The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-07-06
CHAPTER TwENrY.slx.
THE War Professionally Raid, skunk
River Army---Peoria Riot.

~ III NlnnN AhlNMtth
during the Rebellion, trere wss a
misguided ellen mt in Nahaska co,in.
~ Who was not "a sympathy with ~
war measures Of President Lincoln
and his admirers. Organizations
known as knights of the Golden Cir.
Gle" who held secret meetings and
were in communication with similar
societies throughout the state, are
known to have existed in this county
especially along its northern border.
In fact these associations OF men
were in Bympethy with the Southern
ConfederGcy, and we're never more
light.hearted than when victory came
70 the Southern army. In letter 10
Secretary OF War Il. NJ Stanton,
dated March il 1863, Governor Kirk
wood expresses the belief that these
organizations were effected dy paid
agents from the Southern Confeder.
acy.
On North Skunk river near Indian
apolis three men were arrested on
the charge Of treason by the United
States marshal. They we're Silas
Parr, 2. A. Smith and Wesley Thorn.
as. All public men. Tley we're
brought TO Oskaloosa and placed In
jail and { company Of guards were
Orderea from EddyvIlle 10 prevent
the possibility Of their friends reieag-
ing them.
Some days after their arrest a
company OF several hundred men
gathered and started for oskaloosa
for The purpose OF Iiberating the
prisoners. They heId parley on the
north side Of Skunk river and sent
a committee 20 Ogkalcosa TO confer
with the authorities. Little attention
seems 10 have zen paid 10 their
presence and after some threatening
remarks Of what they intended 10 do
they returned 10 their companions
and the company Dispersed 10 their
homes. <~t-- -.-t
After a short confinement Parr and
Thomas were released ON the pay.
ment OF small fine. Smith being a
man Of limited means was sent toI
Dee Moines % serve out six or nine
sSss..1ig imprisonment. ais friends
rent him a purse, but he sent the ran.
som money 10 his family, determin,
ing to submit 10 the sentence impos.
ca, after which he was permitted 10
90 free.
Tally Raid.
Confederate sympathizen were
known in tho north as 'copperheads.'
They woIe badge Of taIf butter.
nut or copper cent as breast pin.
Perhaps the most rabid, disl0yal
stronghold in Iowa was over in the
forks OF t..e Skunk rivers In Keokuk |
county, with allies in Mabagka, Powe- |
shrek and Wapello counter. On
Saturday, Aug. 1st, 1869, when our
country was under It's darkest cloud
a meeting Of peace Democrats"
as they chose 10 call themselves, was
held In grove near English River,
a half mile from the town Of South |
English, which was Of strongly Union
continent. There were several hun,
dred persons at fbis meeting. Their
leading spirit was Geo. 9. Tally,
young Baptist minister, whose father
was a Tennepgeean. He was an open
advocate Of Tiaveiy rs a divine inst.
tuition and defender Of the Rebel. !
ion they had gone 10 this meeting
with arms gecreted under the nay
and straw in the bottom Of their wa.
gon beds. Some republicans we're
1t the meeting ana hot words had
passed and brtterfut badges had
been stripped from a couple Of ladies'
who had displayed them.
Tally was an uDeducated man, but
endowed with much natural ability
as a speaker. On this occasion he
was the chief speaker. Some Of tho
parry had made absurd threats that
as they returned they would clean out
the town Of South English. Thege
facB we're made known in town and
IN the afternoon when the Tally
forces we're returning home they
passed through South English just al
the close Of republican meeting ana
found the entire town armed, making
no effort 70 dIsgujge their weapons.
Excitement ran high and the streets
we're crowded. Tally WAS in the
rear part Of the front wagon with a
revolver ana bowie knife in his hands.
The Union element bitterly hated the
copperheads and tainted them az
traitors and towards. At this all OF
the company took up their weapons
from the bottom Of their vehicles and
one man discharged, BY accident he
claimed, one barrel Of his piece into
the ground. This gave license for
he firing TO become general Tally
fell dead after firing two chambers Of
hia weapon. One Of the horses
drawing the front wagon was Ehot,
which caused the team to run, and
thu fusIIIade ceased. Tally was gnct
three times Once In the head and
twice through the body. a democrat
BIZ the name Of Wyant was severely
wounded but afterwards recovered.
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