This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Dodge, Sears Classification: Military Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/4370.1 Message Board Post: SUPPLEMENT to the OFFICIAL RECORDS of the UNION and CONFEDERATE ARMIES. Part 3, volume 1, SERIAL NO. 93, page 27: Headquarters, Fourth Regiment Iowa Volunteers, Camp Kirkwood, near Council Bluffs, August 1, 1861. TO: Nathaniel Bradley Baker, Esquire, Adjutant-General, State of Iowa: Dear Sir: Under instructions from C. Baldwin, Esquire, in charge of military affairs in Western Iowa, dated July 22, 1861, I moved from Camp Kirkwood at 5 o'clock on the morning of July 23 with the following forces: Company A, Lieutenant Thomas H. Head, 27 men Company B, Captain Craig, 31 men Company C, Lieutenant McEwen, 29 men Company E, Captain Burton, 23 men Company F, Captain Griffith, 26 men Company G, Lieutenant Robert Stitt, 25 men Company I, Captain Rice, 27 men Company K. Captain Berger, 27 men CAMP No. 1 was pitched three miles south of Glenwood, Iowa, twenty-five miles south of Camp Kirkwood. At CAMP No. 2, near Sidney, fifty miles south of Camp Kirkwood, we were joined by the Council Bluffs Artillery Company, with two 6-pound field pieces, and twenty-four men under Captain Clinton. At this place, with the assistance of Judge Sears, I procured teams sufficient to carry the men, as many were footsore and unable to travel. CAMP No. 3, was pitched at Larke's Creek, twenty-five miles east of Sidney, on the evening of July 25. During the day, we had met straggling parties of Home Guards returning from the scene of trouble in Missouri, who reported that the Union forces of Missouri had made a compromise with the Secessionists and that both parties had agreed to disband their forces and return to their homes. Being instructed, however, by Colonel Baldwin to be governed mainly by the report of my own scout sent ahead into Missouri, I determined to push on until I met him. I accordingly advanced to Clarinda, Iowa, when I encamped at noon on July 26, forty miles east of Clarinda, and thirteen miles north of the Missouri line. CAMP No. 4: A few hours after camping, Sergeant Teel, of Company E, my scout, arrived at Camp No. 4, and made his report. He confirmed the report brought back by the Home Guards. He had been in the Secessionists' camp near Gentryville, Missouri, and found them about 600 strong, in a good position, but poorly armed and equipped. They had, however, since the compromise, apparently disbanded and returned to their homes. On the evening of July 26, a prisoner was brought in by a returning party of the Clarinda Home Guards, who stated that he knew where the Secessionist had buried two pieces of artillery. Thinking it all important to secure these, I detailed a small force consisting of ten men, to return with the prisoner and examine the spot, while I would await their return at Camp No. 4, my men needing the rest. They started on the morning of July 27, went to the field indicated by the prisoner, and made a careful search of the premises but without avail. They had either never been secreted there, or had been subsequently removed. This party returned to Camp on the evening of July 29, and made their report. Not seeing anything further to accomplish in that section, I gave marching orders for the morning of July 30. CAMP No. 5: We pitched Camp No. 5 at Fisher's Grove, twenty-five miles from Clarinda.The bad water and change of diet having made quite a number of the men sick, I again considered it necessary to procure wagons for their conveyance. CAMP No. 6: On the morning of July 31, we pitched Camp No. 6 at Glenwood, and arrived at Camp Kirkwood on the morning of August 1. There is no doubt but great excitement exists on both sides of the line. My scout canvassed pretty thoroughly all the counties of Northwest Missouri, and found that the Rebels of that section were fearing an invasion from Iowa, equally as much as the people of Southern Iowa were from Missouri. The Rebel camp was made chiefly for the purpose of drilling their forces, in order that when Jackson came, (which was confidently anticipated,) they might be ready to assist him in driving the Union men out of North Misssouri. Gentry and Nodaway Counties are now nearly vacant; crops are neglected and farms for miles deserted. On breaking up their camp, but very few--say 180--appeared to ratify the compromise, the balance scattered, sinking their field pieces in the river, and burying their small arms. I am fully persuaded that arms distributed in our border counties to at least one company in each county,will render everything safe, as the Union forces of North Missouri are stronger than the Rebels. I inclose a copy of the compromise, which to me is sufficient evidence that both parties were badly scared. G. M. DODGE, Colonel Commanding Fourth Iowa Volunteers. N.B.: Notice that the Fourth took the South Tier State Road from Sidney eastward. This road crossed the southern tier of sections in Prairie township, crossed the Nishnabotna northwest of Farragut, and proceeded on east to Manti, or Fisher's Grove. The South Tier, running east and west, crossed all of the counties outlined by Dodge. Colonel Dodge also mentions that he returned on the same route. With no radios, no telephones -- and I think Sidney was at this particular time was without a weekly newspaper -- it is my guess that people in Fremont county were very excited over this occurrence. Did the public have any idea of what was going on? The home of General Grenville Mellen Dodge in Council Bluffs is on the National Register of Historic Places.--W.F.