Miscellaneous Notes of the Civil War and the greater Muscatine Co area

Henry O'Connor, Esq., of Muscatine, delivered there one of his rousing speeches on the war, Monday evening last. We hope to hear Harry in this city ere long. If the Governor would send him out to stir up the patriotism of the people, there would be no need of drafting.

Patriotic.-The Muscatine Journal says the roll was opened in that city on Monday, for the enlistment of the fifteenth company from that county. Muscatine is the most patriotic county in our State. The Journal says, that it is pledged to the last man and the last dollar for the suppression of this unholy rebellion.

Resigned.-Among the recent resignations reported from the Adjutant-General's office we notice that of Capt. Lundy, of Muscatine county, well known to many of our citizens as the popular commander of Co. G, 2d Iowa cavalry. Lieut. Jos. W. Eystra, of Muscatine, and formerly of Rock Island, succeeds Capt. Lundy.

At Iowa City, we are informed, one hundred persons enlisted during the day, and at Muscatine forty. Other towns were no doubt similarly affected; and the prospect is fair for obtaining the entire quota of the first 300,000 from
this State without drafting.

Local Matters.
Female Compositors.-So many printers have volunteered in the service of their country that there is a deficiency to supply the demand. Some offices are beginning to employ females in that capacity. The Muscatine Journal has got one printer of that gender and is intending to get more. As compositors, females are quite equal to the males and we see no reason why they should not be even more skillful in the use of their fingers. The only objection we ever heard to their employment was, that they used their tongues rather freely.

Local Matters.
Personal.-Col. Wood, of the Iowa Twelfth, arrived in town yesterday morning, and put up at the LeClaire House. The Colonel has recovered form wounds received at Shiloh, where he was taken prisoner, but subsequently released by Beauregard, who had in vain endeavored to "pump" him about our army. The Colonel, we
understand, is to drill one of the new regiments either here or at Muscatine.

Soldiers Missing.-By reference to "Diff's" letter, on the 2d Cavalry, detailed to destroy the railroad track, are missing. Messrs. Lyman C. Loomis, J. B. Ellis, James Finley, James Kennedy and Jacob Diffendorfer were from Atalissa, Muscatine county, and Charles Hilton and Caleb Sweet were from Iowa City.

Not everybody was gung ho to head to this war. The Friends (Society of Quakers) of course
based their unwillingness to participate on their strong religious history and belief.  Others, sometimes called "Peace Democrats" simply thought the Government was overstepping its bounds.  The Federal Government was rounding up anyone who spoke out in opposition, or discouraged others from joining the army.  Many of these prisoners were held at Camp McClellen in Davenport upon arrival.

The Daily Gazette Davenport, Iowa
Tuesday Morning September 9, 1862
Local Matters.

It will be observed that numbers of petitions have been presented to our Legislature from members of the
Society of Friends, asking exemption from military duty, on the ground that they cannot conscientiously engage
in warfare.

From the beginning, this highly respectable, and in some portions of our country numerous body of Christians,
has held a consistent testimony against wars and fightings. In no instance that we are aware of, has there ever
been any swerving from this if a single congregation in Philadelphia is excepted. During our revolutionary
contest, a small fraction of the body in that city took the ground that defensive warfare was admissible, acted
accordingly, and always after were denied association by the original society. In holding to their views, the
Friends have borne contumely, have often been rudely despoiled of their property, and have endured patiently
the burdens imposed, never failing in any other instance to come fully up to their requirements a citizens, and
always manifesting an intense love for Republican institutions, and a willingness to sacrifice almost everything
except the cherished principle of non-resistance. State laws, where they exist in large numbers, have generally been so framed of latter years, as to afford them relief from military duty, and the desires of an earnest
and God-fearing people have been gratified. From the general respect which they inspire in all their intercourse
with the rest of the world, and from their elevated moral and religious character, the sympathy of their fellow men
has been secured, and a cordial acquiescence has been awarded to the exemption of the Quaker from the
absolute bearing of arms. Indeed, it is universally conceded that he of the broad brim and drab clothing, would,
in a regiment, be an anomaly, not to be reconciled.

In putting down this rebellion it is a remarkable fact, that in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where the Friends
congregate in the greatest numbers, measures for the relief of the suffering soldiers appear to have an intensity
of which hardly any other portion of our Union can boast. We believe there is a more unreserved yielding up of
private resources for the welfare of the soldiers in Philadelphia and its vicinity than any other part of our
country-a great deal of that unostentatious kind of work which is based upon the principle of not letting the left
hand know what the right hand doeth-and this, we as honestly believe, comes from the Quaker leaven so freely
interspersed through the community, always quick to recognize the call of the suffering, and ever ready to bind
up the broken heart. Young men occasionally unfetter themselves and step into the ranks, in obedience to what
they consider their country's call. Sorrowfully their seniors look after them, their career is earnestly  and prayerfully watched, but reproach (it cannot fail to have been noticed in this contest) scarcely, if ever, reaches the end of the tongue. Solemn words of advice, as to consistent moral conduct, have been uttered in our hearing, to such as have enlisted, by counselors from whom reproof would have come likewise had reproof been in the heart. The language was full to overflowing with tenderness, such only as Friends inspired by the deepest emotion can use: but, but-there is ceased. The wanderers from the fold evidently were not cast-aways; and for this state of feeling, the reader, probably can find a reason.

There are a number of  Friends in Iowa. In Cedar, in Henry, in Marshall and in Muscatine counties, quite large congregations. We cannot help entertaining the hope that their petitions to the Legislature will meet with favorable consideration. As a people forced into the ranks, they cannot fight. In the army as men, voluntarily there, none would do the work better, for whatever they perform, as a general rule, is done strictly from a sense of duty. They are no eleventh-hour men in the enunciations of their views-not they. From the organization of the society down to the present moment, their utterances as to engaging in war have been the same. Let favorable and considerate legislation in their behalf obtain also in Iowa.

Another.-William C. Kennedy, of Muscatine, arrived in town last evening, in custody, charged with discouraging enlistments.

Arrival of Prisoners.-The western train, last evening, brought in a number of persons arrested in the vicinity of Des Moines, on charges of disloyalty. They were in charge of Deputy U. S. Marshal Bowers. Their names are:
C. C. Mann, John Galinger, James Naylor, John Beele, W. Evans, Jas. Evans, Vol. Gideon, Jack Porter, Joseph Gideon, ___ Knight, and Squire McCartey. They are said to comprise President, Vice President, Secretary and members of the K. G. C. Seven of them are from Madison county, three from Clark and one from
Polk. The prisoners were escorted to Camp McClellan.
 

Additional information by Susie Martin-Rott, ggg granddaughter of Joseph Gideon:
Joseph Gideon was most likely actually a resident of Letts, Louisa Co, or nearby Pike Twp, Muscatine Co.  His brother, Valentine (referred to as Vol) was a resident of Madison County.  It is also possible that the Evans listings may be relatives of the Gideon brothers, as their aunt, Mary Gideon, was married to Mr. Jesse Evans and had sons named James and Wm. Evans.  His alleged crime is unclear, but the Knights of the Golden Circle (KGC) was a fraternal organization whose members were all either anti-war or pro-slavery (not necessarily both). In the obituary of Joseph Gideon (available elsewhere on the website), it mentions that he spoke of having been a political prisoner during the war.