Signed "Jesse James" By G.C. Stevens

   

The Nebraska photo: Signed "Jesse James" From the author collection

On December 7, 1869, Frank and Jesse James robbed the bank in Gallatin, Missouri. The target was the Daviess County Savings Association, a modest one‑story bank on the southwest corner of the town’s business square. The robbery began shortly after twelve noon in dense winter fog, which enveloped the small town of about 1,000 people Inside the bank were the cashier, Capt. John W. Sheets, and a lawyer, William McDowell. One of the robbers, possibly Jesse—asked to have a $100 bill changed. As the cashier wrote a receipt, the robber drew his revolver and fired two shots: one into the cashier’s chest and another into his forehead, McDowell, fleeing through the doorway, was shot. Jesse James grabbed a portfolio of bank paper and escaped outside. He and Frank rode away, pursued by a posse, but they escaped. Taken the transcripts the Liberty Tribune newspaper dated: June 24th, 1870, tells the harrowing tale of what occurred that day and about a letter written by Jesse James. 

G.C. Stevens 

Monument in front of the Court house that tells the story of the Trial of Frank James on the charges stemming from both the Gallatin bank robbery ang the train robbery in Winston Missoui on July 15th 1881 Photo by the author

The Gallatin courthouse photo by the author

The train depot at Winston Missouri photo by the author 

   

From the Kansas City Times.

More of the Shooting at Gallatin.

A LETTER FROM JESSE W. JAMES.

It will be remembered that on the 7th of December, 1869, the cashier of a bank at Gallatin, Missouri, was shot and instantly killed by some unknown parties. This cashier was named J. W. Sheets, and he was well known throughout that portion of Missouri. A horse belonging to the men who did the shooting, was captured in the town, and this horse was identified as one that had belonged to the two James' brothers, of Clay county—Jesse and Frank. Straightway it was declared that these two young men done the killing, and a great hue and cry were raised against them. The citizens of Gallatin offered a large reward for their apprehension; the Governor of Missouri added an additional sum to this one, and militia were ordered to be made ready to hunt down the brothers.

They were come upon at their home in Clay county, by a squad of men headed by the Sheriff and his deputy. A fight ensued, the Sheriff's horse was killed, the two James brothers escaped untouched, and from that day to this they have not been heard from.

Yesterday, however, we received the following letter from Jesse W. James, the eldest brother. It had neither postoffice mark nor was it dated upon any day, but had evidently been enclosed to us by some one else. It is addressed to Governor McClurg, and is as follows:

June, 1870. Governor McClurg: DEAR SIR: I and my brother Frank are charged with the crime of killing the cashier and robbing the bank at Gallatin, Mo., Dec. 7th, 1869. I can prove, by some of the best men in Missouri, where I was the day of the robbery and the day previous to it, but I well know if I was to submit to an arrest, that I would be mobbed and hanged without a trial. The past is sufficient to show that bushwhackers have been arrested in Missouri since the war, charged with bank robbery, and they most all have been mobbed without trials. I will cite you to the case of Thomas Little, of Lafayette county, Mo. A few days after the bank was robbed at Richmond, in 1867, Mr. Little was arrested in St. Louis, charged with being one of the party who perpetrated the deed. He was sent from St. Louis to Warrensburg under a heavy guard. As soon as the parties arrived there, they found out that he (Mr. Little) could prove, by the citizens of Dover, that he was innocent of the charge—as soon as these scoundrels found out that he was innocent—a mob was raised, broke in the jail, took him out and hanged him.

Governor, when I think I can get a fair trial, I will surrender myself to the civil authorities of Missouri. But I never will surrender to be mobbed by a set of blood-thirsty poltroons. It is true that during the war I was a Confederate soldier, and fought under the black flag, but since then I have lived a peaceable citizen, and obeyed the laws of the United States to the best of my knowledge. The authorities of Gallatin say the reason that led them to suspect me, was that the mare left at Gallatin, by the robbers, was identified as belonging to me. That is false. I can prove that I sold the mare previous to the robbery. It is true that I fought Deputy Sheriff Thomason, of Clay county, but was not my brother with me when we had the fight. I do not think that I violated the law when I fought Thomason as his posse refused to tell me who they were.

