The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-12-01
The War In Mahaska
Exciting Events Recalled by h
Deathof Captain Gary sssRNRR

~
was a Democratic newspaper, which
had been running in Oskaloosa since
1854. In commenting upon the muir
der Of Alloway, Wheelock gave pub
licity through his columns to senti-
ments something like this: "Allo-
way was nothing but a Lincoln hire
ling, employed in killing his beters,"
and intimated he did not consider
the death Of a soldier as Of much
consequence, anyway.
Alloway, as has been mentioned,
was a sergeant in Co. II, Third Iowa.
Several copies Of the Times of the
above mentioned issue found their
way into the camp of Co. H, and
proved quite infiammatory diet to
his old comrades, as might well be
expected. Men who were exposing
their lives for their country's sake
did not appreciate the ~innuendos and
sneers of those who stayed at home
and possibly sympathised with the en-
envy. Co. H was at this time at
Natchez, A meeting was called in
which it was resolved that certain
alternatives should be offered Mr..
Wneelock by the indignant Co. H.
These were three: To retract mis-
statement, to take Confederate mon
ey for his paper at its face value
and thus tangibly manifest his con-
fdence in the "betUers" of Union sol
diers, or to suffer suppression when
Co. H could reach him by physical
force. The first two alternatives
were offered him by mail, but were
rejected. The soldiers were determ-
ined to enforce the third. 1t was
known that part of Co. H of the
Third Infantry, Co. G Of the Fiji
teenth anu Co. H Of the Eighth
would be at home on veteran fur
Tough about the same time. Hence,
a correspondence was opened up be-
tween certain parties Of each com
pany, in which an understanding for
mutual aid was come to in the mat
ter of the Times suppression.
The soldiers returned In March,
1864. Co. H had a meeting in the
hotel at Eddyville, where quite a por-
ton of the veterans expressed their
disapproval of violent measures, and
proposed letting the matter drop;
but not so with some.
The following morning the stage
drove up to the Madison House with
eight men in blue of Co. H, Third.
These went around to the Times of
flee and told the editor they were
the comrades of Alloway and they
wished the publication of the Times
suspended during their short stay OF
thirty days at home. "By what au,
thority?" said Mr.. Wheelock. "Ry
military authority" The soldkrI
then left.
In the. next issue of his pap&r Mr.
lWbfssiock, states Nat sg had beef
threatened by furloughed soldiers
that he desired no quarrel with then
and expected to attend to his owl
business; if physical force were re
sorted to, that the soldiers would
have to face the Democracy of Ma
haska county.
The following Saturday Afternoon
was secretly selected by the soldiers
as the time for business. That Their,
was quite a number of the Democ
racy in the city prepared to defen,
the Times, and armed for that pun
pose, was evident, for some appeare,
on the street that afternoon. POI
tions Of the three companies abov
mentioned were in Oskaloosa. The
had at the armory ninety stands G
arms, loaded, which they were pre-
pared to S If a riot ensued.
About two o'clock in the after
noon the soldiers proceeded to tn
: Times office, on High Street, a fe7
; steps from the northeast corner {
the square. They entered the pres
room, and carrying the forms ther
, lying to the windows, threw the typ
. in the street. The fonts were emf
tied in a like manner and a few mil
? utes left the Times office with only
few scattering type in the buildin.
Nothing else was touched. The so
i diers then left and met their con
. rades outside. Not a shot was fire
Z by either party. The s%uppressio
was successful. The Times did NJ
> again apear. Mr.. Wheelock soon a
terward left Oskaloosa, anu has sine
experienced a more prosperous jou
ney in another wax of life.
MINERS WORK ONLY HALF TIME