
obedient servant,
John Edwards, Lieutenant Colonel and Aid-de-Camp,
Commanding Iowa Troops.
(Note:
Report of Adjutant General of Iowa,
1863, Vol. 2, pages 875, 6. Lieutenant Colonel Edwards was
subsequently commissioned by Governor Kirkwood as Colonel of the
Eighteenth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He won
distinguished honor as commander of that regiment, and was promoted to
the rank of Brigadier General of Volunteers. See Roster of
Field and Staff and Historical Sketch, Eighteenth Regiment Iowa
Infantry, "Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers,"
Vol. III, pages 117 to 124.
It will thus be seen that these hardy sons of Iowa --
insufficiently equipped and without military experience -- bravely
co-operated with the troops who were regularly enrolled in the service
of the United States, in putting down treason and rebellion in the State
of Missouri. They had enlisted for the purpose of defending their
own homes against invasion and possible destruction, but, when called
upon to aid their loyal brethren on the other side of the border, they
nobly responded to the call. At the time this sketch is
written -- nearly fifty years after the events it describes had
transpired -- a few of the aged men who belonged to the Southern Border
Brigade are still living in their old homes, and a few of those against
whom they contended, across the border in Missouri, still survive.
These men and their descendants are now living in peace and amity under
the flag of a restored Union. The bitter enmities which
existed in those days of strife and discord are forgotten, and the two
great Commonwealths of Iowa and Missouri vie with each other only in
their efforts to contribute to the strength, greatness and perpetuity of
the Great Republic to which they belong. (Note:
The
subjoined roster has been transcribed from the records in the office of
the Adjutant General of Iowa, and contains the names of all the officers
and enlisted men of that organization.)
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