John L. Bashore & Josiah M. Woodruff.

WAR DEPT., PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington, D. C., October 14, 1864.
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

Josiah M. Woodruff, private of the 3rd. Iowa infantry company B.

Josiah M. Woodruff, Age 18. Residence Knoxville, nativity Ohio. Enlisted May 21, 1861. Mustered June 10, 1861. Wounded seriously in left thigh Sept. 17, 1861, Blue Mills, Mo. Mustered out Feb. 11, 1862, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
Note. He must of re-enlisted?

John L. Bashore, Lieutenant & Captain, of the 6th, Iowa infantry, company D.

John L. Bashore, Age 27. Residence Centerville, nativity Pennsylvania. Appointed First Lieutenant May 16, 1861. Mustered July 16, 1861. Promoted Captain Dec. 11, 1862. Resigned March 5, 1864. Murdered in Iowa while acting District Provost Marshal.

John L. Bashore.

Birth: Mar. 16, 1834, Pennsylvania.
Death: Oct. 1, 1864, Poweshiek County Iowa

John L. Bashore was born in Pennsylvania and later 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. A veteran of the Civil War he enlisted as a Lieutenant 1st Class on May 16, 1861 at the age of 27. He was commissioned in Company D, 6th Infantry Regiment Iowa on July 16, 1861. He was promoted to Full Captain on December 11, 1862. He resigned on March 5, 1864. On October 1, 1864, Captain Bashore, along with Captain Josiah M. Woodruff of Knoxville, Iowa, both Deputy United States Provost Marshal's, went to Union Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa for the purpose of arresting three deserters. In the process Bashore and Woodruff were shot and killed by the deserters. The John L. Bashore, Post 122, of the Grand Army of the Republic Post in Centerville was named in his honor.