Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-06-27
CAMP BUELL., NEAR FORT ScoTT, !
I,,pa IA 1890

June IA, 1867.
Dear Journal The Indian Expedition is
at last fairly under way. The advance is
now on Spring river, sixty miles south of
this place, encamped on what is known as
the Government Strip"
On Sunday morning, the LIST inst, the four
companies of the 10th, formerly belonging to
the Sd, under command of Capt. Foreman,
left this place, having in charge large and
valuable train of provisions and stores for
the expedition. The train proceeded without
interruption to Spring river, where we arrived
on the 4th, and were joined on the same day
by the 9th Missouri and I'd Ohio cavalry,
with Robb's battery, they having left lola on
the LIST and proceeded by way of the Neosho
Valley, thence across the Cherokee Neutral
Lands to Spring river. This force, with a
portion of the 9Th Kansas, remain there for
the present, under command Of Col. Solomon,
of the 9th Wisconsin.
In my last mentioned the fact that the
10th was then commanded by Col. Cloud
This arrangement was then thought to be
permanent, but now, upon our return, we
find Cloud transferred to his old regiment,
the I'd Kansas, and Col. Weer, of the 4th, in
command of the 10th. We are also informed
that the Colonel was so much enraged at our
leaving him, at Col. Doubleday's order, that
nothing short of hundred glasses of half
and-half would appease him. About the
hundred glasses, 1 know nothing; but l do
know that message reached us at Spring
river commanding our return to Fort Scott,
accompanied, so reports say, by a sharp re-
buke toward Col. Doubleday for taking us
away. The up-shot of the business is that
we are at Fort Scott again, and tomorrow
morning the regiment will make a fresh start
altogether for the Indian country. The day
after our arrival at Spring river Col. Double
day, being appraised Of the fact that con-
siderable force of rebel Indians, Arkansans
Missouri butternuts and others, were en-
camped on Cowskin Prairie, forty miles be-
low, determined to pay them visit, and Q
force of 1000 men was organized for thai
purpose. Of this numbea 100 were taker
from our battalion, 800 from the 9th Wiscon
sin and 600 from the Ohio cavalry, to which
was afterwards added two sections of Robb's
battery. Company G was not included ir
the count, for the simple reason that the
, Lieutenants of the different companies cast
: lots for the trip, and we lost.
, The infantry was placed in wagons and thu
expedition left camp at 10 o'clock A. NJ, ane
at the same hour that night they came upor
the enemy's camp, situated in thick woods
Capt. Foreman, with the 10th, skirmishet
the woods to within hearing of the voices o
the rebels, who seemed to be aware of tn
approach of the detachment, and were busy
making preparations to "skedaddle." Hav
ing reached the point to which he was or
dered, the Captain sent back for permission
to pitch in" but was recalled, and the ar
, tillery commenced shelling the woods, ant
the enemy left in hot haste.
No pursuit was made and they got off wit
their tents and wagons, (if they had any, } bu
left behind large amount Of stock, horses
mules and cattle, which fell into our hands
;, together with some forty prisoners. Of tn
latter some were released, some were ''let 60,
and others brought along and are now in tn
y store house at this post. The difference b.
e tween releasing man and letting him go ma
~ not appear SO great as it really is. A ma
who is released may in the course Of HUNS