Ottumwa Public Library

The Davis County Guerilla Raid

The year 2011 marks the sesquicentennial anniversary of the start of the Civil War, a conflict which did much to forge our country’s character as it rewrote our nation’s history. Although Iowa sent 76,242 men (out of a total population of 674,913 in 1860) to serve in the war effort, the state itself remained largely on the periphery of the conflict. An October day in 1864 changed that, however, when a dozen Confederate soldiers dressed in stolen Union uniforms rode into Davis County to wreak a day-long reign of terror that began with intimidation and robbery and ended with the murders of three prominent citizens of the area. This month the Reminisce Society is pleased to host a program about the Davis County Guerilla Raid presented by long-time Ottumwa Civil War Round Table member Burr Brown. Burr grew up in the area of Davis County in which the raid took place, and will share an interesting and very informative presentation on the raid itself and the men who took part in it. The program will be held on Tuesday, September 27, at 10:00 a.m. in the library’s meeting room. Please join us for a fascinating look at the day the Civil War came to Iowa.