Three different statements have been published in reference to the fight that I had with Thomason, but they are all a pack of falsehoods. Deputy Sheriff Thomason has never yet given any report of the fight, that I have seen. I am personally acquainted with Oscar Thomason, the Deputy's son, but when the shooting began, his face was so muffled up with furs that I did not recognize him. But if I did violate the law when I fought Thomason I am perfectly willing to abide by it.

But as to them mobbing me for a crime that I am innocent of, that is played out. As soon as I think I can get a Just trial I will surrender myself to the civil authorities of Missouri, and prove to the world that I am innocent of the crime charged against me.

Respectfully, JESSE W. JAMES.

Copyright (c) 2026 

The full article

refs

daviesscountyhistoricalsociety.com+1.

PBS

Happy 250th Birthday U.S.A. By G.C. Stevens

 

 

Happy Birthday America!

We The People

"Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country" 

-John F. Kennedy

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the birth of this great nation, I am reminded of this statement by President John F. Kennedy. 

 This iconic line comes from Kennedy’s inaugural address on January 20, 1961. Delivered at the start of his presidency, the speech emphasized both domestic and international responsibilities, reflecting the challenges of the Cold War and the need for global cooperation. It was a call to civic responsibility and public service, urging citizens to contribute actively to the nation.

 Kennedy's administration was fraught with extreme dangers, and that political danger resulted in his assassination on November 22nd, 1963. His death was a stark reminder that there are always dark forces at work that seek to topple what Americans have worked so diligently to secure for the last 250 years.

Kennedy's call was also reminder that we have a civic responsibility to preserve our history and to honor of ancestors who risked everything to give us a better life. No one has the right to destroy our history or our culture without our consent, or to unite with outside forces to overthrow our elected government. We are a nation of freedoms, which must be protected at all costs. It is a travesty when writers, journalist and historical gatekeepers hide behind cheap political platitudes, silence or self-righteousness to serve themselves or slave masters when freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of content and freedom of open research is at stake. 

Our national elections must be both free and secure. Honest, free and secure elections are a pillar of democracy. Our borders must also be secure, as it is the inherent responsibility of all governments to protect its citizens, this is the first and foremost duty of the United States government and those protections are enshrined within our Constitution. 

Abraham Lincoln held the utmost respect for the Constitution and believed that any of his controversial actions in relation to the Constitution were necessary for the preservation of the Union during the extraordinary times of the Civil War. Throughout his career he spoke of the importance of the Constitution.

1856

“Don’t interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.”

1858

“[The prosperity of the United States] is not the result of accident. It has a philosophic cause. Without the Constitution and the Union, we could not have attained the result.”

1861

“I am exceedingly anxious that this Union, the Constitution, and the liberties of the people shall be perpetuated in accordance with the original idea for which that struggle was made.”

ref National Park Service

I pray that everyone has a safe and prosperous July 4th. 

G.C. Stevens

Western Photo Essay Garden of the Gods: By Photo Journalist Dan Oelrich

All Photos by Journalist Dan Oelrich

Introduction

Dan Oelrich is a good friend and an avid local historian from Colorado Springs. Dan recently took a moonlight stroll through the "Garden of the Gods." This is a breath-taking photo essay of one of the wonders of the American west. 

Long before colonization, the area surrounding the Garden of the Gods was the ancestral homeland of several Indigenous peoples. For the Ute people, the site held deep spiritual significance; they resided at what is now Rock Ledge Ranch while journeying to a sacred site in Manitou Springs.

Interest in the region grew over several centuries. Spanish explorers first documented the area's unique geology in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Following the Louisiana Purchase, the United States dispatched explorers to survey the terrain, including notable expeditions led by Zebulon Pike in 1806, Stephen H. Long in the 1820s, and John C. Frémont in the 1840s.

The park's iconic name originated in 1858 during a surveying trip by M.S. Beach and Rufus Cable, who were scouting locations for a new town. Upon encountering the striking red rock formations, Beach suggested the area would make an excellent beer garden. Cable famously countered that it was "a place fit for the gods to assemble," inspiring the name "Garden of the Gods." This exploration fueled the founding of nearby Colorado City, known today as Old Colorado City.

