Cyphert (or Syphert) Tally was a pro-peace Baptist minister whose family moved into the Keokuk county, Iowa area from Tennessee in 1840.
After the rally, Tally and others rode in wagons to the nearby town of South English, Iowa, where a meeting of Republicans had taken place.
Tally's friends sent out the word of his death widely, and the next day people began to arrive in answer to the news, demanding vengeance.
Several citizens of the town made an excursion to Davenport, Iowa, to appeal to Governor Kirkwood, who travelled with several hundred troops and cannons to the area.
While the action brought legends of the terrified retreat of the Skunk River Army, the fact is that it had all but disbanded before the governor arrived.