The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-07-13
cAApreR rwENrysEvEN.
The War Pericd--Kllllru Of the Mar
shals--othsr War Incidents.

Creek township In powcshlek county,
who failed 20 report themselves 20 the
authorities. Under the law this dis
obedience 60 orders caused them TO
be treated as deserters. On Saturday,
Oct. ], the provost marshal of tho
Fourth district OF Iowa sent out two
deputy marshals to arrest the drafted
men as deserters. These two officers
we're Captain John l.. Bashore, OF Cen.
teryille, and Deputy Marshal J., M.
Woodruff, OF Knoxville, whose head.
quarters were at oskaloosa. On en-.
tering the township just before noon
they met Mike Gleason, and thinking
him a loyal man, they made some In.
quiry as to where they would find the
drafted men. When they had parted
with Gleason, they stopped with J. s.
Carver for dinner. From Mr.. Carver
the officers learned of the existence in
the township Of somewhat secret
organization known as Democrat
Rangers" AS they were known to
be web armed the deputy marshals de-
termined to report to Marshal James
Matthews, their superior Officer, whose
headquarters was at GrInnell, before
going further in their search.
After dinner they had proceeded
only a short distance when they met
John and Joe Fleener, (brothers-in.law
to Myers who had shot Alloway in the
year preyious), and Mike Gleason.
The behavior OF the men showed clear.
ly to the officers that they were about
to have trouble. Bashore sprang out
OF the buggy with his revolver in his
hand and began demonstrating with
the three men, saying they had no
quarrel with them, but were In search
OF other citizens of the township.
Woodruff remained In the buggy and
drove a few rods down the road. Az.
ter a short pariey Bashore turned to
join his fellow officer and John Fleen.
err leveled double barreled shotgun
at the officer and shot him In the
back. The Fleeners then hid in the
brush and opened fire. Woodruff was
shot through the head and probably
killed Instantly, as his revolver had
not been emptled. Gleason had re-
ceived so severe q wound in Cnetnigh
that ne was unable to get away, but
had strength enough to approach Ba-
shore and break his gun over the IA
tally wounded marshal. Bashore liv-
cd four or five hours and related all
the particulars Of the double murder
OF these union officers. The cowardly
Fleeners made good their escape, leav-
ing their confederate 20 his fate. In n
very short time the citizens OF the
neihgborhood, who heard the firing,
came to the spot and removed the
dead and wounded to the J. s. Carver
home which was but short distance
away. Gleason was arrested. Ac-
cordlng to his testimony, after leaving
the marshals In the forenoon, he went
directly to Miller's saw mill where
there was a meeting OF the Rang
ers" for drilling that afternoon, II be-
ing Saturday 1t seems that the three
men named above we're delegated by
the company to take care OF the mar
shals. Shortly after these United
States officers were murdered, sew.
eral wagon loads OF these rebel sym.
pathizers passed the spot where they
were lying without Offering the slight
est assistance. Provost Marshal
Matthews ordered two companies OF
militia, one from Grinnell and the
other from Montezuma, and acc9ui-
panied them himself 10 the scene OF
the shooting TO assist in making ar.
rests. On Sunday Gleason and seven
others were sent TO Oskaloosa under
guard. The names Of the latter were
Andrew Powers and son Joseph, Solo
mon Watson and son George, John
Mallory, Allen Daniel and Perry Nc
Farland. Several other arrests we're
made. A part Of them were sent TO
Davenport. But as sufficient evidence
TO convict was wanting, they were
soon Afterwards released. On Mon.
day, the bodies OF the murdered OH
GERS were brought 10 Oskaloosa. A
delegation OF citizens met them out
side the city. AS they were escort
ed through the streets the church bells
tolled and every mark OF respect was
shown TO them as men who had been
slain by the spirit OF insurrection
while at the post Of duty. The follow.
ing day the bodies were removed 20
Centerville and Knoxville, their re-
spectiye homes. The most dilligent
search for the Fleener brothers was
unsuccessful. They left the country
and have never been seen in these
parts since. II was quite we'll known
in after years that they went to the
frontier in Kansas and ever after
ward lived under an assumed name.
Mike Gleason, the misguided Rang.
or" languished in the oskaloosa jail
for a number OF months, awaiting the
time when his wounds should be suf.
ficlently healed to be brought to trial.
When the trial was completed he was
sentenced for long term in the state
r,enftanffarg firm which he never