Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-09-17


it was in this region little later that
Gen. Tom Ewing. with 1000 troops in
trenched in fortifcation near Ironton,
yet visible from the railray car window,
''stood off, brigade of Pap" Prices
army numbering 5000 men for more
than twenty-four hours, and then es-
capped, after blowing up his works.
But it was with much more interest
ing scenes that the region of Arcadia
and Ironton was identified in those
days now become historic. The good
people in that section in the early fall
of 1861 little thought when they gazed
upon the unobtrusive and silent leader
of an Illinois infantry regiment who
had been sent to Ironton to keep an
eye on the movements of Gen. JEFF
Thompson-they little dreamed that
they then beheld one who was to be-
come the greatest military figure, save
one, in the worlds history. Yet there
it was that Col. y. S. Grant, of the 21st
Illinois, commanded for few days,
and a pretty monument which now
stands in the Emerson dooryard at
Ironton, and within two miles of the
rife range, marks the spot where the
great soldier stood when be opened his
mail one morning and received his
first first promotion as Brigadier GEN
eral of Volunteers. The monument
was erected few years ago by the
surviving members of the 21st Illinois
Regiment, and is carefully protected
and cherished by all the people of the
Arcadian Valley. Gen. Grant, as he
states in his memoirs" was relieved
of his command at Ironton by Gen. B.
NJ. Prentiss. 'By virtue of my rank
in the old army, and by the date of
my commission as we'll, ] knew l
ranked Gen. Prentiss," says Gen.
Grant, '.but did not care to enter in
tc controversy with him about so small
a matter, so | yielded to him." Poor
Gen. Prentiss! They did not meet
again until at Shiloh, and how differ
ent then their positions!
Arcadia is also somewhat of health
resort. 1t is the summer retreat of
quite number of st. Louis best known
citizens. The clear atmosphere of the
hills, the pure water, the altitude
above the sea, nearly 500 feet-all are
conducive to health and happiness.
"Valley Home" the summer lounging
place of Mr.. w. II. Thomson, OF the
Boatmen's Bank, of ST. Louis, is at
Arcadia. 1t is a magnificent country
seat, and Mr.. Thomson's family have
enjoyed it each season for nearly nine
teen years. Gen. Warner, Vice-Presi-
dent of the Missouri Pacific Railway.
has a summer cottage here. Besides
there are two wei1-filled summer hotels
to attest the popularity of the place as
a summer resort. The rides about the
valley are beautiful, and the land
scapes ever shifting, most pleasing to
the eye.
The presence of the military this
summer has livened things up i'm
menseIy in and about Arcadia. The
daily target shoots, the nightly pa
rades and drills. have all been proved
infiuite sources of interest and amuse-
ment. The target practice has been
especially interesting. not only be-
cause of the skill developed by the
troops, but on account of the interest
in the new military arms and equip
ments now in use. The new KragJor-
gensen rifles now used By the United
States army are source of wonder to
the average civilian. All day when
the targe,s are not being fired at curl
Gus people may be found studying the
effect of highpower arms on the rocks
and trees. There seems to be no limit
to the penetration of those little steel
clad. lead-pencil looking things that
are fired from a Krag-Jorgensen
Giant oaks, some of them feet in di-
ameter. are shot through and through
by the little projectiles, at even 1000
yards range. Whenever they strike
they cut clean. There are no Jagged
edges. no flatteued bullets or slugs. no
glancing this way and that; when
they start from the muzzle at 2200
feet a second they are so intent upon
business that they stop at nothing. A
little thing like big oak tree is no
more than the muslin target in front
of it. Indeed, two or three trees, if
they are not too tough, will lpt stop
the wicked missiles.
In another year 1t is hoped the
range will take in the whole OF the
100 acres on which the Government