In 1871, railroad tycoon William Jackson Palmer founded Colorado Springs, envisioning it as a resort town with the Garden of the Gods as its central attraction. He persuaded his business partner, Charles Elliot Perkins, to purchase 240 acres of the land in 1879. Instead of developing it, Perkins chose to preserve its natural beauty, expanding his holdings and keeping the space open to visitors. Following his death, Perkins’ children donated the land to the City of Colorado Springs in 1909, fulfilling his wish that it remain "forever free to the world."

  Ref Colorado Encyclopedia 

 

     250 YEARS OF AMERICAN HISTORY 

The Union Army Balloon Corps By Author O.J. Fargo

 THE UNION ARMY:

 BALLOON CORPS

Professor Lowe's military balloon near Gaines Mill, Virginia:

Inflation of the balloon Intrepid to reconnoiter the Battle of Fair Oaks; Lowe, not visible in this image, is standing to the right of the balloon. Courtesy of the Library of Congress

The Union Army Balloon Corps was a civilian branch of the Union Army established by Lincoln and headed by Thaddeus S. C. Lowe to perform aerial reconnaissance and direct artillery fire. Initially, he was offered $30 per day each day his balloon was in use but he accepted a colonel’s $10 per day pay if he could build more than the two balloons he was initially authorized and could hire as many men as he needed at $3 per day.

On September 25^th, 1861, after the Bull Run fiasco, Lowe received permission to build four observation balloons with hydrogen gas generators. Eventually he used six balloons. They were stationed up and down the Potomac River and a coal barge, the first aircraft carrier, was used to transport them.

                                       

 Credit: Ref Library of congress: negative : glass, wet collodion. | Photo shows Chief Aeronaut of the Union Army Balloon Corps Thaddeus Lowe. He often went by Professor Lowe

 (Source: Higgins, M.P., 2017)

Lincoln supported the Balloon corps as he supported many of the 

other ingenious inventions and weapons innovations of the day.

He was so impressed with the Balloon innovations, that he personally introduced Thaddeus Lowe to the General in Chief Winfield Scott and advised Scott to appoint Lowe the areonautics chief. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress

Lincoln saw balloons as valuable as all military activity depending on line of sight. If you couldn’t see an object, you couldn’t effectively deal with it. A balloon, rising 1000 feet, increased the line of sight more than 10 times. Because they inflated quickly, the smaller balloons (Eagle, Constitution, and Washington) were used in windier weather, or for quick, low altitude observations. The larger balloons (Union and Intrepid) were used for carrying more weight, such as a telegraph key set and an additional man as an operator. They could also ascend higher. The balloons were purposely colorful and easily visible to intimidate Confederate troops, making them feel as if nearby Union troops were watching them.

[Prof. Thaddeus Lowe's "Balloon Camp" at Gaines Mill, Va., May 1862: balloon in backgrd. across field; horsemen in foregrd.] Courtesy Library of Congress

The balloons had a crew of 7 and were inflated with hydrogen gas generators (sulfuric acid and iron filings). The balloon itself was constructed with India silk and cotton cording covered with varnish. The $1,500 ($58,500 today) silk balloons could be moved with relative ease but it took several hours to inflate. They were useful for engineers interested in mapping terrain, observing fixed defenses, locating river crossing sites, and spotting for artillery. Dawn was the best time for reconnaissance as the observer could locate enemy positions and estimate manpower on the basis of breakfast campfires. From late 1861 to early 1862, the balloons were tethered around D.C. along the Potomac River. This surveillance allowed the Union Army to protect the capital from Confederate attacks. The Union used balloons during the Manassas Campaign. On September 24, 1861, Cannon could only accurately fire at targets they could see. Lowe provided intelligence which enabled Union troops at Arlington, Virginia to accurately fire at Confederates at Falls Church, Virginia, without having a visual.

By March 1862 Thaddeus Lowe operated two observation balloons. Often the observer could estimate almost down to a platoon the size of the Confederate forces by the campfires. Often these ascensions were dangerous because “some stupid sentinel, ignorant whether the aerial voyager was friend or enemy, would be sure to fire at the indiscreet individual who thus hovered over their heads.” Such incidents convinced the balloonists to mark their baskets with red, white and blue bunting.

