The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-07

4. No. 10.
D. many colors and flags and other trophi,
of former owners, and trust such mea
ures may result from this as to promot
\, further good feeling between the soldier
= of the blue of far away Iowa, and thos
n of the gray in sunny Mississippi. Hop
4. ing you may assume this task "a delight
ful one to mel to try 10 recover thi
sword for the children of gallant soldiers
2 both of the United States and Of tn,
\ Confederaey through these gentlemen,
I remain, Very truly your friend,
n F. F. FooTE.
: The WEEKLY OsKALooSA HERALD,
!. OsKALoosA, Ia, April s, 1884. !
0 Department Commander of Iowa, Car
{ roll, Ia:
4 DEAR SIR AND CoMRADE: While in
Mississippi last week had the enclosed
correspondence placed in my hands,
which | submit to you. 1t seems to me
that the Post at Villisca could get hold
of the sword, and through the Depart
ment Commander be returned to the
proper owner. suggest that u camp
fire be held down there and some prom
inent soldier go down there and so work
it around, being careful that the dis
grace of paying money to have soldier
do decent thing be avoided. The cor
respOndenee is all to be preserved.
Truly, yours, A. w. SWAIN.
HeApoIIARTFRs G RAND Army OF THE !
REPUBLIC, CARROLL, Iowa,
/ April II, 1884.
Col. w. F. Evans:
My DEAR CoMRADE: | enclose you
correspondence relating to the taking of
sword from the residence of Major |
Earl Van Dorm, near Mobile, Ala, in |
the year 1865. The sword is relic of |
value to his family and should be re-
turned to them; was presented to him
for gallant conduct in the war with
Mexico. You are directed TO proceed to
the residence of Comrade Burt and say
to him that it will be very disgraceful
for him and the Iowa Comrades, for him
to exact money consideration from the
Grand Army of Iowa, as it is only
short time since the Confederates re-
turned a stand of colors to an Iowa reg
iment, and in several instances have
been very generous in returning articles
captured in the late war. If you are
obliged to purchase the sword do so, and
draw draft on John X. Deal, Quarter
master General Department of Iowa.
Do not pay a cent more than you are I
Obliged to- Bring the sword with you !
to the encampment and turn it over to !
Assistant Quartermaster General Deal )
Your draft should be sent to Marshall !
town for collection. / feel that ought :
to act promptly aud see that the sword
goes back at once, In F., c. & L., :
JNo. B. Cooke.
P. S.-The sword is a double edge, | i
Damascus blade, gold mounted, gold
plated case. All enclosed in a wooden i
case inlaid with purple velvet. t
BEDFORD, Ia, April 81, 1884. !
Jno. B. Cooke, Carroll, Iowa: a
Have seen Burt; he asks 1926 for the
sword. Shall bring itH Answer me at
Lenox to-day sure. w. F. EVANS.
CARROLL, Ia, April 81, 1884.
w. F. Evans, Lenox, Iowa:
You will bring the sword with you.
Try and get it subject to the approval of .
the encampment. JNo. b. GooKE.
CARROLL, Ia, April 81, 1884. '
After consideration will say, get the v
Iword, subject to the approval of the b
,ncampment. If he win not let it come n
hat way, leave it. JNo. B. COOKE. P
BEDFORD, TAYLOR Co., IA, :
April %, 1884. !, =
Jno. B. Cooke, Com. g. A. R., Depart d
ment of Iowa, Marshalltown, Ia:
SIR: Acting under instructions re. q
,eived under date of April II, /, in COM 1
,any with P. C. King, of my Post, went il
through driving storm to the residence p
If NJ. E. Burt, residing 20 miles from t.
,ur city, for the purpose of trying to o
ret the sword of the late Major Van
Dorm. We found Mr.. Burt set on the Il
dea that he must have a monied eonsid- "
,ration for giving it up, and $3.50 was ii
lis fixed price By hard persuasion Mr.. rs
Burt consented to deliver the same to
ne by my guaranteeing him the sum of is
1926 or the safe return of the sword to ii
Tim. On the above conditions | have pl
,ought it, in compliance with your in Ell
fc
Moses f. Burt enlisted as a private lh
older September 2, 1862, in Company g
I, 18th Regiment Illinois Infantry. Il
Vas mustered out of service as 1st Sar- pt
,eant of his Company July II, 1866, at di
dobile, Ala His discharge shows that pC
le participated in engagements as fol- so
ows: Yazoo Swamps, Arkansas Post, ag
Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Blackriver al
Bridge, Vicksburg, Jackson. (Miss.) Fl. al
Iaines, Spanish Fort and Mobile, Ala. fo
lie explains his having the sword as fol- to
ows: His Regiment (77th Ills.) was en-. al
amped on the plantation of Van Dorm, Il
n the Tombigbee river, two miles north th
f Mobile, Ala. The negroes on the CO
,lantation informed members of his th
company that box containing swords CO
nj guns was buried in the yard. The a
arties having the information proceed
d to dig up the box and found that it si'
two swords and a three-bar- OF
elled, revolving gun. The other sword so
Tas taken in charge by the Captain of er
company q, 18th Illinois, and shipped ~
ome by him, but did not reach their in
estimation, and was never heard from b.
y the parties shipping. This sword was th
iyen Mr.. Burt by private soldier Of er
is Company The Regiment was mus cf
cred out at Mobile, Ala. Mr.. B. brought er
! home, thinking in time large reward hi
7ould be offered for it. How far his ~
esires may be realized, leave in the pl
ands of this body. return all papers tr
to the matter. co
Respectfully, w. F. EVANS. th
We fail utterly to see upon what prin- Z, z,
iple of right or Justice Mr.. Burt can = =
lain money consideration as the con- -
ition on which this sword is to be given !. I.
ID. He certainly has no property rights p
4 II. it not having been taken in battle, 3
an not properly be considered trophy :,
f the war, and is of no value to him, ~
kept as a means to extOrt money from :,
he proper owner. If he had taken sll
hid from the widow of Major Van s; =
Dorm instead of a sword, and was now {, E
lolding it for ransom, he would be act I;
ng upon the same principle he now is :,
citing upon, and the world would ex- = I,
crate him for it; and unless we greatly Z.
mistake the prevailing sentiment among 3
he men who compose the Grand Army i
{ the Republic and of the people OF
Taylor county, there will be such q feel :;
ng Of indignation against Mr. Burt as i;
o make him wish, in the not very dis +
ant future, that he had been less ayari- !;
.ious. As we understand the matter, J, J,
an no more afford TO take this money 4
han be can afford to take stolen money, !;
moving it tobe such, save in the simple !
act that in this case he EFFORTS it with : !,
,ut violating law. 4
The world has never beheld q grander, ) J,
lobler exhibition Of true patriotism s !.
han that now being exhibited wherein .
he Bows ID Blue are exchanging tro-
,hies with the Boys in Grey and We !,
sincerely pity the man who Is 20 sordid !. )