The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-04-13
PRESENTATION OF FLAG
Too Late for President LincoIn's
Three Months call-AIl Went
to War for Three
Years.

cruits. Thousands of soldiers of Iowa
and the surrounding states had their
real taste of the stern realities of war
in this city. While situated far away
from the enemy, the cannons boom,
the rattle of musketry and the groans
of the dead, dying and Wounded, the
kfervor and enthusiasm of patriotism
which had been kindled in the rustic
villages and rural school houses near
their old homes, b. the modern Cic-
eros and Patrick Henrys, began to
pale and weaken as they neared the
actual odor of gunpowder and saw in
the distance the glitter of cold, threat
ening steel. Everything was changed.
| The old home was out of sight Faith
er, mother, sister and brother, the
girl left behind me- were only burn
+ ing recollections-al all were left be-
hind. In the future as experience had
taught in their place, vere tired feet,
aching backs, an enemy lurking in ev-
cry bush and tree along the roadside,
and for nights rest, the cold ground
with chilly dew for sheet and the
blue canopied sky for covering.
These were not the accustomed com
forts the ordinary Iowa boy invariab-
ly enjoyed. His great love of home
and it's comforts made his patriotism,
his love of country the more intense.
God and my native land" was inter
woven into his very being. He felt
that his presence on the battlefield
and the performance of every duty by
him were great factors in the war,
hence he would do and even die for
the cause he espoused. His valor was
partly the representative valor or
those he had left behind and no dis.
honor should ever come on their name
while he had an arm to raise in the
! performance OF the most hazardous
and chivalric deed of heroism, This
was a part of the feeling that fired
| the breasts of the soldiers of the
great middle west as they threw aside
1.-The implements of peace and took up
| the accoutrements of war. Patriotism
and duty were the incentives that
4
go with an honest purpose in view.
| They deserve a greater eulogy prob
ably than has even been written or
spoken of them. Some future histori-
an or orator in reading of their deeds
and purposes may catch a true inspir-
alton that will urge him to such a
eulogy.
| Davis County's First Volunteers.
"One of Them" tells the following
interesting story of the first contribu-
ton by Davis county of her brave and
patriotic sons to the cause of the
union, fifty-two years ago next Wed
nesday. He says:
On the 10th day of April, 1861, dis
play bills were printed in Bloomfield
and scattered over Davis county
reading as follows:
Volunteers Wanted"
/ There will be meeting of the citi-
zens of Davis county in Bloomfield,
Saturday, goth inst, at one o'clock
for the purpose of forming volun-
teer company to protect the flag of
our fathers
The Presidents Proclamation has
been issued! Our country calls!! Our
country must be protected, and the
laws enforced!!"
"On Saturday the old M E. church,
where the garage now Is, was packed
with a multitude of excited people,
speeches We're made by o. D. Tisdale,
James Baker, H. H. Trimble, j. B.
Weaver, ct al. Old uncle Dicky Davis,
a feeble old man with cracked voice,
tried to sing the Star Spangled Ban
ner.' Muster rolls were laid on a stand
! table for signatures of volunteers, and
the first company of soldiers from Da-
Wis county, Iowa, for the civil war
was formed The patriotic devotion
of the ladies of Bloomfield developed
at once and on the following week
they met together and made a beauti-
I full silk flag to present to the com
pany of volunteers Miss Matte Ha-
gan presented the flag, and James
i Baker, captain of the company, receiv.
ed it. Hiss Hagan's remarks, in part,
were as follows: Captain Baker, in
behalf of the ladies of Bloomfield, az
low me to present to you and your
company this beautiful flag. You go
forth to protect it, and our country
we stay at home to assist you with
our prayers and words of encourage
ment. Take it, Captain Baker, and
protect it until it waves over every
foot OF American soil Captain Baker,
affected by Miss Hagans remarks, re-
ceived the flag, replying in part as fol-
lows; Ladies, in behalf of this company
which ! have the honor to command,
permit me to accept this beautiful
flag. assuring Won that its bright foIds