The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1899-12-09
Col. Hiram 81. Bledsoe.

Ihe Following article was written by
Captain Joseph A. Wilson, of this city
and read at meeting of the ex-confed-
crate camp last spring. The camp
extended Captain Wilson vote Of
thanks, and requested that the article
be published in the Confederate Veteran
and IN the lNTELLIGENcBR.
IhA Conia,israta .Nsieran. ot .Nssh-
yillf, Tenn, published the article IN
the October ISSUE
Col. Hiram Miller Bledsoe ('sOld Iii
Bledsoe'D the hero and ideal of Mis-
sourians, died at his home, Pleasant
Hill, Cass county, Mo-, February I,
1899, aged seyenty-three years. Born
in Kentucky, he came to Missouri when
young, and settled near Lexington,
where he was early identified with
political and other important events.
lie served in the Mexican war with
Doniphan's famous cavalry, whose
prodiglous marches and dashing COM
bats adorn the brightest pages Of
American history. In 1856, being,
like most OF our prosperous farmers in
the river counties, stakeholder, he
was deeply interested in the struggle
over the fate Of Kansas. In those
stirring scenes preliminary to the
irrepressible conflict he took an active
part, leading company from this
county TO the seat of war on the plains
of Kansas. In 1861, when federal
troops occupied St. Louis and Gov,
Claiborne +. Jackson called fol
volunteers and militia 10 guard the
state capitol, Bledsoe, with thirteer
men, took passage on steamboat fol
the scene. On the boat he got three
; recruits, and, picking up others alonl
the river, organized a company o
mounted rifles of some sixty men a
Jefferson City. They drew Mississippi
i, rifles from the state, and some hal
q pistols and knives. lie set TO work h
drill and discipline his men, but the
had no horses.
At this time Gov. Jackson and Gen
n Sterling Price, commanding the Mis-
d souri, militia, returned from st. Louis
e after concluding kind OF truce wit
Gen. Harney, who was at the head
the union forces. In this matter ou
officers overreached the union leaders
n and made terms very favorable to tn
" secession cause. But Jefferson Cit
= was then filed with secessionist'
nascent warriors ready for battle, an
hearing that the tight was off, the
- conceived the idea that Gen. Price ha
" betrayed them and the cause. The
rs swarmed about the capitol by thol
10 sands, with cries of "Traitor!" Sol
y out!n "Hang hlmln etc. Gen. Pric'
70 who never seemed to have any Idea
IN personal danger, was facing the me
almost alone, when Bledsoe, hearin
It, .he tumult, came down at doubl
q quick, and forming his company, he
81 - the crowd at bay while Price maj
ia them red-hot speech. This san
y; crowd afterwards formed a part OF Il
10, army which followed "Old Pap" Pri
'a' to victory, TO defeat, and to death
Il From Jefferson our "army" came
lid Lexington, where we found thr
'r- pieces of artillery; bronze mir
FOUNDER captured by Missourians
'ut Mexico, AN iron six-pounder cast
T." Lexington, and brass six-pounC
lie taken from the arsenal at Liberty, n
cal The nine-pounder, "0ld Sacramento
md was bored out and converted into
,ne 20, twelve FOUNDER howilzer. The chi
n, was turned off smooth, thus reducI
\ is the thickness of the metal, which g
on, the piece a peculiar sound when tir
the and soon it became familiar to ere
ere ere and "feds" alike. The gun had b.
lying around in Lexington for YET