Below is part of chapter 32. The whole chapter can be seen on the Iowa History Site. Under Making of Iowa. ~~~~~~~~~~~ June 1, 1846, while the people of Iowa Territory were deep in the discusion of the question of Statehood, there came to them a call to arms. War with Mexico had broken out, and the President of the United States had issued a call for fifty thousand volunteers. Iowa Territory was asked to raise a regiment, and on this day Governor James Clarke presented a proclamation stating what Iowa was expected to do. The news set the citizens aflame with patriotism. In various towns mass meeting were held, at which burning speeches were made, and glowing resolutions passed supporting the Governement, and pledging help. Somes were composed. Men rushed to enlist. So far as spirit went, the days of 1846 were not different from those of 1898. Iowa, of course, was not so well populated as now. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I have not come to find out what you can do for Iowa. Mr. President," replied the sturdy governor, "but I want to know what Iowa can do for you?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On his own responsibility, and at his own risk, the governor authorized the Hon. Exekiel Clark to purchase in Chicago cloth for fifteen hundred uniforms. But not a yard of cloth could be found in all that city. The demand had been so great. Promptly Samuel Merrill offered to contract for cloth in Boston, and take his pay as the State was best able to afford. Mr. Merrill's kindness came in time of much need. The women of Iowa turned to and sewed hundreds of garments and haversacks, and prepared other articles of equipment. Everywhere in the State the loyal women rallied to the cause. The cloth of the first uniforms was gray. The Government refused to recognize the color, because the Confederates were wearing it. So the gray gave place to the Union blue. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Copperheads" was the name applied to the Confederate sympathizers. It referred to the deadly moccasin snake, and indicated contempt. "Copperheads" denoted their propensities by wearing suits of butternut jeans, or a badge of half a butternut, or a copper cent as a breast pin. Keokuk County, with its forks of the Skunk River, was the most rabid "Copperhead" stronghold of Iowa. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Debbie Clough Gerischer Iowa Gen Web, Assistant CC, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ IAGENWEB: Special History Project: http://iagenweb.org/history/index.htm Gerischer Family Web Site: http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/