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Upper Iowa recruits form unit;College Edition 3WidaaidT, Saptasbftr 13# 1331 Fayette Leader Fayette. IowaJake active part in Civil Warof any regiment was ever borne more gallantly, or that any Color— William A. DunneThe Civil War had begun on April 12, 1861, with the surrender of Fort Sumter, a U. S. Army garrison. in the harbor of Charleston, S. C. The students of Upper Iowa University were readying themselves for the time when President Lincoln would appeal fcr men to fight the war.Early in the summer of 1861, the students of Upper Iowa University organized a company for military purposes and called themselves the “University Recruits.” They revealed their purpose in a resolution which stated: “That whenever the occasion demands it, we will drop our books to fight our country’s battles.”The summer of 1861 saw several members of the original University Recruits enter the service with the 3rd and 9th Iowa Regiments, but at the opening of school in the fall, on September 2, 1861, the company was still intact and resumed their daily drills on campus.With the call of President Lincoln for 300,000 men, the boys were convinced that the time had come for them to carry out their resolution. At a public meeting in the University chapel on the afternoon of September 15, 1861, 23 members enrolled their names and pledged themselves to answer the appeal for troops.One of those who signed the role, after deliberation, asked to be excused because he was married and oauld not go. Two others joined different companies and ■one was rejected by the mustering officer. As a result, only 19 of the original University Recruits became members of Company C of the 12th Iowa Regiment.Immediately after enrollment, the 19 boys agreed to leave campus and recruit as many men as they could in one week, when they would return to school again. They all returned at the appointed time with the full compliment of men_ allowed in a company. 101 ambitious, fighting men. .On September 28, 1861. just 13 davs after the first name was signed to the roll, the service of the .company was accepted by the governor of Iowa and ordered into quarters at the Fayette House to begin their regular routine of military drill.During their stay at the Fayette House the men elected their officers with the following results recorded: Captain, W. W. Warner; 1st Lieutenant, D. B. Henderson; 2nd Lieutenant, A. M-Smith; Sergeants, G. W. Cook. Gilbert Hazlet, Emery Clark,James Stewart; Corporals, David Conner, Thomas Henderson, P. R. Ketchum, S. F. Rush, J. F. Hutchins, D. D. Warner, G. L. Durno, James Barr.With 19 students leaving the school at one time, the classes were sadly depleted and President Brush undertook to counteract the patriotic tendencies of the students by writing letters to their parents urging them to use their parental authority to forbid enlistment. This method did not work, however, because of the sympathy given the boys by the preceptress, Miss E. A. Sorin. She became their champion and remained their true friend through the war. No better record of woman’s devoted service to the Union can be shown than was shown by her in the interest for her “boys”.She held a meeting for the young ladies on campus and interested them in her plans of a flag for the boys. They purchased the material and with their own hands made a beautiful flag for the company. Embroidered on the flag was the group’s official title, “University 'Recruits 101”. The flag was then presented to the company by Miss Sorin in behalf of the girls of Upper Iowa University. At this ceremony, Miss Sorin gave a very touching address which, in part, is as follows:“In behalf of the ladies of Upper Iowa University, it has been made my pleasing duty to present to you, our brave volunteers, the standard of our Union. We feel that you, who for its honor, have not counted your lives dear unto you, its Stars and Stripes are far more eloquent appeal Sir the right than mortal iips can address. Yet, in parting from you we would fain add to its influence a word of sisterly cheer, and encouragement“Take our flag, and as it floats over you, sometimes give a thought to those by whom it has been, presented. Proudly, confidently, we commit it to your keeping. We do not bid you guard it, we know it is safe in your hands. As you have been proud to live under it, if death be your lot, may you die under it's folds, and may God protect and prosper you as you defend your colors.The position of 5th Sergeant was not filled at the time of the election of other officers but was left to the choice of the donors of the flag with the understanding that the one elected should be the color bearer for the company.It was a spirited contest, the secrets of which were never revealed to the company, in which Henry J. Grannis, of Fayette, was elected Color Bearer. The girls made a wise decision, for no one will ever say that the flagBearer In any war was more devoted to his trust than was Henry Grannis.Grannis carried the flag at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, and Shiloh. He was taken prisoner at Shiloh but later released. In several battles the colore were riddled in his hands. On other occasions every guard was killed or wounded, yet Grannis never suffered a scratch through the entire war. He received a merited promotion as 1st Lieutenant of Company C on November 22, 1865, but failed to muster and re- ' tained the more conspicuous and honorable place as Color Bearer to the end. He was finally discharged on January 20, 1866, and settled down to private life in Fayette county.The University Recruits were , housed in Fayette until October . 16, 1861, when the company par- ; aded for the last time on the Upper Iowa University campus. Fol- , lowing the parade the company marched to the hill south of(Continued on Page 27)SABOEJEWELRYDiamonds Watches Silverware Gifts For All Occasions Radios TelevisionsWest Union, lavraINSURElWELCOAgain this year, the Fayette Insi is proud to be the agency carrying your “ro accident protection.We shall be pleased to meet you a questions concerning Upper Iowa Univei accident program.
Newspaper Details
Fayette Leader
Fayette, Iowa, US
Wed, Sep 13, 1961
Page 10
Full Page
Clipped by
John A.
NE, USA 25 Jul 2024
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