The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-06-25

the McGregor Ners, and was written by the
editor of that paper, the gallant Colonel
Drummond. who is a neighbor Of Colonel
Merrill, and soldier whose own services
entitled him to speak Of the merits Of his
comrades in arms.
COL. SAMUEL MERRILL N INCOR-
RUPTIBLE PATRIOT, A GRAVE SOL
DER AND AN HONEST mAN.
At present writing Col Merrill occupies
prominent position, and appears to have fat
terine prospects Of success for Governor. |
Possessing in an eminent degree those quail.
ties which fit him for the efficient discharge |
of the duties of Executive of our noble |
State; earnest aud true Republicans are |
uniting upon him, as if by common consent, |
and without solicitation or effort on his part |
he stands mt tho head OF the somewhat lengthy |
list OF prominent gentlemen who hsve been |
,named as asprauts for gnhernatorisl honors.
TO those familiar with Col. Noyrill's private,
political and military history this decided ex-
preston of feeling in his favor IS not mat
Ter Of surprise His practical common sense,
superior business capacity. temperate and in-
dnsirous habits aud unbIcmished reputation
inspire the fullest confidence that In his keep
ing the proud name and great interests of the
commonwealth would not suffer, but be faith
fully guarded aud protected. 4 considera
ton Of his past life and public services is all
that is necessary TO produce conviction that
whatever he does will be well done. He is
now in the prime of life. being about forty
five years Of age. A'natiue Of the State of
Maine, like many Of her sturdy sons who be.
gan life without fortune, be studied and taught
by turns until he had completed his educs>
ton, and was ready to commence the bust
ness of life. Possessed Of no capital other
than good name, industrious and moral hab
its. and honest purpose 10 succeed by his own
efforts he entered mercantile life in New
HAMPSHIRE. and SOON established lucrative
business and an excellent reputation as
merchant ssd citizen. At that time New
Hampshire was Democratic State, but
young Merrill having been born and bred
an abohtionist. remained true 20 his ants
slavery convictions, and rs a consequence,
in an almost hopeless minority until the re-
peal of the Missouri Compromise line, and
the Kansas Nebraska troubles worked a
revolution in public sentiment, when he was
twice elected to the legislature as an aboli-
zionist. and aided in the election OF J ohm. 7.
Hale to the United States Senate, and the
redemption of New Hampshire from demo.
cratic misrue under which it had been for
nearly fortf consecutive years. We say that
Colonel Merrill was born an aholitionist.
ney for the Presidency and worked in the
anti slavery cause when not one vote in
hundred could be found for that side. The
record otthe SON has been equally consistent
and true on the question of human liberty.
In lob0s., Merrill served IN the legislature
Of Iowa.
. When the late sauguinary war commenced,
Merrill took deep interest in the Union
cause HIS Granddaughter had been loyal
A cold . Nd
ence, and his father in the war Of 1872, and
following their example, be entered the ser
vice in the summer of SOP as a Colonel of
the 7lst iowa infantry, and served with dis
tincti0n until disabled by wounds, which ne
cessiiated his retirement from the service.
The first important engagement in which the
regiment participated was the battle of
Hartsville, Missouri, where Colonel Merrill,
in command Of less than a thousand men,
composed OF detachment OF the DIST Iowa,
goth Illinois, Sd Iowa cavalry, Sd Missouri
cgsalry and two pieces Of artillery, met and
successfully repuised four to five thousand
rebels, having tive pieces Of artillery, com
manded by Generals Marmaduke and Nc.
Donald, anu Coils. Shelby, Thompson, Porter,
Burbridee, Henkle, Jeffry and Campbell
The battle commenced about II clock a.
IN and lasted until nearly night, but not,
wnhstandng the disparity Of numbers, the
disposition the
Union forces enabled the Colonel TO main
tain his position. and successfully repe the
attacking columns oi the rebels. The rebels
lost General Mcdonald, Colonels Thompson
and Henkle and several officers killed, aud
not less than thrac hundred killed and wound
ed The Union loss was seven killed sixty.
Z four wounded five captured and two missing.
In this, their first engagement the officers
ana.men OF the list Iowa behaved with great
GOODNESS and gallauiry, and wons reputation
for courage on the battle field which they
maintained TO the end Of the war.
The next engagement Of Importance III
= which the regiment participated was at Por
Gibson, where "the 2lst Iowa, Col. Merrill
commanding, was the first III the battle ans
the last to leave the field During the AT
ternoon of this engagement, Col Nerrl
commanded brigade, and had his hors,
% shot under him. For his conduct on this oc
<casssa he received special mention aud higl
compliments from Gen. Carr, the division
commander. At the last battle Of Big Bacl
River Bridge, Col Merrill bravely led IN
regiment through storm Of bullets in, tn
charge Of the Dist and $50 Iowa, which car
red the enemy S works, and was severel
and dangerously wounded. The loss sus
tanned by the 2lst Iowa, in this brilliant an,
daring movement, out of less than thre
hundred engaged, was thirteen killed and :
wounded.
Suffering severely for many months wit
his wounds, which untitled him for the az
tive duties Of the field, Colonel Merrill re
tired from the service. and has since bee
President of the FRS, National Bank, ",
Gregor. He has now been a resident an
citizen of our State for about eleven YEAR
and IS a thorough Iowa man in feeling an
- interest, and fully conversant with her want
and necessities. As q private citizen an
legislator:he has ever taken deem intere
IN the development OF her great resources
and more especially in building up and g
tablshing upon solid and enduring hasi
her educational and benevolent institution
AS a legislator he was distinguished as "A pra
teal worker rather than as talker. In fac
speaking is not his forte, and as a stumper
would-not attain distinction but though n,
an eloquent stump speaker nor profession
politician he is something mora true ms
in the highest acceptation OF the term. ten
perate, industrious, honest, reliable, etiicle
and capable. He would not make 's.fassy
or :" snowy Governor, but his sound,iud
!. ment combined with his legislative Know
edge and experience would enable him
discharge the duties Of the office with cred
TO himself and profit to the State In pol
ties it will be seen that he is an old fashiouf
radical, who did not shrink from the odiu
that once attached to the term "Abolifio
ist,u but stood firm aud true to princip
La vher4 sng men bent before the arrora
- katkial slave power As soldier }
bees were such as to deserve recognize
State he honored. la short, If Il
want as Governor, a moral, uprict
man, useful and highly respect
en- a radical Republican Of abolition a
ecedents, and gallant Iowa soldier who
tast private aud public life affords an u
doubted guaranty that the affairs of the Sta
viii be administered efficiently, prudently a
faithfully, they cannot do better than to no
mate and elect Col Merrill.
POLLARD, the rebel historian of the war. a
he editor for some time of the bitterest