The Big blue union. [volume] (Marysville, Kan.) 1862-1866, 1862-11-22
Fer the Big Blue Union.
ArnDy correspondence.
Camp FTWAYsE, Cherokee Nation,
October 90. 1852.

October 80, 1862.
Ed. Union have few moments to
night to write you q few lines. but You
will excuse me if they are not in very good
shape Camp Ft. Wayne is 2 miles West
of the arkansas line, and 6 miles south of
the point where the Ark. and Mo. line
running east and west strikes the ives: line
of Arkansas. Many years ago an old In
dian Fort stood here, the ruins of which
are still visible, hence the name Of the
camp. Allsthe army ofFKaDsas under
Gen Blunt, is called the first or Kansas
Division of the Army of the Frontier
The Army of the Fron,Iesis is composed of
all our army in Southwest Mo-. Arkansas
Cherokee Nation &C., under command of
Gen. Schofed, and consists of about So
600 men. Tne Kansas Division comman-
ded by Gen. Runt, is divided into three
Brigades, the lst Cd, and Sd, commanded,
respectively by Gen. Soloman, Col. Weer
and Col Cloud. The I'd Kan, Cavalry,
1lsh Kansas infantry Isl. Iadian Regi-
ment, and Robbs battery. compose he 90,
Col. Clouds Brigade.
About the lst of Oct, the Sd Brigade.
commenced moving in direction a little
East of South from Ft. Scott. Kansas. TIE
I'd day Of our march the 1st Indian Rec.
had got in the advance, and their advance
guard encountered some bushwhackers
about 225 in number, who fired upon the
guard, and wounded two, a white man and
an Indian, they then took to the woods
and while our Regiment was skirmishing
with their rear guard the remainder escap.
ed, aud then their raar guard followed
them at full speed. This happened miles
below Lamar Mo. and ahou, 40 from Fl
Scott That day we received the news Of
a battle a, Newtonia, Mo-, between 500
men Of Gen. Solomon's Brigade and some
5000 rebels, ia which our troops were
badly whipped and 1872 taken prisoner
We received orders to hurry forward as
fast as possible, to join the lst and Cd
Baigades atSarcoxie, distancs426 miles,
as combined movement of ali :
under Scho6eld was to be made fron Va
rious directions upon the enemy at Newte-
MIA. .
When within three miles Of the place,
our command, the %, Kansas and 1st In.
dian, halted few moments, for what, no
one knew, suddenly, boom boom boom,
boom boom boom, went; some can on
just then one of Col. Clouds aid q rode up
TO me and said, ''that is the signal agreed
upon among the Generals, denoting that
all is ready" the command forward :"
rang along the lines, and then we all un-
derstood Why We had halted. After ta-
king tie precauticn to approach on all the
roads, there was slill one ''rat-hole" that
had not been stopped and out it shey went.
We camped at this place few days aud
then followed on the enemy's track. We
never could come fairly up with him till
We arrived al this place, Oct, 22nd. When
At Bentonville, Ark, 25 miles east of here
We heard of the enemy 4, ,0CO strong at this
point. The End, Weer's and the Sd, Col. |
Clouds Brigades were ordered forward,
Cloud taking the advance, the End Kan
'as cavalry in advance Of all. On the
night oflhe 2lst inst, We marched until
2 o'clock, and halted within ten miles of
The enemy. Jus, before daylight we were
under motion, and as soon az We could see |