Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-07-02
From the Second Ohio Cavalry

ced at our disposal. IL IS very interesting
and we would publish it in full but as We
made long extracts from a letter from
Capt Burnett, last week, and another
is already in type on the outside of thi1
paper, and both of them rs well as thi'
from Mr.. Russell, give accounts of the
same skirmish, we will give only few shor
extracts.
After describing the discovery of the
proximity of the rebels on Cow Skin
Prairie, and the appearance of a large
camp fire, he says
Our skirmishers beat the woods for two
hours, and found the fire was made by ar
cid niger On purposeto mislead US, felt
strong inclination to shoot the old devil
but did not. By this timeit was shutdown
and the infantry and artillery came thun.
dering over the plain presenting a grand,
and to US, glad sight, as We were sure
that there were 5000 rebels in close prox'
unity to US, but the nub was to find EN-.
That you may perfectly understand all
the fuss, l must tell you what Major Miner
with the lst had been doing. They found
sooner than we, that we had been sid,
and dashed into the woods following the
road to the river. Caught one Of
their pickets and found the camp was
three miles on the other side. Gen. Dou.
bleday sent an aid (Capt. S~tanhope) back
at full speed to hurry up the Infantry and
Artillery. The Kansasmen had comeup,
who were so crazy to lead US, and the
General wanted them to cross the river
and deploy as skirmishers, but no sirI not
one of EN- would bulge an inch, the Gen.
eral was so mad, that the tears fairly
stood in his eyes, as he turned to his body
guard and asked if there was any two
would volunteer to dismount and cross
the river to see if there was any enemy
there. 1--WE had good reason to believe
the woods full of EN- as the first Of our
men who made his appearance at the riv-
er bank had two shots fired at him, then
it was after dark and | tell you it looked
gloomy in those woods-much thicker
than the thickest woods you can find
about home.) Every one jumped off his
horse and made n rush for the river, but
the General told them they could not all
go. Then he asked if wewould go, we all
sprang forwad, and he told US to cross
mounted and in good order, which We did.
Everything was so still-it seemed as if
not q twig moved, not a sound was to be
heard. . We expected every moment that
we would be fred on from both sides OF
the road which vas 50 narrow that we
could only ride two abreast. W. halted
after going about 60 rods and waited till
the dutch Infantry 10Th Wis, cam up;
they were in such a hurry to go in for a
fight that they would not wait for the
wagons, but waded in up to their waists.
The Kansas men waited for the wagons."
We threw out skirmishers and picked our
way through the woods. After going
about half a mile, we heard a rumbling
and rafting in our rear that shook the
ground, and the order came from behind
fright and left into the bushes-clear
the road for the Artillery" had barely
time to p u my horse out of the road
when the guns and caissons went thun-
dering past as fast as II good horses could
take 'em. Soon we came out on the open
prairie, the cannon right and left obliqued
the Infantry and Artillery kept straight
on. The Kansas men said 'don't,leave
US" we told EN- to 60 To-
We pursued about ! miles and stopped
for breakfast on the c~learest brook l ever
saw. The gravel in its bed looked as if it
had been broken up by a sledge hammer.
and was white and almost as transparent
as glass. The water was cold and good
and the way we thirsty dirty soldiers
washed, and washed, and washed, and
drank and drank, and ate and ate, would
astonish people who always live at home
and board at the same place. Breakfast
over, (of coniscated hams) the bugle
sounded "to horse" and we pursued two
miles further, clear into Arkansas, when
being satisfied that they had fed to Gen.
Rains command, which was too strong for
us to attack, we turned back gathering up
all the cattle, horses and mules we could
find. Major Burnett made the people
shell out every thing they had to eat, and
we feasted for hat day.
Camped in Col. Livingston's (rebel)
ami correlled our stock in a big field
that was part meadow and partwheat, oats
and corn, all of which was as fine looking
as any we have passed. Well, as to what
we accomplished. We got some few arms
mostly worthless except two or three
Colts navy ~revolvers, M of which on the
silver mounting From Matte Watson to
Walter Anderson" Took 200 mules and
horses, and LOO head of cattle-a few
tents, about 100 buffalo robes, camp ket-
ties, camp equipage, I or 8 wagons, lots of
rice, bacon and lots of traps that Icouldn't
mention. Hard time all through, but we
enjoyed it, as we always do activity. The
Kansas men are to take the stock to Fort
Scott, when they come back we are to 60
down there again, and on to Arkansas
Hurrah for Arkansas, Perhaps weTl see
the Arkansas Traveller :" We live pref
ty well now it is warm, and we are not so
starving hungry as in cold weather. In
deed the weather is delightful, days that
would be hot lift was mott for the cool winds,
nights not very cool, but heavy dews,
when we sleep out doors" we get under
a bush or put up four sticks and a blanket
on 'em to keep off the dew, and sleep as
well O. better than ever at home, Oh ! l
tell you, nobody but a soldier knows how
to prize sleep. When a man gets tucker
ed out SO that he will 90 to sleep ON horse