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In the 1890s, they used the River!
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Tag Archives: Civil War
Alexander Clark of the First Iowa African Infantry
Who would have thought that a man from the small town of Muscatine, Iowa, would have been the first person to offer to raise African American troops to serve in the Iowa regiment during the Civil War? First, one probably … Continue reading
October 20 Celebrate History! 30 years of the Special Collections Center at the Davenport Public Library!
Join Jim Jacobsen of History Pays! Historic Preservation Firm for his 2:45 presentation on the Civil War Rendezvous Camps of Davenport including Camps McClellan, Kearney, Jo Holt, Hendershott, Herron, and Roberts/Kinsman. Utilizing maps, drawings and meticulous research, Jacobsen ties together … Continue reading
Davenport During the Civil War: The Coward List
Fall of 1862 found the citizens of Davenport and Scott County adjusting to daily life during wartime. The Draft of August had been answered by eligible volunteers and those men were leaving home to join the Union cause. Women, children, … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Civil War, Coward List, Military Draft, Secesh, Sneak List, Union, War of the Rebellion
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Davenport During the Civil War: The Draft of August 1862
In August of 1862, the Civil War continued to rage and the Union began to experience a shortage of soldiers as enlistment rates dropped. Various factors were behind the declining numbers of recruits, including the realization that the war was … Continue reading
Not Gone Before His Time: The Adventures of Civil War Captain Harry B. Doolittle
On August 13, 1896 the Daily Democrat and Davenport Daily Times ran the obituary for Captain Harry B. Doolittle. The Civil War veteran had died after a fall at his residence at the Old Soldiers’ Home in Marshalltown, Iowa. Interestingly, … Continue reading
A Hero of the Iowa 7th: Lieutenant Colonel Augustus Wentz
Wednesday, November 13, 1861 was a day of mourning for the citizens of Davenport, Iowa. Lieutenant Colonel Augustus Wentz would be buried on that crisp Autumn day. Only a few weeks before local residents had cheered as Wentz and members … Continue reading
“One of the grandest soldiers the North had . . . “
While we take the time to remember and honor the men and women of our armed forces who have fought to keep our country and people safe, it seems fitting that we also remember those civilians who have fought to … Continue reading
150 Years Ago Today
April 12, 2011, marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War— a war from which 13,589 Iowa men, and countless others, never returned home. Our Special Collections Center, is home to many interesting primary and secondary resources … Continue reading
The Nation’s First Concentration Camp
In its almost one hundred and seventy-five years, Davenport has had many national firsts. Some of these fill us with a sense of comfortable pride. Others do not. Genealogists and local historians may know that the Quad-City area was originally … Continue reading
McClellan Heights-The Most Beautiful Spot in All the World for a Home…or a State Park?
The BIX at 6 practice runs and the actual event take many exercise enthusiasts along a course that is both physically challenging and visually intriguing. While jogging, walking or limping through the McClellan Heights area of the course participants can … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Camp McClellan, Civil War, Local History, McClellan Heights
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