The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-10-22
THE RAID IN DAVIS COUNTY.


On the 18th inst, Deing the hrSt day OF
our county Fair, body ofguerrillas num-
bering thirteen entered our county al the
southeast corner near Richard Cross farm,
plundering his house, captured William
Downing, q neighbor; passed west to Mr..
Powers, taking Powers and his son priso-
ners, and from his house passed up the di-
vide TO jeremiah Miller's, stole his horses,
broke his gun, and passed on three miles
west to Morris McCracken's, whom they
robbed Of about 500; also stole horse
from James Paris, and called At Franklin
French's house for money, (Mr. French
being absent at the Fair,) and from Nc
Crackens through the farm to the resi-
dence e5 Thomas Hardy, whose house they
rumaged for money, but overlooked, or
in their hurry missed the msney drawer |;
leaving the house they found Mr.. Heardy
with his team and wagon, and demanded
The horses, which he refused to unharness
when they shot him through the head, kill
Ling him instantly. From Mr.. Hardy's
they went to the house of Mr.. Small, de-
manded of Eleazer Small his money, aud
sho: MIN through the head, killing him al
most instantly, then passing through the
village OF Springville, took prisoners Capt.
Bence Of the 3Oth Iowa, home on furlOugh,
w. Hill, Messrs. Sanderson, Tannehill and
others whose names we do not remember;
passed up the divide, crossing the State
line within three miles Of the southwest
corner of the county, and when just over
the line shot Capt. Bence through the head
and discharged the other prisoners.
They entered the county at the southeast
ou. at the southwest corner about sun
down.
Word reached town, about ! p. M, OF
their depredations at Mr.. Miller's, and
several companies were Immediately
formed and mounted company started
on the Lancaster road, directly south, at
about 2 p. M, but all attempts to capture
or overtake them failed, though our caval-
~ pursued them into Missouri where the
guerrillas scattered and went into the
brush probably not less than i've miles
ahead Of our force.
The three men were killed without any
provocation, and were taken without arms.
taken. as also was Mr.. Small who was q
memberof the Sd Iowa cavalry, at home
on furlough. Mr.. Hardey was qniet,
peaceable citizen, a farmer in good circum-
stances, and had about his person proba-
bly, one or two hundred dollars which the
rebels got. He was probably killed for
fear he might be able to identify some OF
Quaintance, and the other two were no
doubt murdered because they were Union
soldiers.
These outrages ought never to have been
permitted with an organized militia in the
county; but our citizens had been lulled
into belief that there was no danger, and
had become reckless, from false alarms,
for their own safety, and were found with
out any plan of defense.
The guerrillas no doubt were men we'll
acquainted with the situation of things in
the country, knew the roads and by paths,
knew where 10 find money and good hor-
ses, and knew that many of the citizens
would be absent at the Fair, and also knew
how to avoid points where the militia
would rally, and there is also no doubt
but they we're plundering and numbering
for gain as well as from malice, as they
robbed and murdered men Of all political
parties. and were not governed by any
principle whatever.
This account is hastily sketched from the
information received from all points, and
is not full in details nor perhaps perfect in
any part, but as to the robbing, the MUIR
ders and stealing, all accounts agree, and
not only the citizens in Davis county, but
along the entire border Of the State, should
take prompt and effective measures to pa
troll the State lines, and prevent q recur-
renee Of such outrages in the future.