The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-08-05
A Challenge Accepted I

4
Afew days ago the Burlington Hawk
Eye called attention 10 the fact that Brig
Gen. Augustus Cesar Dodge, Of tha
city. had tremendously martial name
heavy military title. and was just tht
man to help fight for his Government II
the field. Augustus Caesar soon after
wards sent letter to the Hapk- Eye, ex
pressing great surprise that he, modest
retiring private citizen. should thus b.
dragged into public notice, but in order
to punish the Editor Of the Hawk Ey.
for the offense, challenged him 1.-THE Ed.
itor J to enlist as volunteer. saying tha,
when that event should have transpired
he (Dodge) would also enlist either as
an officer or private Dodge is big.
brawny. burly, beef.eating fellow, gorg-
ed with fatuess, and capable of meeting
the severest fatigues of camp service
with ease; while Mr.. Dunham, the Edit.
or Of the Hawk Eye, has been for several
years in poor health. and for the last
year has scarcely had strength sufficient
to attend to the duties of his office. The
challenge on this account was an unfair
one. But Mr.. Durham meets It in the
boldest most many manner, accepting
the challenge. and on the very day of his
acceptance enrolling his name as a sol.
dier and inviting Dodge to do the same !!
Below will be found Mr.. Dunham's s re-.
ply in full: .s1 @
a BURLINGTON, July l6, 1862.
Hon. A. G. DoDoE: nt aaaml
Sra The proposition you make
above does not strike me a. remarka.
bly, fair one. and / doubt whether it will
so strike the public. Nevertheless let
the public decide. There is no equality
in the circumstances. You have been q
public man since you came into the ter.
ritory OF Iowa. You have received hon.
ors and Office at the bands of the people
OF this State ever since you were old
enough to exercise the elective franchise.
You have been delegate in Congress,
Senator forsmany years. and represented
our Government at foreign court. Thus
honored by the people you have acquir-
ed competency in the public service.
Having the confidence, and being the
leader of the Democratic party. with the
undoubted ability to raise Regiment,
command it, and thus render important
service in the hour of the country's ut
most need. it seems to me and probably
to the public, that you ought not to stand
back now, especially to carp against
those who are doing something to save
the country. You are in the meridian Of
life, full ofstrength and vigor, not enga
ged in any business or calling, and can
leave family we'll provided for, even If
you tall IN the service Of your country.
Now, sir, it is quite different with me.
| have never served the people of Iowa
in any public capacity. / lave earned
IN the humble capacity Of publisher OF a
newspaper what has been merely suffi.
cient for the necessary support of me and
mine. | am known only as an editor
and publisher through my paper, and
without my personal labor and superyis.
ion my paper has not heretofore paid ex.
pensss, and it is fair to presume will not
in the future. l have neither hopses nor
lands. nor money at interest, that nv
family can fall back upou-nolhing 10
leave them in case l fall. nothing but
business which they cannot manage. /
have no military experience or knowl-
edge, and what my health is. General
Dodge and the citizens Of Burlington
know very well.
These are the difFerances in our cir
cumstances fairly stated. Now l pro.
pose TO accept your proposition, General
| will use all the influence can bring to
bear to get you the Colonelcy Of the Reg
iment to be formed in this District il YOU
will help recruit it, and place it in the
field and lead It. as you can do. l will
not cniy do this, but will snlis, as pri-
yate and share the hardships and priya,
tons and dangers OF the field withou!
any share in the honors. for the nar.
/! accept your proposition fully. so far
as am concerned. and will to, day en-.
roll my name with Capt. Bell. condition.
ed upon marching under you as colo
mel or with you as private. This is all
OF your proposition that is tangible.
meet il fairly. think myself paid for
the sacriGce in securing your name and
influence in filling up what will proba-
bly, be The Iowa 10Th,
Very respectfully.
Your obedient servant,
~ MIMI