Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-09-06

OuSCu " ~, lSI MlSSOuIl. 1Ou
may be sure he did not refuse, he was glad to
find some one belonging to the same COM
in those circumstances are friends,
although strangers. We retired early that
night, got up at an early hour next morning
Sunday llth,) built fire, brought water
and entered upon my surgical operations as
usual. After breakfast, while lighting my
pipe, the lady exclaimed, "Here they Gomez
At first l thought would hide, then conclu-
ded to let them come. They dismounted and
entered the door with good morning"
good morning" Says the officer,
"Have you got any arms?' My answer, after
a little hesitation, was "Yes." lie demanded
them and showed him where they were Sc
creted and he ordered his men to take them
| then asked permission to remain there,
which was granted. They then started away,
taking along all the flour we had. saw them
no more. About half an hour afterwards
tied white rag to pole to represent n flag of
truce, and started down on the field to take
look at things. Whatever induced me to do
it is more than l can tell | took the notion
and acted accordingly | wandered from place
to place over the battle ground, strewn with
the dead and wounded, amid repeated threats
of being shot if passed that way again. On
the first opportunity got a commissioned Of
ticer to assist me in gathering the wounded to
one place where water was handy; he assist
ed me in getting about n dozen OF fifteen into
an old stable near the creek afterwards more
were brought there upon cots made with two
poles covered with canvas, by the secession
lists. The enemy gave me pint of coffee, one
pint of rice, half a teacup sugar, and a lot Of
green corn.
After dressing their wounds | turned my
hand to cooking; l was compelled to use the
creek water for all purposes, although
dead men and dead horses were lyingin it but
Il short distance above. 1t was long distance
to spring, and | came to the conclusion not
to risk my life in going there. | drank the
same.
On Monday morning Uhe 12th), a surgeon
from a Missouri regiment came there, TESTED
about two minutes with a secession officer and
then left; he never dressed one wound nor did
he examine one. The wounds were then full
of flesh worms, at least half an inch long, and
in spite of all could do could not keep
them out.
remained there until Tuesday afternoon
13th.) | told my patients that the wounded
rebels were all taken away and that we were
ilcIC dlOlC tudI L COuiu SItllu W Slllell
any longer several hundred dead bodies then
lying close by, (none Of our dead being bu-
ried except Gen. Lyon besides large num-
Der of dead horses and mules, and expressed
my determination to 60 to Springfield. Some
spoke up, For Gods sake don't leave us
here alone to die-try and get us to Spring
field" The enemy's camp was then removed
about three miles distant. Then the ques-
ton arose, shall leave them and go to Spring
field, or shall go and see Ben Mccullough?
he might do something for their relief. | then
told the men to remain quiet would soon re
| turn. / walked about two miles towards their
| camp, until came to creek, which Mexi
can was crossing with wagon marked U. S
| asked, "is that wagon after the fedora
wounded?" but he seemed not to understand
| repeated it, when he answered. "Me no un
derstand 'Mericdna." l asked tall, lean
lank rebel who passed on horseback to inter
pref for me. pom discovering me to be q
Union soldier, he exclaimed, "What in HI
are you spying after?" (the exact words.)
replied, Il am not spying, | want to find
Gen. McCullough's headquarters" He then
cooked his gun and commanded me to walk
before him he drove me over hill and hollow
until was landed at the headquarters of g
Louisiana regiment, and there made known
my wants, and that was looking for Genera
McCullough's quarters. The Lieut. Colone
spoke up put him under guard, d n him,
(the exact words.) mo, sir" said the Col
take him where he wants to 60" He started
me again from camp to camp, where now and
then some one would cry out sis that a dutch
man" "where did y IL catch him, hurrah r'
At last safely reached McCullough's camp
where, after repeating my story, describing
the condition of things on the field, he imme
diately ordered as many wagons as | thought
sufficient, without asking any questions.
| then asked him, "Shall remain at Spring
| field or return prisoner" He replied, eco
where you d-n please" These are the exact
words.
then started on my way rejoicing. That
night myself and patients arrived safely at the
Springfield hospital. On my arrival | found
Jos, phi Lorber, Abram Snyder, Underwood
and Scott Roup, wounded, and Newton G
Long nursing them, Gall from Muscati' c,) also
about $50 Others wounded, from different
parts of the U. S. army, all lodged in the
Court House, now used as the Federal hospi-
tai, with not to exceed seven to wait upon
them all. | assisted during my short stay
remained until Friday morning (l6th) after
breakfast during which time my mind was in
no way idle in managing to get away. The
secession flag was then waving over Spring
field and the town full of rebels. They had
about 240 prisoners besides those at the hos
pital. On Thursday evening, the 18th, mum
Der of prisoners were discharged. learned
they were going home next morning, and |
began to think of going along. When the hos
pital stewart discovered that | was going
away, he Immediately applied to DR.. Franklin,
surgeon of the U. S. army at Springfield, for a
warrant of arrest stating that it was necessa-
ry that l should be detained, and that my
services were needed l made my escape,
however, before he had time to get service on
me.
Six men from Gen. Styles command and
myself made double quick time for Rolla, a
distance of 1875 miles, on foot, without any
provisions, bidding good bye to Springfield
We reached Rolla on Monday the Goth, at half
past 10 o'clock, A. NJ, being few minutes
too late for the train, and remained at Rolla
until the Dist, and then safely met the First
Iowa Regiment at st. Louis that evening.
Many incidents have been omitted on ac-
count of the length of this article, which can
be explained by reference to my private book
challenge all controversy upon this sub
ject, and if necessary can bring either direct
proof or circumstances to bear me out, that
this statement is correct in every particular
MADISON B. STINE.
P.S.- The man Conant, referred to in the
Journal of yesterday, in an article copied
from the Cincinnati Gazette, was one of the
men whom | reported to Ben Mccullough and
afterward brought to Springfield.
M. S.
T The gallant General Robert Anderson.
the brave defender of Sumter, and patriotic
Kentu khan, is rendering good service in
Kentucky. IN defense of the Government OF
the United States, and against the traitors of
his own State. Charles Mason of Iowa, on
the contrary, is rendering tn best possible
service to the rebels Of the Confederate States
by assailing the Government and its Adm n
,strat,o. and hininv in favor IF an ;mnoS