Raid Info

October 13-14, 2007

Davis County Civil War Days & Living History Encampment, Bloomfield, Iowa

CIVIL WAR HISTORY

We need your help!

Do you, or someone you know, have any information about the October 12, 1864 guerrilla raid of Davis County, Iowa? Were your ancestors involved in some way (raiders or victims)? Do you have photos, letters, diaries, written stories of family legend that involve this event or anyone connected to it? If so, please contact us.

We are are searching for more “pieces to the puzzle”. The raiders camped near Arbela, MO on October 11, 1864. The next morning they rode across the border into Van Buren County, IA; angled into Davis County, IA, then left through Schuyler County, MO.

Contact us: By email at civilwarraid@gmail.com; by letter at DCCWGRS, c/o Laura Rickelman, 30028 Umber Ave., Pulaski, Iowa 52584; or by phone at any of the following numbers…641-675-3352 (Laura), 641-459-2109 (Carl) or 641-664-1304 (Brent & Nancy). Thank you for helping us to preserve this important aspect of local Civil War history.

The following people were involved in the raid in some manner, mostly as stops along the raid route. We would especially like more information about exactly where William Sterritt and Mr. Rogers lived as well as first names of some of those listed.

Sylvester Hubbard Col. James B. Weaver (2^nd IA Inf.)

John Brumley Col. Sam A. Moore

Mr. Gustin Mr. Rogers

William Downing Isaac Smith

John Heckathier Mr. Lewis (captured in Scotland County)

Thomas Miller James Paris

Chris Wagler William Sterritt

Henry Blough L. D. Hotchkiss

William Power Frank French

Wallace Power Unknown man from Missouri traveling in

Davis County on umknown business

Morris McCracken (told by Jackson to help with the dead

man---Thomas Hardy)

Martin Kays Jesse McCracken (Co. G, 45^th IA Inf.)

David Baughman Andrew Haney

Perry Brown

William Millsap

James Brown Christen Reese

David Sanderson

Jacob King William Hill

Daniel Swartzendruver Andrew Tannehill

Jeremiah Miller Joseph Hill (Co. D 45^th IA Inf.)

Dave Gibson Frank Dabney

William Losey William Niblick (Co. D 3^rd IA Cav.)

The three murdered men : Thomas Hardy; Eleazer Small of 3rd IA Cav. and Captain Philip Bence of 30th IA Inf.

We are also searching for information on David Plunkett and a man named Ford. Jackson pinned a note to two of the men killed which read “Killed in retaliation for the murder of David Plunkett by Federal Soldiers near Glasgow, MO. By order of James Jackson, Lieutenant, Commanding, Oct. 12, 1864.” Ford, a man known as a Confederate sympathizer, was hanged by the posse as a possible raider or for the reason that he may have aided them in some way.

"The Weekly Union Guard" was the only newspaper which existed in Davis County at the time of the raid. No copy has been found which would have had an article about the raid. A pro-Confederate paper "The Clarion" was forced to close in 1863 by Federal authorities. It was thought to have been secretly printed throughout 1864 & maybe longer. Copies of either of these papers in which the raid is mentioned would be a great find!

Brief Summary of the Raid & Resulting Book

On October 12, 1864 about a dozen heavliy armed Confederate raiders, led by Lieutenant James (Bill) Jackson and dressed in stolen Federal uniforms, crossed the Iowa/Missouri line into Davis County, Iowa embarking on a trail of robbery and killing that left three local residents dead. Two of those killed were military men home from the war and the other man killed was a well-know citizen who was outspoken in his beliefs against slavery.

The raiders made many stops on their ride through the county stealing money and horses as well as taking prisoners. The taking of prisoners swelled the ranks and it was reported to nearby towns that many dozens (or even hundreds) of men were in the raiding party.

Guerrilla Raid Society member, Russell Corder, has written a short book on the subject of the raid. This book was first published in 1997 after several months of intensive research. Rusty first heard about the raid from his granddad who was doing some geneology research and came upon some information about the raid. Rusty kept that information filed away in the back of his mind for future use.

After graduating, Rusty was searcing for a historical topic to write about. He began researching the 1864 guerilla raid of Davis County. There was not a lot of material to work with. Some potentially valuable material in the form of the local newpaper turned out to be missing from any archives. He depended upon county histories and the Wallaces Farmer article but did not find much else.

Once he had the route mapped out he set about trying to figure out why & who. Why Davis County? Who was Jim "Bill" Jackson? Rusty commented that historical research is like doing detective work; you have bits and pieces which you try to tie together to make a complete story. He also stated that the aspect of the raid that continues to fascinate him is how it was all put together, who was involved and for how long this had been planned.

If you would like a copy of Rusty's book send $7.00 (this includes postage) to either Carl Boas, 10499 Mink Blvd, Bloomfield, Iowa 52537 or Laura Rickelman, 30028 Umber Ave., Pulaski, Iowa 52584. Please include you name, address and phone number (in case we need to contact you about your order) and we will ship your book within 3-5 business days.