April 10, 1861; Daily Times (Leavenworth, KS)
The Missouri Democrat has a letter from a soldier at Fort Smith, Ark., bearing the date of March 5, in which the following passage occurs:
“Yesterday the citizens of Fort Smith raised a Palmetto flag in town, and one of the soldiers, private Bates, company E, First cavalry, went out and climbed up the tree upon which the flag was suspended, took it down and brought it into the garrison. Capt. Sturgiss ordered him to take it and put it back where he got it. He said he never would. The captain ordered him to the guard house, and in going he tore the flag in pieces. He was then ordered to be put in irons, and was sent to the blacksmith shop for that purpose, but the smith (a citizen) refused to put them on, and he was discharged in consequence. D company, First cavalry, farrier was then ordered to put them on, and he refused, and was sent to the guard house. E company, First cavalry, farrier then put them on. The soldiery then gave three cheers for Bates and the blacksmith who refused to put the irons on.”
We wonder if this is the same Capt. Sturgiss who was engaged in the burning of the settlers’ houses, on the Cherokee Neutral Lands? If so, the part he took in the affair above related is not to be wondered at.