The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-06-29
MILITARY MEMORIES.
Keokuk Veteran Guards

Looking backward not many years,
over the history and traditions of
Keokuk in military way, the mind
naturally returns to the Keokuk vet
eran guards. We are told that July
8, 1872, lacking one day of being four
years before the centennial anniversary
of the Declaration of Independence.
the Veteran Guards were organized
by members of Terrence Post, No. 2,
Grand Army of the Republic. In scam
ming the records many names to
memory dear" Of the good citizens Of
this city will be recalled some Of
whom are still alive and residents
here.
Richard Middleton was elected cap
tain; John l.. Day, first lieutenant.
and Ed. s. Carter second lieutenant,
and these officers were commissioned
by Governor Carpenter to rank from
July 4, 1772.
About June /, 1876, the company
was recruited to nearly one hundred
men and elected D. B. Hamill, cap
tain; l. A. Berryhill, first lieutenant;
James Hill, second lieutenant, com
missioned officers, and George Hill,
president; w. H Carey, secretary;
and Hon. John N. Irwin, treasurer.
The company secured Maj. A. Stick.
ney, u. S. engineer, in charge of the
u. s. canal at Keokuk, as drillmaster,
and in short time made them one
of the best drilled In the west. The
uniform adopted was dark blue with
bluff trimmings, the Iowa state but,
tons and q S. army full dress cap
with white pompon.
In January, 1876, the second regi-
ment infantry of the Iowa state guard
was organized by general order No.
2, from the adjutant's Office at Des
Moines. The regiment was composed
of all companies of the First congress
sional district, eighth infantry, and
three batteries attached.
An election for field and staff off,
GERS was regularly held by each com,
pany, under general orders No. 2,
dated adjutant generals Office. Des
Moines, January IS, 1876. This cleo,
ton was held February 8. 1876, and
the following regimental officers were
elected. Gen. A. G. Mcqueen, late
colonel First Iowa veteran cavalry
and one of the original members OF
the Keokuk company, colonel; George
A. Henry of Keosauqua, late captain
Fourth Iowa veteran infantry, lieuten
ant colonel; Abe Wilkinson, Keosau
qua, late captain Second Iowa veteran
infantry, major; G. A. I.eech, Keokul
veteran guards. surgeon: T.. S. Tyler
late Fifteenth Iowa veteran infantry
adjutant, and r. Johnston, Keosauqua
late Third Iowa veteran cavalry, quar-
termaster
There was some feeling and rivalry
displayed in this election and the
companies in the north part OF the
but the above officers We're elected b,
handsome majority and commission
ed February IS, 1876, by the popular
old war governor Samuel j. Krkwoot
who was again at the helm of state
and n. B. Baker, adjutant general o
Iowa.
On invitation of the Burlington
Iowa, centennial celebration commit
tee, the Keokuk Veteran Guards wer,
furnished transportation on the c., B
+ & @. railroad and arrived in Burling
! ton early on the morning of July
] 1876, and quartered at the Star
house, and were given prominen
place in the imposing procession OF
+ that day. On the 18th they participat
ed in a prize drill and thereby hang
a tale 1t was claimed at the tim,
that by public opinion the Keokul
Veteran Guards fairly won and wer
entitled to the first prize, and wha
! is more natural at this remote perio