Solitary Place Made Glad - H. T. Davis

THE DARK CLOUD--THE RAINBOW OF PROMISE--NATIONAL PROSPERITY--" JAYHAWKERS "--ORDERED TO HALT--DEPREDATIONS--CAMP-MEETING NEAR FALLS CITY--BLOODY FRAY--DAVE STEPHENSON.

HE spring of 1861 was gloomy in the extreme. The dark storm-cloud of civil war was gathering. That portentous cloud grew darker and more dense with fearful rapidity, and soon covered the whole Nation with its sable mantle. Then the storm of fratricidal strife broke with unrelenting fury upon the land. For four long years brother fought brother, until the whole Nation was crimsoned with the best blood the American people. In every household there was mourning; on every face rested the gloom of sadness. Of all wars, the one most to be deplored is civil war.
Many in Missouri, who sympathized with the Rebellion, fled from the State. Nebraska City was the rendezvous for these during the war. Here they congregated in great numbers. The Union men in the city were very strong and out

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spoken, and brave as they were strong. Many of the rebels had lost property in Missouri, and their friends were in the rebel army, and they, of course, were very sensitive on the war question. On the other hand, the Union men had friends in the Union army, and they were incensed at the insult given the Stars and Stripes; and they, too, were sensitive. They saw the best Government on which the sun ever shone menaced with destruction. They saw the mightiest Nation on this planet--a Nation whose flag was respected on every sea and in every land--in danger of being rent asunder, and blotted from existence. And as they saw all this, it was not at all strange that their hearts were stirred to their inmost depths. At times matters grew fearfully hot. We knew not what the final result would be. No one could predict with certainty the outcome. May such times never again occur! May such scenes never again be witnessed! May such a cloud never again darken our National horizon! How glad we were when the rainbow of promise arched our National firmament after the fearful storm, and how our hearts thrilled with delight when the snow-white dove was seen bearing the olive-branch of peace in her bill!
The storm passed. The moral atmosphere of the Nation was purified. The greatest evil of the age--"the sum of all villainies "--was wiped out.

Emerging from the dire conflict, the Nation entered upon a career of prosperity unparalleled in history. The wealth of America is phenomenal. Our Nation is the youngest Nation on the globe, and yet it is one of the largest and most wealthy. And what is more significant still, the most of this wealth has been accumulated since the Civil War closed. Other nations have been centuries amassing their wealth; the greater part of the wealth of the United States is the product of about twenty-five years.
During the war, there were bands of men who went under the name of "Jay-hawkers." They first made their appearance in 1862. Sometimes they claimed to be "Unionists;" at other times, "Confederates." They sailed under the flag that best suited their own convenience. They were more loyal to themselves than to either party. They took advantage of the war to fill their coffers by plunder and robbery. Some of these bands of freebooters were, however, strong in their allegiance to their party. They were quite numerous in the southeastern part of the State. In traveling through my district I often met them. They knew me, and I generally knew them. They very frequently attended my meetings. They never interfered with me but once, and that was my mistake. Midway between Peru and Ne-

braska City, as I rode leisurely along the road, one beautiful Monday afternoon, two of them came dashing up behind me. They were armed to the teeth with knives and revolvers, and their long,. uncombed hair hung in mats over their shoulders. They were not the most prepossessing and inviting men I had ever seen, by any means. On reaching the buggy, they parted. One rode up to my right, and the other to my left. The one on my left drew a large navy revolver, and cried, out, "Halt!" I reined in my horse, and stopped
The other one recognized me, and immediately said to his comrade: "Hello, Bill, this is Elder Davis!" They turned, put spurs to their horses, and were soon out of sight; while I passed on, unharmed, to my home.. They entered a house near Peru. The husband and father was in the army. The mother and daughters were at home, alone. The Jay-hawkers demanded of the woman her money. She refused to tell them where it was. In the house was an old-fashioned fireplace, and, as the weather was cold, there was a good fire. The desperadoes drew out a large bed of coals, ordered the mother to take off her shoes and stockings; then, setting her in a chair, placed her bare feet on the burning coals of fire, and told her they would release her when she told them where money was. Of course she did not remain long in that position. The robbers got

what they went for--all the money the family had. This is only a sample of their mode of operations.
We were holding a camp-meeting near Falls City, in 1862. At this meeting were a number of our "boys in blue." With many of them I was intimately acquainted. Brave, noble boys they were loyal to the core, and true to the "old flag." Saturday night a number of rebel "Jayhawkers" from Missouri came over. We knew they were present, and greatly feared the consequences. We all felt certain there would be trouble. "Our boys" were not in a mood to hear the slightest insinuation against the Government in its efforts to put down the Rebellion. They were ready at a moment to resent any word or act not perfectly loyal. Sunday evening, about sundown, as I stood near the stand, I noticed a large crowd at the upper end of the ground. A moment afterwards, a woman came rushing down towards the pulpit, intensely excited, and exclaimed: "Elder, elder, go up there quick! They are killing our boys!" I ran up; but before reaching the spot the crowd had dispersed. Poor Dave Stephenson, however, had received a fearful stab in the side from one of the rebels. We carried him down to his father's tent, arranged a bed in a wagon-box, and made him as comfortable as possible. Here he lay, suffering great

agony, all night long. All thought the wound would prove fatal; but a kind Providence ordered it otherwise, and he recovered. The whole camp-ground was in a perfect ferment of excitement. Soon, however, the excitement subsided, the people assembled at the stand, the usual services were held, God owned and blessed the Word, and souls were saved. Many earnest prayers went up for "Dave's" recovery. These prayers were answered. "Dave" has since held responsible positions of trust in the State, at one time filling the position of surveyor-general. His father and mother were devoted Christians, ardently attached to the Church, and they did much for God and our Zion in that early day.
The Civil War revealed the true character of many men, and many supposed good men were found to be, when opportunity offered, as vile as the vilest.


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