The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-10-31
VISITED SCENES WHERE HE RE-
CEIVED WOUND.

Capt. j. ID. Brown, of this City, Wis
its Battlefield Where He Fell,
Wounded by Rebel Bullet.
Capt. J. d. Brown, Commander OF
the G. A. r., Department of Iowa
who recently returned from Los
Angeles, California, where he at
tended the National G. A. r. En-
campment, stopped off at Independ-
ence, Mo-, and spent a couple of
days visiting the scenes of old war
times, having been seriously injur-
ed in an engagement at that place
during the civil war with the con-
federates under command of Gener-
al Price. Capt. Brown was left ly-
ing on the battle field, lying in a
thicket for two days and nights
until rescuing parties came from
Kansas City to look for the wound
ed. During their visit at Independ-
ence Capt. and Mrs. Brown were en-
tertained by Fred M. Smith, and his
father, Joseph Smith, both formerly
of Lamont, who now reside at lnde-
pendence. The following account of
his visit to the old battle field is
taken from the Independence Daily
Examiner:
Capt J. D. Brown, of Leon, Iowa,
was escorted over the route taken
by General Price through this city
and on to Byram's ford in October,
1864, by an automobile party Or
ganized yesterday by the Rev. Fred
NJ. Smith, whose guests he and Mrs.
nr0u NJ, s,,cr
noon at the home of President Jo-
seph Smith the party set out about
3 o'clock in three machines.
Although forty-eight years, lack
ing ten days, have passed since the
day when Captain Brown passed
through this city, and the circum-
stances of that eventful day were
not favorable to close observation.
Captain Brown was able to locate
with great particularly nearly every
important stage of the big, running
battle, in which Price was opposed
by one Federal army in front, and
followed and harassed by another in
the rear. & ..'
Captain Brown was in command
Of company in the Third Iowa Cav
airy, and temporarily in command
of two or three companies. 1t was
his command which captured Con-
federate battery of four six-pound
guns on the Temple Lot"
I'VE came up this street." Cap
tain Brown said, pointing toward
North River Boulevard. The bat
terry was just south Of that little
church," meaning the Hedrickite
church on the Temple Lot. They
were protecting Prices rear. We
charged with sabers and took them
after sharp, quick fighting. Two of
them were still loaded when we got
t..em."
A member of the party recalled
the fact that a stone wall. ran east
and west along the south side of
Walnut street, and that all that part
of town south of the Temple Lot,
now thickly built upon, was then
big open meadow without a house
upon it.
The party drove on to Norwood.
Here is where we spent the night"
Captain Brown said. I'VE didn't
go into camp in the regular way, but
Just lay in line around camp fires
which we made of the rail fences.
The weather was fine, just like it is
now, but quite chilly at might
That was on. OCTOBER %.
On the following day Prices
army and the pursuing Federals
pushed on toward Byram's Ford
over the Blue River, Just north of
Swope Park In like manner the
automobile party yesterday follow
ed the cid road as closely as possible
to the ford, but quarter of mile
this side they had to abandon their
machines and walk the rest of the
way Oh foot. Arrived at the ford
they found it impossible to cross, SO
Captain Brown contented himself
with pointing out house just west
of the creek, near which he was
shot in the thicket and lay there
two days and nights.
''Rescuing parties came out from
Kansas City, Captain Brown said.
81 was found by a young woman
named Hetty Rogers She caused
me to oe taken to hospital, where
/ soon recovered and then rejoined
my command. But ! wish knew
where she lives and could see her
once more"
Captain Brown and wife are on
their way home from. Los Angeles,
California, where he attended the
national encampment of the Grand
Army Of the Republic. They spent
last night at the home of the Rev.
Frederick M. Smith, on South Crys-
Ter Avenue, and departed today for
their home.
r. J. Sankey buys and sells Land
on commission, makes farm loans on