 

When it was impractical to use the aerial telegraph, written messages, weighted with a stone were dropped to an officer, who sent them on. By using the telegraph, Lowe directed the first artillery fire directed by aerial observation. A telegraph line was run from the balloon car to the gun positions, and the effect of each shot was communicated to a general officer more than three miles away. Flags were also used to direct artillery fire. However, enemy surveillance was the greatest value. In 1862 Lowe used small signal balloons with daytime markings and flares for night operations. He also constructed a powerful oxyhydrogen or calcium light apparatus to facilitate night operations when secrecy was not essential.

Balloons were used extensively in the east during the 1862 Peninsula Campaign where they were effective enough to observe movement in downtown Richmond, seven miles away. The were also employed during the Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville campaigns.

Flag Officer Andrew Foote used the Eagle as an artillery-spotting platform on the Mississippi River’s Island Number Ten. The Eagle’s spotter recommended firing corrections to the mortar boats which enabled them to wreck many Confederate guns, allowing Pope’s forces to capture New Madrid, Missouri, and the island on April 7, 1862. Confederate attempts to shoot the balloons down were not successful. Positioned well behind the front lines at an altitude of near 1,000 feet, balloons were difficult, if not impossible, targets.

Maj. Gen. George McClellan valued the aerial observation as did many senior Federal officers, including, Fitz John Porter, John Sedgwick, Baldy Smith, John Reynolds, Joe Hooker, and George Custer rode in balloons. Despite its successes, a variety of factors led to the abandonment of the balloon corps in 1863. Its funding was cut in 1863 making it less effective, Lowe’s pay was reduced and he was accused of fiscal wrongdoing. Furthermore, Balloon Corps personnel never received a military commission, leaving them open to being executed as spies.

 Lowe had a difficult time integrating his operation into Army bureaucracy The Balloon Corps was never fully appreciated by the military as balloonists were regarded as carnival showmen. Lowe’s information was often ignored by many commanding officers who didn’t trust a civilian. They preferred intelligence from scouts, spies, prisoners, and deserters.

 Many times, communication with the battlefield officers was difficult and it couldn’t move as quickly as desired. The aeronauts’ intelligence reports were vague which irritated battlefield commanders. Reports drafted by officers who accompanied them were more precise, but commanders rarely assigned them to balloon duty. Those conditions, combined with Lowe not being able to get along with Capt. Cyrus B. Comstock, his final supervisor, led to his resignation from the army on May 7, 1863 and Grant dissolving the Corps on May 8, 1863.

                                      

                                              ARMY OF THE SOUTHWEST 

                                  250 YEARS OF AMERICAN HISTORY

CSL&OH.A. Editorial July 2026 By the Editor G.C. Stevens

 

Photo courtesy of the state of Iowa

Greetings from the Dragoon Trail in central Iowa.  As we travel down the historic trail and we approach July of 2026, a month which not only marks my 68th birthday, it also marks the 250th birthday of the United States of America.  These milestones also mark my return to civil war reenacting after a very long hiatus from living history. Adding to this is the success of this blog, are the number of visitors who read our work here. The number of readers has surpassed 10,000 visitors this last month. I have to personally thank the many people who have supported what I do and those who have contributed to this blog. If you view this blog on your laptop or desktop computer, you can look at the right-side column and see the folks who support this blog, on the same side of the page, you will also see the people that I have supported as well. It's been quite a journey thus far. I have a couple of books coming out, one is called "The Scoundrels of Iowa" which is being published by Arcadia publishing. This book has been in the publishing phase for about seven months and there is no visibility on when it will be published. The other book is called "Trains Trails and & Outlaws" this book was originally published through a hybrid publisher called USA Book Promoters, but unfortunately the process of publishing through this hybrid publisher has been a literal nightmare, and I will not be using their services again. (caveat emptor). I removed the book from Amazon to be reedited by another book company called Jones Book store, so far I'm pretty happy with their responsiveness to me, and I'm praying for  good results. 

