Showing posts with label Fort Kearny. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fort Kearny. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Abraham Lincoln to Major David Hunter, October 26, 1860

Private & confidential
Springfield, Ills. Oct. 26. 1860
Maj. David Hunter

My dear Sir: Your very kind letter of the 20th. was duly received, and for which, please accept my thanks. 

I have another letter from a writer unknown to me, saying the officers of the Army at Fort Kearney, have determined, in case of Republican success, at the approaching Presidential election, to take themselves, and the arms at that point, South, for the purpose of resistence to the government. While I think there are many chances to one that this is a hum-bug, it occurs to me that any real movement of this sort in the army would leak out and become known to you. In such case, if it would not be unprofessional, or dishonorable (of which you are to be judge) I shall be much obliged if you will apprize me of it. 

Yours very truly 
A. LINCOLN 

SOURCE: Roy P. Basler, Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 4, p. 132

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood to Capt. Grenville M. Dodge, May 25, 1861

Executive Chamber,
Des Moines, Iowa, May 25, 1861.
Capt. G. M. Dodge:

Dear Sir — I hereby confide to you a communication to Major-Gen. Harney, at St. Louis, desiring from him, or, through him, from the Secretary of War, 3,000 stand of arms from the command at Fort Kearney, Neb. Should it be deemed proper by you, when at St. Louis, upon conference with Gen. Harney, to go to Washington City in order the more readily to obtain these arms, I desire you to go there at once. When the order is obtained you will report to me immediately for further instructions.

Respectfully,
SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD,
Governor of Iowa.

SOURCE: Henry Warren Lathrop, The Life and Times of Samuel J. Kirkwood, Iowa's War Governor, p. 281

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Indian Troubles

From The Council Bluff Nonpareil.

Ft. Kearney, Aug. 8th. – 10 o’clock, P.M. – A party of one hundred Indians attacked a train of nine wagons one mile east of Plum Creek station at 7 o’clock this morning, and killed all the men, burned the wagons, and killed and drove off the stock. – Two women and four children with the train were taken prisoners. The same band afterwards attacked another train near the same place, but were driven off three times.

Three men were killed in this engagement. Eight dead bodies were counted lying in the road by the stage passengers coming east this morning.

There were supposed to be more lying in the grass. They burned Fred Smiths 27 mile-point Ranche, killed his hired men and drove off his stock. Col. Sumers, Capt. Murphy and Capt. Talbot, with eighty mounted men, started this morning for the scene of action. Maj. Brien, from Cottonwood, with a company of troops has gone to co-operate with Col Sumners. At one o’clock this afternoon sixteen Indians drove off a lot of horses from Dog Town, eight miles east of Kearney.

Ten men followed them as far as the bluffs when they were met by a large force of Indians, and compelled to retreat, with the loss of three men killed.

Private dispatches from the west this afternoon, later than the news report, represent the Indians in a large force in the neighborhood of Kearney. They are killing, capturing and burning everything on the road. All the troops have been driven into the fort which is now surrounded by Indians. Nearly all the small out-posts have been evacuated, and the savages now hold undisputed possession of all the country above the fort. The present outbreak bids fair to be a much more serious affair than was at first anticipated; the Indians are in large force, are determined on war and it is doubtful whether there is sufficient military force on the Platte to prevent them from coming down to the settlements. The stages and mails are stopped and there is now no communication above Kearney, except telegraph, which is yet unmolested.

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, August 20, 1864

Friday, August 8, 2008

Letter from the 7th Iowa Cavalry

Fort Kearney
Feb. 17th, 1864

Mr. Editor :–

It seems somewhat strange that something from the Seventh Iowa Cavalry does not oftener appear in your columns. The Seventh by some has been lightly spoken of. But by old regulars, I am authorized to say that it will compare favorably with almost any other regiment in the field for good discipline, or in any other respect, though I must say there is yet room for improvement. As far as fighting is concerned the Seventh has not played much of a hand. We may yet have a change to show our fighting propensities, and I do not know of a boy in the regiment who would not welcome the day that sends us South. The companies are scattered almost from one end of Nebraska Territory to the other. Companies G and F being stationed at Cottonwood Springs, A, D and H at Fort Reamey [sic, should read Kearny], and the other companies on the Missouri River at different points above Omaha City. I don’t suppose there is another regiment in the field that guards more territory than the Seventh Iowa Cavalry. Its daily performed line of duty, too, is excessive. The civil law being of little force, the ordinary duties of the civil authorities are naturally devoted upon the military. Co. B, I understand, has recently had some difficulties with the Indians up about St. James, but I have not been able to learn the result.

A Word on our career since leaving Iowa. After crossing the muddy Missouri River we were stationed in camp for a few days, near the village called Omaha City. After having recruited our horses &c. we found that we were to be scattered to the four winds over Nebraska Territory. It fell to the lot of three companies A, D and H, to go to Fort Kearney. About the last of August, all things being ready, we gathered up our traps, turned our horses’ heads to the far west and commenced our wearisome journey. Not however without first getting the example of Lot’s wife, casting our eyes back towards home and its endearments. Our march was not accompanied with anything very adventurous. I might however say that we were one night aroused by the sound of the sentinel’s carbine and the report was instantly afloat though camp that the Indians were upon us. The boys were instantly under arms, falling into line with the speed scarcely imaginable for new troops. But no Indians. Nothing of the kind could be found, and after an hours scouting through the brush on the Platte, the boys returned to camp much dissatisfied at their novel disappointment. We arrived at Fort Kearney in due time and found it a very commodious home for the soldiers, though somewhat lonesome. The boys soon made themselves quite proficient in hunting, as the buffalo were quite plenty here at that time. Most of the boys have become excellent riders. The Nimrodian laurels belong to on John A. Guy who soon became so will skilled that while riding at full sped he brought down two large buffaloes in fifteen minutes time.

Platte River is about one mile wide, sometimes exceeding that, but seldom falling short of it. The channel is so shallow that it can be forded in almost any place. It is interspersed with numerous low islands which are covered with thick underwood and grape vines forming a good retreat for wolves &c. The one thing most remarked about this river is that in the summer season while it has plenty of water with heavy current, in others there is none. At the crossing at Fort Kearney when we came here, there was not a drop of water in the channel, but in a few weeks after our arrival the water came down with all the violence of a mill race, yet no rain had fallen to produce this effect.

The health of the three companies stationed here is very good. Some few cases of fever have occurred, but thanks to the care of Dr. A. J. Willy, none have died. The moral condition of the soldiers here is not as good as it might be. We have not been favored with a chaplain, from what reason I am not able to say. I suppose Uncle Sam thought we were coming out west where there was no danger, and consequently would not need a spiritual overseer. The post is at present under the command of Major H. H. Heath, who spares no pains to keep the soldiers under him in good discipline causing a thorough inspection of arms once a week. The horses and horse equipage are in excellent condition, although the former have several times been jaded by extensive scouting.

Solic[i]ting pleasant dreams for the Editor, his subscribers, and the good citizens of the very interesting and business city of Oceola, I am yours, and a prisoner yet.

Soldier.

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, March 12, 1864