The Van Buren press., 1867-10-18
The Saint Louis Democrat aud 7. M
Bowen.

1he Fort smith Standard Oi the oth,
copies from the Democrat an article high
ly complimentary Of Mr., Bowen, said to
be an editorial in that paper, but sounds
very much like the same Bowcn's style
decomposition, and smells of greenbacks.
These tricks are all ofthe political trade,
put forward by men who are on the wild
hunt after Office, and printed by editors
as matter Of business--for money. The
article pretcnds to give an account, in
brief, Of the gallant conduct of Bowen
when Col. Brooks made his noted attack
on the steamboats, below this place This
account contains some statements that
will be news TO the men who were pres
ent on that occasion. BY it we are in
formed that Bowen was on the hurricane
roof Of the Annie Jacobs all the time !;
that he was "on leave" but took com.
mand when the fighting commenced. All
this is from an official report of Old
Granny Judson, who ran against "cai-
son" when Cooper made his demonstra
ton against Fort Smith, and prctends to
have been wounded by some Of Coopers $
+" shell" The truth Of the matter is that
the boats were going down the river,
single file, some distance apart. The
Chippewa, the boat in the lead, was cap.
tured by Col. B. and as soon as the next
was announced, the Chippewa was set on
fire. and the battery opened on the An.
ME Jacobs, and she Immediately began to
"round to" and Bowen and all his "kit
and crew." officers and all, skedaddled to
the shore on the North side of the rive.
Brooks being on the South side. This
was the gallant conduct" of Bowen
Bowen pas ION leave" and we are in
formed, was on his way rejoicing with
some $4,000 in vouchers rs'-sOme of
them, no doubt for corn and other things
taken from the mido,rs and orphans of
Crawford county. These vouchers
were no doubt some of the fruits of the
gallant charges Of Bowen, supported
by Screen Dcrbin" the notorious Quar-
tcrmaster who held the purse strings of
this portion of the country for time,
and made an Independent fortune by the
leakings.' The Missouri Democrat
might have alluded to many other in
stances of the gallant conduct Of Bow
en-. A magnificent charge was made by
his minions OH lady in this county and
all her bedding, spoons, etc captured !;
and when she came in to demand return
she was summarily ordered to the guard
house, but was saved from its horrors by
a gentleman pledging himself for her
safe keeping One Griffin (properly
named) was in power here Mt the same
time with Bowen, the people may remem-
Der the dishonorable rivalry which exist
ed between these precious fellows. God
never cursed people with more vicious
wretch than Griffin, and many Of the rob
berries committed upon defenceiess wo-
men and children in this county during
the reign Of terror, under Bowen, were
charged upon Griffin, on the principle of
"give dog bad name" etc. If Griffin
was guilty, Bowen knew Of the complaints
that daily came to him, and if he had
paid attention to them instead of build
ing "goose pens" around the court
house, he could have prevented world
Of suffering Maj. Morey soon put an
end to stealing and he had much worse
"set," than Bowen had, to deal with.
With all the fulsome tlattery of the Dem
ocrat and Standard, the people will re-
member the past and can hardly be in
duced to support the man who, at least,
the ills suffered by the people
of this county during the time he held
the iron rod over them. Gen. Bowen
may be a very gallant man in battle but
he certainly did not make reputation
for gallantry" in his course in this
county during his reign. Many things
could be told, if it we're deemed necessary
but the people remember them, anyhow,
too vividly already, and we are disposed
TO allow the worst Of them to slumber.
If called for they can be produced and
proved. The possession of the vouchers,
we are informed can also be fully sub
stantiated. A portion Of this branch Of
the subject is now undergoing thorough
investigation.
cE- Gen. Bowen and his man "Friday,'
started out on the canvass Of the county, on
Monday morning last. He expressed great