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In the early summer we were called upon by the governor to volunteer to march to the Missouri line and drive
the Missourians from our sacred soil. There was no necessity to repeat the order. We were all fighting men in those
days. The war between Rockingham and Davenport was suspended for a short time and we all united to resist this
invasion of our territory by the miserable Missourians.
Davenport was selected as headquarters for Scott county. The day for us to meet was a lovely, spring-like morning.
Nearly every man in the county was present to be enrolled. Our colonel, Sam Hedges, made us a patriotic speech,
but what a sorry lot of soldiers he had to drill! Not having any gun, many came with pitchforks, scythes, hoes
and clubs. One man had a sheet-iron sword, six or seven feet long. Many were drunk, and all were noisy and disposed
to jeer and make fun of our officers.
Our colonel could stand this no longer. All who were drunk, and those improperly armed, were ordered out of
the ranks. We who remained were getting hungry, as it was then dinner time, and asked for rations, when we were
informed that we would have to furnish our own blankets, whiskey, and hard tack, which the government would refund
at some future day. This we objected to. We were willing to shed our blood for our beloved territory, and if necessary,
to kill a few hundred Missourians, but we were not going to do that and board ourselves.
At this juncture, we saw approaching in solemn column, our fellow soldiers who had been discharged. They were
led by the man with the long sheet-iron sword. They charged on us, and it makes me blush to say that, notwithstanding
we were three to their one we were badly defeated and scattered in every direction. The knight of the sheet-iron
sword made for our colonel, and nothing but the colonel's superior fleetness saved him. As he ran he informed us
that we could go home; nothing more would be done until he received further orders.
At this time congress was in session, and becoming alarmed at the Civil war impending, interfered. The poor
barbarians of Missouri, hearing of the hostile demonstrations being made in Davenport and other river towns, withdrew
from our territory. A few months later the supreme court met and decided in our favor, and all was peace.
Submitted by Mary Lou Schaechter
©2006, Genealogy Trails
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