The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-10-16
WHEN RUSSEY
FOOLED REBELS
Story of His Preparations to Block
Their Invasion of keokuk and
Iowa is Told In Michigan
Paper.
+ I; HE SECURED CANNON
Then He Grabbed Some Ammunition
and Ordered keokuk Authorities
to Barricade Their
Streets.

10 odTTISduc HSF
Streets.
was one of the heroes Of Iowa in the
saved Keokuk and Iowa from an
was told in Calumet, Mich. paper,
and clipping of the story was sent
to Keokuk by w. H. Kennedy, who
Here it is:
one of the western products of the
civil war who lent distinguished
service to the northern cause during
that war, and on returning after the
conflict he held many prominent po-
sitions under the government. He
was especially prominent as Grants
chief of cavalry in the siege of Vicks-
burg, and he was In command OF
Sherman's advance guard at jack
son, Miss.
When the war broke out, and he
made an attempt to raise troops for
the union in Iowa, in May, 1851, he
was twenty.eight years of age, but
had no military education or train
ing, 1t had come to his attention
that the confederates were oragniz-
ing a brigade on the border to in
wade Iowa. Thereupon Bussey ap-
piled to the governor for arms, but
he had none. Then he went to st.
Louis and asked General Fremont for
L. =, ca c.
sey said: well, then, give me 10o,-
900 rounds of ammunition
When Fremont asked him what he
could do with ammunition without
guns, he replied, II don't know, but
I'll feel better with ammunition" He
was given $4,000 rounds, whereupon
he loaded it upon a steamboat and
sent it up the Mississippi to Keokuk,
Iowa.
Starting an Invasion.
The following night Bussey learned
that General Green was shoe1ng MS
horses and would start the invasion
OF Iowa within thirty-srx hours with
1900 cavalry. Thereupon Bussey
went to a livery stable and secured
a horse and buggy. It was wild
lOI LuS LIVELY iAa4A AAetN SA'SN.
him an unmanageable horse, who
tore along at a runaway gait during
the entire trip. Both horse and
driver had many narrow escapes
from a complete wreckage, to a
ravine at the contact.
But good fortune was with Bussey.
The sullsy was not broken, but better
still the horse was full of life and
his legs uninjured. When all three
were uprighted again, another start
was made with the horse wilder than
fever At one point the horse plunged
through the Des Moines river, half a
mile wide, and after getting success
fully over Bussey tried to- stop the
animal in it's mad rush. The towns
people of Keosauqua, when the place
was reached, seeing the predica-
ment of Bussey, succeeded in stop
ping the horse. From mere he took
the train for Keokuk, ten miles away,
and reached the place In safety.
Barrlcade Streets.
Bussey notified the authorities of
Keokuk to barricade their streets
against the coming of General Green.
One of the railroad officials present
ed himself to Bussey with bill of
lading showing 1000 guns in transit,
which were to be sent to Council
Bluffs, but Bussey sezeG the guns
and the train. Then Just in time
came the ammunition from General
Fremont, and by more wonderful
good fortune the cartridges We're
exactly right for the guns.
Bussey distributed the guns IN
Keokuk, and many nearby towns. On
Ibis way back he received message
that Green's forces were advancing
and that a battle could be momen-
tarily expected. When Green made
I his attack he found the resistance
so strong that he was compelled to
retire.
Having seized the guns without
overwhelmingly great offense-
Bussey started at once to get his
action legalized. General Fremont
| said to him, "You have rendered a
VERY important service. You have
shown fitness for command" and
1.-THE next day Bussey was appointed
colonel and was authorized to raise
a regiment of cavalry. In ten days
he had organized the Third Iowa
cayaly of 1000 men and had them
in a camp. For his wild ride to Keo
Nlk General Bussey received high
praise from the authorities in Wash
Iington.
!