Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-05-15
Guerrilla Troubles In Southwest.
ern Iowa.
Attack upon a Party Of Union Citizens -
The Guerrillas Dispersed and -Four Of
them Sent to st. Joseph in Irons.

dttUCk upon wty " CHEOn CI'SzChS-
The GuerriHas Dispersed and -Four OF
them Sent to st. Joseph In Irons.
The following is a copy of letter received
by lady in this city from a friend residing
in Page county, Iowa:
COLLEGE SPRINGS, Page CO., Iowa.,
May 3, 1868.
DEAR FRIEND: We have been having
quite an exciting time here lately, caused by
guerrillas attacking citizens from this place
who were on their way to attend Union
meeting in the edge of Missouri DAVID May,
the rebel spy who was here at the time we
expected the secesh were on their way 10
burn this place, year ago last summer, J
came home about the middle of last winter,
with protection papers as prisoner of war
He claimed protection from the Missouri State
Militia, which prevented his Union neighbors
from dealing justice to him at once but his
impudence, and the evidence which was accu-
mulating against him, satisfied them that he,
Eli Sizemore and others were not only notori-
Gus rebels, but that they were bushwhackers
or guerrillas, and were preparing to follow that
business as soon as the bushes leaved out.
These facts are now proved beyond doubt.
They commenced their nefarious work by
waylaying seventeen of us, at school house
| short distance in Missouri, on the road to
that rebel hole Possumwalk, about ten miles
from here. eve live only two and one-hall
miles from the line; David May and Eli Size
more lived just across the line) They fred
twelve or fifteen shots at us. | had my favor
lite mare shot under me; she dropped in
stantly. Wi lillian r. Laughlin received a flesh
wound in the side. The horses were very
much frightened, and threw some five or six
but as soon as we got over the fright we found
the rebels had only got two muskets and one
hat-or that was what was missing. We went
back into the edge Of Iowa and resolved our
selves into runners, to notify the community
of the affair and request them to meet next
morning at a given place, to see what should
be done. About fifty or sixty came, and we
resolved to clean out Possumwalk and vicin-
ity. 'TE ..r.-.. .f
We then proceeded to Eli Sizemores', and
found, after making diligent search, that he
and David May, with ten or twelve others,
had disappeared hastily during the night and
early that morning. The crowd was some
what excited and the houses and corn pens of
the two persons above FAMED were towards
evening enwrapt in flames, and the company
dispersed. The next day, Capt. Davis went
in search of them, and the day after, 1, with
twenty five others, started in search, collect
ing evidence, giving Southern sympathizers
their orders, and taking four prisoners, whom
we carried to Marysvile, to be tried by the
Provost Marshal, who found them guilty, and
they were forwarded to st. Joseph. g.
l have rode nearly every day since the
excitement commenced. The guerrillas have
been seen in different directions, but fear,
we will not take the rest until they do much
more mischief. We have formed ourselves
into Union League. Our motto is "Down
with rebels y We agree with Parson Brown
low as to their rights - one to be damned,
one to be hanged - and we intend to be
prompt in comforting the right to be hanged,
when circumstances require it. I cannot 90
to the army to help sustain our Government,
but can watch the rebels at home - and
will do it. Yours, truly,
.ay g M.ppou