Moving Towards the Future:

So... Writing seems to be a struggle against many dark forces, and trying to tell the story of American history isn't very popular right now. But there are many of us who are willing to take many risks to be story tellers of our American journey and there are those who take the risk and find themselves in different strata of emotionally charged opinion and social status. Not to mention that there are clear hierarchies within the western genre community. The days western magazines are coming to a close and very few opportunities exist for western writers to get their work published. That's where blogs like this one and social media comes in. It's up to us to keep telling the story anyway that we can. But what I've learned from this experience, is that staying the course, ignoring the social media attacks, being true to the mission here and networking with others who cherish our history, has been a formula for success. So...  I will stay the course for the history my country, because that's what is important to me

See you on the dusty trail!

Editor

G.C. Stevens 

The flag of my G, great grandfathers regiment 

the 54th Illinois Inf. 

250 YEARS OF AMERICAN HISTORY

, 

Bonebright Park Historic Site Webster City Iowa By G.C. Stevens

 

The inscription on the monument reads: 

Bonebright Park 185-1860

homesite of the Wilson Brewer first white settler in Webster City

a sanctuary for pioneer travelers.

Park given in his memory by his heirs.

Monument placed by Women's Patriotic Orders

Bonebright Park in Webster City, Iowa, is another hidden gem in Iowa that isn't advertised as tourist spot, but it most certainly should be on the list of places to see for local history buffs. This site is significant local history. It is also called the Wilson Brewer Historic Park Village (located at 220 Ohio Street).   

​The park's story is deeply tied to the pioneer families who founded Webster City. Originally, and according to online resources the land was donated to the city by the family of Frank Bonebright, a grandson of Wilson Brewer—the very first pioneer settler to stake a claim and build a cabin in the area in 1850–1851. Because of this family donation, the grounds were historically and colloquially referred to by locals as Bonebright Park, though its official modern designation heavily highlights the Wilson Brewer Historic Park Village name.  

​Today, the 9-acre site functions as an open-air living history museum that preserves Hamilton County's 19th-century frontier, prairie, and railroad heritage. The key historic structures and artifacts preserved at the park include:  The Pioneer Log Cabins 

 

​The Wilson Brewer / Alexander Groves Cabin: This structure includes the original log cabin erected by pioneer Wilson Brewer, which was the first building constructed in what became Webster City. It was later meticulously restored by Frank Bonebright.  

​The Jameson Log Cabin: Another authentic early pioneer cabin that was moved to the site to represent the hardscrabble living conditions of early westward expansion. 

                        

                                      The 1866 Hamilton County Courthouse

​This is the second-oldest original county courthouse building still standing in the state of Iowa. The two-story timber structure features a restored second-floor courtroom and first-floor exhibits dedicated to early county governance and pioneer legal history.  

​

                                 

 

The Illinois Central Railroad Depot & Caboose

​**1901 Wooden Depot: This classic turn-of-the-century timber depot was moved to the park to preserve the community's rich rail history. Today, the depot interior serves as a local history museum, packing a diverse assortment of Hamilton County artifacts, pioneer tools, and an extensive collection of Native American relics.  

​IC Railroad Caboose: Parked right alongside the depot is an authentic, preserved Illinois Central caboose.  

                         

​ Historic Country Buildings

​**Harmony Center School (1914): A fully restored one-room country schoolhouse that offers an immersive look at early 20th-century rural education, complete with period desks and blackboards.  

​Mulberry Center Church (1890s): The oldest standing country church in Hamilton County, moved to the park grounds to preserve its classic late-19th-century frontier church architecture. It features a simple, elegant interior and is still utilized for special community events and weddings.   

 Early Industrial Artifacts

​The park grounds house massive remnants of early frontier industry, notably a giant turbine wheel salvaged from Lyman Perry’s Mill (often connected to the historic Bell's Mill and Bone's Mill history along the Boone River). When these river mills ceased operation, one wheel went to Bell's Mill Park and the other was moved here to Bonebright Park.  

​Other Information:

​The historical village site is well maintained and connected by smooth, hard-surfaced walking trails making it easy to stroll between buildings. The outdoor grounds and park areas are open year-round, while the historic interiors and museum spaces are typically open for guided tours and educational programs from May through October. The park also hosts community heritage gatherings, such as the annual Wilson Brewer Park Fall Fest.

                                       *Unless otherwise stated all photos are by the author