The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1862-09-19
TIL e PILOT
Letter from the Ninth Regiment.
CAMP NEAR FoRr Scorr, KANSAS,
August IA, 1862.


As the Indian Expedition in which the
9th Wisconsin took share, has been look
ed upon as one of the principal occurren-
ces of this war, in which ManitcW oc is
represented BY Company of Volunteers,
1 hope to make our different adventures
an interesting item for your worthy paper,
Notwithstanding my inability as a CORES
pondent.
You have undoubtedly heard how We
chased the rebels at Cow Skin Prairie,
where we went on scouting expedition,
therefore 1t is not necessary to say any
thing about it. At "Bsxter's Springs
Camp" the different troops composing
this Expedition were divided into Brigades;
we were attached to the Ist Brigade, Col.
SALoMoN commanding, and have started
from thence en- route to meet the rebels.
Yet we have not seen much CT them, as
they skedaddled before we got within
shooting distance. Upon reaching Cow
Skin Prairie our advance struck upon the
enemy, who made feeble attempt to at>
tack the same, but upon perceiving our
strength, retrea.ed. We followed close
to his heels, but simply on account of not
having force enough to cover our lear and
protect the large provision train, we had
to postpone the attack upon them until
the next morning, By which time we ex
pected reinforcements from part Of the
command stationed at Neosho, Mo. Next
morning no rebels could be seen they had
made good use of the veil of the night,
and left the proposed battle ground for
parts unknown. The pext day Col. WEER,
of the 10th Kansas, and Commander Of
the Expedition, reached us. with the res. of
the command, and, Notwithstanding the
many urging applications of officers to
give the command time to recruit, as the
men and horses were greatly exhausted
from the fatigues of forced marches and
the prevailing heat, ordered US to march
towards Fort Gibson.
This order was complied with, and al
though half worn out, the noble men kept
on marching until we reached place call
ed "Flat Rock on the Grand River, and
encamped IL miles north of Fort Gibson.
The most heart rending scenes have ever
looked upon took place during this march.
Men and horses dropped on the waysiGe
exhausted. Water vas so scarce that we
were compelled to carry it several miles
in heat of 115 degrees, and then it was
not of much avail, as it had to be gotten
out of bitches and swamps. Putrid and
dirty as it often was, we could make but
very little use Of it. Even coffee or tea
we cooked could not be used. The con-
sequences were sickness, dissatisfaction
among the troops, and what was more
horrid, could easil, have been expected
insubordination and mutiny. Yet thank
the good discipline among the troops (at
least part of them) this latter was net
Tie case. The men suffered patiently, and
never grumbed. In addition to the expo
sure to heat, rain, heavy marches, and
thirst, our provision trains failed to arrive,
and we were put on half rations per day.
For the whole command there were only
about ten days half rations on hand. As
the Colonel commanding entirely omitted
TO keep up communication in our rear
with the supply post, Fort Scott, we
doubted not that the trains were captured
by the enemy, strong forces of whom were
reported moving iuto our rear on the other
side of the Grand River. Notwithstand-
ine all this, and the urging necessity to
fall back and before advancing, to reopen
communication with the supply post, from
which we were only $50 miles distant, and
without regard to a conclusion OF ma
jority of officers of the respective corps
under bis command, and whom he him
self ordered to assemble and deliberate on
the question Of falling back or advancing,
and which officers decided in favor of the
former, Col WEER declared firmly TO not
only remain where be was, but to cross
the Arkansas. We were on the point Of
starvation, our originally small force was
diminished by sickness to not more than
1000 effective men our Cavalry and Ar
tillery horses were giving out (the Second
Ohio Cavalry lost in this campaign 600
horses) We had no reinforcements to ex>
Pect on the other siGe Of the Arkansas at
For, Davis to face an enemy nearly 1000
strong, no means Of covering our retreat
, in case such a movement should have be
come necessary, and this may say mpru-
dent man, whose mental abilities were
! weakened 10y iutemperancs, and led BY a
/ fixed idea 10 gain laurels, where nothing
but our ruiz was 10 be expected, either bv