Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-25
IOWA IN THE MEXICAN WAR
Interesting Points of History CulIcd
from Old News
papers.

The following points Of history relating
to this subject were compiled by Mr.. e. L..
Sabin from the newspapers of that period on
file in the historical department and pub
lished in the Annals of Iowa."
When, in the spring of 1916, war between
the United Snates and Mexico broke out,
Iowa territory was on the eve of becoming
"a state. James Clarke was governor.
With the beginning of war the president
was authorized by congress to call for 5000
"A regiment from Iowa territory.
June !, 1886, Governor Clarke, from the
executive office at Burlington, issued a
proclamation to Iowa people, stating that
a regiment of volunteers was wanted. This
proclamation Is TO be found in the papers
ington Herald. Bloomington is now Mus
Catine.
The territory was afiame with excitement
and in Bloomington a mass meeting was
held at which resolutions supporting the
government were adopted. A patriotic song
Is published in one of the June issues of
the Herald.
on June 26 tine Herald states that already
twelve companies have been raised-two in
Des Moines county. two in Van Buren,, two
in Lee, one in Musratane, one in Louisa,
one in Washington, one in Dubuque, one
IN Johnson and one in Linn. only ten com
that probably the first ten applications will
be the ones granted.
There, SO far as the Herald appears to
show, the record of the twelve companies
the data of the lines does not throw any
further lie!s on the subject.
Niles Register for 1915 says that Governor
Clarke offered. or at least paid a visit for
me purpose of Offering, the. command of
Chambers, but that the former territorial
executive was too feeble to accept. This
seems to be the only mention Niles Reg
lister makes Of 'the Iowa regiment
However, Niles Register of about this
time says that an independent company of
volunteers mas, been musdered in at Fort
A 1ktnEnn- In ~ and mill nfAhu hlNT ~ cit
toned there. This conoany roll is given in
the firsh volume of the Historical Record
tered in July IG, 1877, having enlisted, like
a regiment, for twelve months unless sooner
discharged.
The names of tine organizations of troops
that took part in the operations on Mexican
soil, and published in one of the histories
Of the war. in the library Of the state his
from Iowa save she Mormon battalion and
Company * of the Fifteenth United States
infantry.
ritcry Cdptain James Allen of the First
dra goo was sent by the government TO
enlist "A battalion from them, He appeared
at Mount Pisgah, a Mormon station, in
June, 1916, From there he went TO the site
Of the present eiIy e Council BUTTS; Hay
not only secured their consent TO the en-
lig.ment, hut obtained even a warning
from Brigham Young to me SAINTS that II
they must furnish n battalion for the war.
Five hundred men were speedily enrolled
ANA July % they left the Missouri river for
Fort Leaverworth. The Mormon battalion
did rood work in the war.
The Fr0teenth United states infantry was
recruited from the central United states,
ONO furnished six companies, Michigan
two. Wisconsin one. Iowa one: The Iowa
company was Company Is. Edwin Guthrie
of Fort Madison was its captain. lsaa 9
G~rifith-''old Churubusco'-lately of Des
Moines, but then of Fort Madison, was a
sergeant. Tha company reported at Vera
Cruz, July 10, 1877. and served In a number
Of nga dments Captain Guthrie died from
wounds received. Frederick d.. Mails OF
Burlington was major of the regiment and
was killed In the attack on San Antonio Ja-
cinto, Mexico. August 20, 1871 Sergeant
Cirlffth lest an arm In the battle OF Churu-
busCo.
These queries now naturally arise: What
became Of the twelve companies that rushed
To form the regiment asked for by the presi-
dent? Was the regiment ever organized?
The regiment was never organized. The
following letter from the then secretary of
war shows that the Iowa volunteers, like
those of these later times, were eager to be
OF gained and go to the front, but that they