Capt . Phillip H . Bence was the last fatality during the Davis County Raid by pro-Confederate guerillas . He was shot and killed by Lt . Bill Jackson , who left a note with his body claiming the killing was retaliation for Confederate guerillas being killed in neighboring Scotland County , Missouri . over . Jackson dismounted his horse , stood over and fired again with a small pistol . When that didn ’ t finish him , he drew another pistol and fired a third shot . When his men asked why he killed Hardy , Jackson is reported to have replied : “ Because he did not mind me . I will kill any man who refuses to obey me .”
Eleazar Small , a soldier in the 3rd Iowa Cavalry , was their next victim . They rode up to his home and Small , seeing the blue Union uniforms , went out to them . Jackson asked Small about his regiment , drew his pistol and shot him three times .
Then Jackson got down from his horse and took whatever money he found on Small .
A monument commemorating the northernmost incursion point made by pro-Confederate guerillas on Oct . 12 , 1864 . The Confederates — dressed as Union soldiers — rode into Davis County , robbing several homes and murdering three people . Photo by Donald Promnitz / The Ottumwa Courier
12 | Now & Then