The Oskaloosa herald., 1910-05-05
THE SKUNK RIVER WAR.
An Event of Interest in the Early
History of Iowa.

leYents recorded here. Hewas then a
clerk in general store and says
that the store was closed but he sery.
Jed customers to shot, powder, caps
land tobacco by handing them out
through the window. D Joe says he
was 4 democrat then. bnt has not
been since that affair. d
| During the dark days OF the sum.
mer of 1863, when Grant was investing
Vicksburg and Lee was marching on
Pennsylvania, there existed in por.
tons of Keokuk, Poweshiek and Wa
peilo counties a large number OF
1southern sympathzers, who had from
the outset of the war made a fierce
opposition to its prosecution.
A man named Tally.iiving near Ioka
| In keokuk county, a Baptist preacher,
made himself a leader among this ele-
ment by his blatant, disloyal speeches
in different parts OF the country, rem.
dering himself obnoxious to the union.
loving portions OF the community. He
usually went armed with couple of
revolvers and bowie knife and open.
lily deiied the authorities to arrest
him The fan OF Vicksburg and the
deefat OF Lee at Gettysburg seemed
10 embitter him and his harangue he
came more violent and threatening.
On the first of August, accompanied
| by seventy or eighty men in wagons,
ne went to South English in Keokuk
county and held a meeting in the out.
skirts of the yill&ge. While this was
! in progress republican meeting was
| organized in the street opposite the
aotel, which was addressed by a man
| lamed Settler, from Mt Pleasant, who
happened 10 be at the hotel. During
he progress OF this meeting. Tally
and i..a crowd drove through the
meeting, exhibiting butternut and cop
perhead pins. which were the recog-
ni2ed badges of disloyalty in that
time.
! A wounded soldier named Norman
seized one of the men wearing a but
ternut and stripped it off and was pro.
ceeding to serve others in the same
way when he was seized by some of
them. His father went to the rescue
and discharged his revolver. At this
Tally raised up in his wagon and gave
the word to fire, at the same time fir
ing his revolver into the crowd, and
a regular fusillade was discharged by
his relate. without hitting any one. !
was there next day and saw many bull
let's embedded in the hotel front. The
firing was returned and Tally was
killed and one OF his men wounded.
On the fall of their leader they drove
on. vowing to return and hang
number OF the citizens and burn the
town.
Word was sent to Washington, Iowa,
where Col. \. P. Chapman, Chief OF
Staif for General Samuel r. Curtis,
happened to be at home on a short
furlough. He left Immediately for
South English. whittier | accompanied
him in the interests of the Muscatine
Daily Journal, of which paper | was
then city editor.
On our arrived Col. Chapman organ
ICED a company, erected barricades
and prepared to resist any efforts TO
take the town. During the day com
panles OF state militia arrived from
Washington, and others came in from
Poweshiek and other Iowa counties,
and the town was turned into a mill
tary camp with Col. Chapman in COM
mand and J. +. McJunkin, of Wash.
:ngton, afterwards attorney general of
iowa. adiutant.
In the meantime 4 mob OF six or sew.
en- hundred men had gathered in the
bottoms OF the Skunk river armed
With all kinds of weapons from shot
guns to meat axes. They demanded
that ten of the best citizens OF South
english should be arrested and imme
diately tried. charged with murder in
Lhe first degree and threatening to
march on the town and burn it and
:eize the men themselves and hang
them unless their demand was com
piled with.
The messenger sent by them, diScov.
tring the preparations made for their
reception returned and reported that
he men were willing to give them.
selves up TO the proper authorities for
irial which under the circumstances
1f Col. Chipmans preparation was ac-
Hepted.
They were arrested by Sheriff AID.
TINS, had a preliminary hearing before
l justice of the peace, and were bound
over in the sum of 1000 each for
heir appearance at the next term OF
the district court The army OF the
skunk was dispersed and Col. Chip
mans forces sent home, and 1t was
imposed the affair was ended. But
turing the night mob Of nearly one
thousand men gathered on the Skunk
liver bottom near Sigourney and
threatened to march on that place and
iestroy il unless the men bound over
t South English were Immediately
brought TO Sigourney and placed on
rial. There was great excitement in
;igOurney. the business houses were
Iosed and nearly every man turned
ut 10 defend the place. There was
railroad or telegraph line 10 Sig.
'urney at that rime.
Mr.. Sanders. the clerk OF the court.
lrove to Washington and took an en-