The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-08-10

ODDS OVERWHELMING
1900 Brave Union Soldiers PItted
Against 10000 Of the Rebel
rorees-Bravery Of First
Iowa.


Colonel Andrew Geddes, one Of the
veterans who is here today celebrat-
Ing the anniversary OF the battle OF
wilson's Creek, one OF the greatest
Of the civil war history, in which
the Union forces fought against odds
Of s to /, tells q graphic story Of the
! memorable struggle. His story is one
that was given in an address deliver
cd at Washington, D. G., a number of
years ago. Coming at this appropriate
time the story should prove of inter-
est to hundreds Of veterans and many
others. 1t follows:
Colonel and Comrades: The great
est pride OF my life is having been a
soldier Of the Union; the next great
est is, was an Iowa soldier. Six
brothers Of us in Iowa regiments. AS
aresult OF the war, three have answer
ed to taps and gone to the "undis-
covered country from whose bourne
no traveller returns" Iowa may
have had some regiments betters than
others, but not bad one. On every
battle field Of the west, from Wilson'S
Creek to Donelson. Shiloh, Corinth,
luka to vicksburg, to Atlanta. to the
sea, troops from the loyal state of
Iowa, bore most distinguished and
prominent part. At the fierce battle
Of Franklin. Tenn, where the desper-
ate Hood dashed his forlorn hope
against the serried ranks of part Of
the never whipped and dauntless
Army Of the Tennesseethere was a
battery from Indiana-that great state
which gave to the country in time of
need, the patriot and statesman, Oli-
yer P. Morton This battery was in
the very thick Of the fight; the off
GERS had all been killed or wounded:
the first sergeant was in command
and doing splendid work: chaplain
happened to pass. His attention was
called to the sergeant by the latter's
profanity. With every shot hurled at
the enemy, the sergeant would send
an oath or two. The good chaplain
demonstrated. saying: Sergeant, you
can not expect the support OF Proyi-
aence If you swear in that way
Cant help 1t, chaplain, don't give a
d--n for Providence, we're supported
ny an Iowa reg-i-ment' This was
Irreverent. Of course, but it showed
the confidence had In Iowa soldiers.
Pardon this predatory depression.
In the early spring and summer OF
1851 Missouri was the scene of deeply
laid plans and schemes by which it
was thought that great state could be
rushed into the Whirlpool Of secession.
The masses of the people were loyal,
but the slave holding population (hard
" tenth OF the whole) were mainly
in sympathy with the south. Had
the confederate troops been allowed
to cverrun and hold possession of the
state, Missouri would have been lost
to the union. To Lyon was given the
fereulean task Of counteracting and
defeating these reasonable intentions
That he performed we'll his part
shall endeavor, briefly, to show.
Was a Generation Ago.
The battle OF Wilson's Creek was
fought on the 10th day of August
1861, more than thirty-three years
ago How true 1t is as the author OF
Night Thoughts" says. I'VE take nc
note of time, save by It's loss April
-, 1861, enlisted in Company tx, '
First Iowa Volunteer Infantry. in re
sponses to the call OF that heaven,
sent man-aone of the few, the i'm
mortal names that were not born to
die,"-whose fame will. as time casts
Its halo about him with ever increas
Ing brightness, becomes more and
more dear. not only to his own coun
trymen, but liberty-loving people the
world over-Abraham Lincoln.
The First Iowa Joined General
LYONS command at Boonville, Mo-
and soon took up the march to Spring
Held, about $50 miles distant; and a
Terv hard march 1t was, In the hot
Test DAYS of summer. 1t was reported
Tor a fact that one day we marched
lorty-seven miles. wen remember
IT: we broke camp before daylight
forded the deep and rapid Usage riv.
err and went Into camp. or rather In.
70 fence corners, or wherever we
could find a soft piece of ground to
TALL on, about midnight. Boy like,
vas irving to wear a No store shoe
On 2 No. 9 foot and suffered terribly
let me say right here, from convic-
q rion horn OF. experience, that there is
nothing SO easy to march in as a
hroadsoled. low heeled, army shoe
Near Springfield we were joined by
tfe forces Of sigel and sturgis. From
teere we made an expedition south 70
Forsyth, on White river, near the Ar