The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-08-31
The "Possums."

! We learn from different sources that
! the Copperhead leaders and managers i'm
! this place, together with one or two Cop
perheads who have been in the army
| awhile, and who, while they were in the
army as well as before, continually voted
! and acted with the Copperhead ticket, are
| figuring behind the screen with certain
! disdIfccted gentlemen whom they desire
and propose to use i'm order, if possible. to
defeat the regular Republican Union tick
ct and the nominees of that party in this
| county. For this purpose they are en-
deavoring to break and SOW diSaffection
among the ranks of Union men by stud
lie series of misrepresentation to and
manipuations of returned soldiers, and
by trying to inaugurate some kind of a
possum movement or convention to get
possum ticket in the field in this county
in opposition to and for the defeat of the
regular Union ticket. This possum ticket
by advice of the possum and snake county
| managers, is to be ostensibly called 1.-THE
Soldiers Ticket
The "goak" will be q rich one. We ex-
pect they will issue their call for a conven-
ton very soon. The idea of the portlv
COpperhead HonOrables and leaders of this
place lodging behind, and sideways, and
every way but in front of men wearing
the uniform and blue of "Lincoln hire
lings,' is decidedly unique-a good sub
iect for successful farce. Who will they
delude? What true soldier or sensible
man will be deceived into forsaking the
| party and men who have stood by them
-~-'r-i--f--~;a:~---- --i s.i->--..-. st., .1,,>,
dered Lincoln with the men who have
Kept mp continually "the fire i'm the rear?"
Can intelligent Union men, be they SOL
diers or civilians, be deceived into such an
atfiliation, by such shallow, unprincipled
scheme and transparent fraud? There are
but two parties, the Copperhead and Union
any other, whatever its name or guise
is i'll effect but Copperhead laid society."
Death Of General Croker.
We announce with feelings of profound
sorrow the death of General NJ. NJ. Crock
err, one Of the bravest and best citizens of
our State. This melancholy event hap
pened at Washington on last Saturday.
Before he left active service in the army.
his health failed him, and it was in the
nope that change of climate might afford
reliefthat he visited New Mexico last year.
He derived some benefit from his trip. and
on his return this summer he proceeded to
Washington to report for active service,
but death has thus suddenly deprived his
country of his services, and his friends and
relatives of his society. Mrs. T.. l.. Bur-
ton and Miss SalIie Croker, of this citv.
are sisters of General Crocker. 1t is sad
news for them. We clip the following
from the Chicago Tribune, Of the Goth:
"Gen. Croker died this morn ing at half
past nine, of brain fever. Mrs. Crocller is
expected here this evening. Gen. Crocker
resigned Il cadetship at West Point, adopt
ed the legal profession, and gained some
celebrity in Iowa. At the breaking ont of
the war he entered the service in the I'd
Iowa, from which he rose to his present
rank. He commanded division during
the Vicksburg campaign. Ill health in
duced him to offer his resignation, which,
however, the Secretary Of War declined to
accept, giving him, instead, IA protracted
leave OF absence. After soiourn of sew
eral months in New Mexico, Gen. Crocker.
believing his health sufficiently restored,
came to Washington for active service,
when again he sic.lened, with the above
mentioned fatal result. The relations ex-
istng between Gen. Grant and the de-
ceased were particularly friendly, the COM
handing General regarding him as one OF
the best officers of the service"