Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-07-16
BATTLE OF ATHENS
Story of Union Victory as Told by
Z Gen. Cyrus Bussey.
FIGHT TOOK PLACE NEAR KEOKUK
General Bussey Formerly Resided at
Bloomfield and is Remembered by
the Older Residents of ottumwa-
How He Saved the Day at Athens.

General Cyrus Bussey, who COM
manded the Third Iowa Cavalry dur
ing the Civil War and did such good
work, tells an interesting story in An
nails of Iowa" for July, about the bat
tie of Athens, little town up the Des
Moines river few miles from Keo-
kuk. The account follows:
The repulse of our forces at Bull
Run aroused the whole secession ele-
ment in Missouri, which organized in
to military companies for service in
the Confederate army. These compa-
niles in northeastern Missouri We're I'M
der the command of General Martin
Green. These forces overran the
country, driving Union men from their
homes and causing terror among all
loyal people.
After the close of the extra session
of the Iowa legislature MAY 1929,
1851, in which was senator, elect
ed as a democrat, was on the 18th of
June, 1861, appointed by Governor
Krkwood aid-de-camp on his staff,
with the rank of ieutenant-colonel of
cavalry, and authorized by the govern
or to assume control over the militia
organization of southeastern Iowa.
I resided at Bloomfield in Davis
county about twelve miles from the
Missouri line. went to work at once
to prepare for the defence OF the
towns in the border counties of Iowa.
visited Keosauqua. in Van, Buren,
county, and Keokuk, and arranged for
the organization of one company of
mounted rifieDen in Lee, Van Buren,
and Davis counties. | had informa-
ton that rebel forces in large mum.
bers occupied every county seat in
northeastern Missouri, and had reason
to expect they would make raid into
Iowa, to. steal horses and other SUP.
plies before going south to join the
army under General Sterling Price.
reported to Governor kirlSwood
these facts, and asked that arms be
sent me. The governor replied that
he had not been able to secure any.
/ then telegraphed to Gen. Fremont,
who had just arrived at st. Louis to
COMMAND the department of the Mis-
souri,, that large force threatened
northeastern Missouri and southeast
ern Iowa, and that / wanted arms and
ammunition to arm home guards. He
replied promptly that it was impossi-
BILE to supply them.
About three hundred loyal men. I'm
der Col. David Moore, organized as
home guards and established a camp
at Athens on the Des Moines river.
twenty miles west of Keokuk. These
forces were without arms. except shot
guns and rifles sufficient to arm about
one-third Of their men Col. Moore
barricaded the streets of the town and
adopted other measures of defence.
In connection with other business al
/ Bloomfield, l owned pork house
which gave employment to several
men. One of these, foreigner, was
sure could trust, as he was in every
way discreet, and | had abundant evil
denc of his loyalty. sent him to Mis-
souri, with instructions to visit the va
rious camps of the enemy, and learn
If possible if they intended raid into
Iowa. l told him not to return until
he could bring me reliable informa-
ton.
l left Bloomfield for Keokuk, and on
the Goth OF July arrived in st. Louis.
| went to Gen. Fremont's Headquarters
and after some delay was admitted to
the generals room.I found him alone
standing by large table on which
was the U. S. map. / represented to
him the presence of Gen. Green's
forces in northeastern Missouri, near
the Iowa line, and expressed my belief
that they would make raid into Iowa
before going south, and that. to defend
ourselves we must have arms. He ex-
pressed regret that it was impossible
to spare one gun. He said that he
nro niV ~ !.
service but without guns to arm them
asked him to give me fifty .thous-
4