Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/110

 brilliant success electrified the country and Halleck, in a dispatch to the War Department at Washington, declared it to be “the turning point in the war.” It caused the whole Confederate line in the west, from Nashville to Columbus, to fall back more than a hundred miles. So great was the consternation of General A. S. Johnston, that he telegraphed to Jefferson Davis, “the situation left me no alternative but to evacuate Nashville.” More important than all else, it gave hope to the administration and the country, that there was a western general who could not only plan a brilliant campaign, but who had the skill and courage to promptly execute his plans. The jealousy of Halleck and the slanders of envious rivals for a time threatened to deprive the country of Grant’s superb military, but fortunately the President and Secretary of War recognized the merits of this new commander, who quietly took positions assigned him and without continually importuning for reinforcements, proceeded to strike the enemy stunning blows with such forces as he had.

Four Iowa regiments participated in this great battle, and were among the bravest of the brave. Our State felt a just pride in their brilliant achievements and mourned the loss of the heroic dead. The Legislature passed joint resolutions expressing for the people of the entire States, thanks to the Iowa troops for their bravery and devotion to the country, for their heroic deeds on the battle-fields of Wilson’s Creek, Blue Mills, Belmont and Fort Donelson, and sympathy for the bereaved friends of those who perished from disease and on the battle-fields.

Soon after the beginning of the Civil War the Sioux Indians, on the Minnesota reservations, began to make hostile demonstrations in the northwestern counties of Iowa. Horses and cattle were stolen, and, on the 9th of July, two members of the Frontier Guards, Hobert Thomas and Henry Cordna, were killed within three miles of Sioux City. Several parties of Sioux Indians were