Ceremony for John L. Bashore, Centerville, Iowa “John L. Bashore was born March 16, 1834, in North York, Pennsylvania, the son of Henry and Susan Bashore. He moved to Centerville, Iowa where in 1860, he became a partner in a general merchantile firm with Jacob Rummel by the name of Rummel and Bashore. John enlisted on May 16, 1861, at the age of 27, and was commissioned a 1st Lieutenant in Company D, 6th Iowa Infantry on July 16, 1861. He was promoted to Captain on December 11, 1862. John resigned on March 5, 1864. On Saturday, October 1, 1864, the Provost Marshal of the 4th District of Iowa sent two Deputy Provost Marshalls, Captain John L. Bashore of Centerville, and Agent Josiah M. Woodruff of Knoxville, Iowa, to Sugar Creek Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa for the purpose of arresting three deserters. In the process Bashore and Woodruff were shot and killed by a band of Copperheads. At approximately 1 o’clock in the afternoon Captain Bashore came upon relatives of one of the deserters. The behavior of the men showed clearly to the officers that they were about to have trouble. Bashore sprang out of the buggy with his revolver in his hand and began remonstrating with the three men, saying they had no quarrel with them, but were in search of other citizens of the township. Woodruff remained in the buggy. After a short parley Bashore turned to join his fellow officer when one of the men leveled a double-barreled shotgun at the officer and shot him in the back. Woodruff was shot with the other barrel in the chest. A second shot struck him in the face, breaking-his lower jaw. His team took fright and ran away, throwing him on his face. While in this position he was shot through the head and instantly killed. Despite his wounds, Marshal Bashore was able to return fire and wounded one of the men in the thigh to the point that he was unable to get away, but had strength enough to approach Bashore and break his gun over the fatally wounded marshal. Marshal Bashore succumbed to his wounds several hours later after reporting what had transpired. The wounded man was convicted of both murders in 1867, and subsequently sentenced to death; however, he later received clemency from President Andrew Johnson, after his wife had gone to Washington and pleaded for his life. The following telegram was sent to Major General Pope: Major General JOHN POPE, Commanding Department of the Northwest, Milwaukee, Wis.: GENERAL: Captain James Matthews, provost-marshal Fourth District of Iowa, reports to me that two of his officers while on duty in Poweshiek County, Iowa, were murdered by a gang of outlaws on Saturday, the 1st instant. The names of the murdered officers are John L. Bashore, an assistant provost-marshal, and Josiah M. Woodruff, special agent. These officers had been detailed to arrest certain deserters from the draft in that county, and were waylaid and shot without any pretense or provocation except the lawful discharge of their duty. The outlaws engaged in the affair about twelve in number, seven of whom have been arrested and lodged in jail at Oskaloosa. I have laid these facts before the Secretary of War, and he instructed me to furnish you with the information for your action, should the same be necessary. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAS. B. FRY The John L. Bashore Post #122, of the Grand Army of the Republic, here in Centerville, was named in his honor.”
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 23:15:01 +0000
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