Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1911-04-13
THAT FAT NJ SHOT.

Tue OWL wac rang OUT clear M
the early mor;s. a. II WIS aim
! ed at Fort Sum- Il ia ,rles'
ton harbor, whic,. wasl > first
gun in the most destructive
war il. the worlds history.
For years, the feeling between
the people of the North and the
is nth w IS in a rather strained
condition on account of slavery.
The South was very much excl
ted over the oft threatened de-
termination to abolish slavery
in the Southern States, and to
give color to this report, Sena-
I)tor w. H. Seward had declared
that "the Union could not exist
half slave and half free" and
as a fire brand, came the story
of "Uncle Toms Cabin" a tale
of pure fiction. which was scat
tered broadcast throughout the
country, and did, we think, We
ry much to hasten the war
Then came the publication of
the Impending Crisis" another
work calculated to fan the ex.
citement, and it was becoming
evident, to thinking men that
war was imminent.
In 1860, Abaham Lincoln, Of
Illinois, was elected President,
and to the South, this was equal
to a declaration of war, altho'
they were more to blame for
his election than the people of
the North, by the Democratic
party dividing its vote between
Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois,
and Breckenridge, of Kentucky,
thus assuring the election of
Mr.. Lincoln.
That the South had deter
mined to make an effort to Sc
coed from the union was evil
dent, and their work, while not
unanimous with the people, the
Radicals of the North and the
fire eaters of the South seemed
to be working in harmony, and
as it was said by q distingni,h-
ed citizens of Nsw ,:.lD,
"The union is no. >fll "A
d-n without a list A!ocd
letting"
On April 18th, 1861, at SIS
o'clock a. m, the fatal shot was
fired on Fort Sumpter, and tn.
sound of which reverberated
around the world, and the
bloodiest war of the ages was
on.
Fifty years is but a short
time in the life of a nation, yet
in that time, the greatest revo.
luton of the ages, both in po-
|litical and social matters, have
taken place north and south.
How we'll we remember the
excitement of 1861. We were
then living in Audubon county,
and Guthrie county was en-
gagged in raising a company for
the war. At Panora, they con-
cluded to celebrate Independ-
ence day at that place, and we
were selected to deliver the ora
tion on that day. The number
presenton the occasion was very
large, and the volunteers in Co.,
&C" of tn I, 4th Iowa Infantry,
we're largely present, and how
we'll we remember the eager
feeling of these brave boys to go
South in defense of the union,
many express 'ng the opinion
that the war would be over be,
fore they could reach the scene
Of action, but we having lived
in the South, and knew the
bravery and q g of her poo
ole, and their i'4v If war, could
but say to them, mot to be un-
easy, the war will last until you
can reach there, and many of
you will never reach your ma
tive land again" How true
chat was. they soon learned
that General Sherman was
right when he said, "War is
hell" Out of the hundred
men composing the company,
very few of them ever return
ed. Some fell on the field of
battle, some died in camp,
others in hospitals. and those
who returned were ruined in
health and today. but few of
the brave boys who so proudly
marched away to join the
Grand Army of the Union, now
live to enjoy the gratitude and
; thanks of a grateful people Of
the nation for the sacrifices
: they made for the land they
| loved.
n. 4Lo BtL lov oe 1,,l,, 1901