The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-02-25


!. aO'Tl['TUM|.'WA, OF IO,N
Of the first legal talent Of the State, was no.
ted as very promising young Democrat,
stumped large portion Of Ohio, for Pierce
in 1852, and occupied, in every respect, a
distinguished position as lawyer and poll
tician. ~ hS~ '['&
REMOVAL TO IOWA. i'frif's9
Being afflicted with the "western fever >,
he removed in 1854 to Iowa, reaching Knox
vile on the 18th Of November with Just .Jspe
dollars in his pocket, the sum total Of his
material wealth. The low state of his flnan.
ces at this time was easily accounted for.
The support of bis fathers family and the
bleeding for the party, sure to be resort
ed to on a young man fun Of enthusiasm for
a cause to which his whole efforts were de.
voted, well used up the earnings Of large
practice -" o rf.2 ~
Thc.pdblic life OF the embryo Governor in
Iowa was commenced as editor aud publish
er, Immediately after his arrival, Of the
Knoxville Journal, the Hrst Republican pa
per started in the State west Of Oskaloosa;
the Kansas Nebraska bill having swept
from him, as from thousands Of others, all
attachments to the. now pro-slavery and
bcrder-rufianized Deniocratics party. His
connection with the Journal was retained
until the fall Of 1865. Early in 1856 he
commenced the practice Of law IN Knox.
vile. and in April 1857, was elected Judge
of the District Court, in the then l1th Judi
cial District, With little opposition The
same year he was married to the daughter
of his former preceptor' and partner, who,
with her parents, followed him to Iowa in
1855. In consequence of the redistrcting
Of the State, Judge Stone was thrown into
new district, the 9th, and reelection be-
came necessary. This was triumphantly
secured him in October, 1858, and he re.
mained on the bench until he voluntarily
abandoned it tor the army in 1851. aa
On the 22d of February, 1856, be assisted
Mt the memorable convention at which the
Republr can party was organized in Iowa.
In the same year he served and did good
service for the cause as Presidential elector,
stumping the entire southern part Of the
State during that campaign. In 1850 he
served as delegate to the Chicago Conven.
ton. eear arsg s7a.8 a.ttg
af HIS MILITARY CAREER. --uss
When the first call for troops was made,
Judge Stone was holding court at Fairfield.
He Immediately adjourned the court, hasen-
ed home, found company Of volunteers
then being recruited, enlisted as a private,
and was, without any solicitation on his
part, elected Captain. On the ninth of May,
his Company YVES assigned to the Cd Iowa
infantry, then forming at Keokuk, as COM
pany B. Upon the organization of this
regiment, Captain Stone was. rendered a
commission as MAJOR, and served in that ca
pacity until appointed Colonel of the 22d
Inf Maj. Stone participated with his regi.
meht in the Memorable battle of Blue Mills,
Missouri, on the 18th of September, 1851,
where for two hours four thousand rebels
fought4ess than one sixth OF their number
with savage but fruitless desperation. In
this engagement the Major distinguished
himself by bis bravery, and though severely
wounded, did cot leave the field until the
action was over. gra.7 ,-si..
At Shiloh, on the irst day Of that san
culinary engagement, the sd was command
ed by Major Stone, who kept his men in po.
sition, contesting the rebel advance, from 7
o'clock in the morning until nearly in the
evening, remaining on the field long after
every other regiment in the same division
had been compelled to retreat to the rear.
The gallantry of Major Stone and his CON-
mand cost them dearly. They with Gene
raj Prentiss, and part of the 6th, 18th,
14th and 10Th Iowa, ia all some $500 troops,
were taken prisoners. Major Stone had
several months Imprisonment, which he
might have avoided by retreating. His
subsequent successful efforts in securing the
agreement to the Jsrst and only cartel for the
exchange ofprisoners, by which thousands
Of suffering soldiers were returned to their
homes, need not here be recited.f Enough
TO say, that in his agency in this Major
Stone earned the thanks of the country at
large. fs7izal b .ffa 81
Z Entering the 22d regiment as its Colonel
as soon as exchanged and at liberty again to
take the sword. Colonel Stone rendered i'm.
portant service in Missouri, though much Of
the time stationed at RoIla, and sh ut out
from active field operations. Joining Gene.
raj Grants army Vicksburgh, the 22d
shares in the fruitless charge on the enemy's
works at that besiege city, on the 10th of
May. In this charge Colonel Stone partici-
pated. On the 22d of that month the gene
raj and memorable charge was made, 10
which the galland 22d regiment greatly dis
tipguished itself; seizing and holding for
eight hours, until compelled to withdraw for
want Of re.inforcenents the only part Of
the enemy's works that day taken, by our
forces. This heroic charge was led in per-
son by Colonel Stone, who, with his regi-
ment, was assigned to this duty-the ,''fcr-
lorn hope"-by General McClernand. The
2lst Iowa also participated in this charge,