The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-01-21

Il
poAfslon ever the DOston Moun.
talns-.G~M. Nina MAn,s Rerces a.
/ kcn by nurpxAoo~.R0ur Steanboaeo
| Captured wish 1sAel Supplies.
| Rursn Captnrs4 ID Rebel stores
| NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Scenery Ass
Camp Prairie Or, 10 NJ w. Fayetteville, Ark,
January TIT, 1905
EDITOR GATE CRY Having just 10.
turned from our Holiday Expedition over
the Boston Mountains, afsw notes msy
interest your many readers. Ever since
the battle Of Prairie Grove we have all
Wished to 30 further and see more Of that
chivalric enemy who could leave its own
dead on the battle field and its ov " ounded
uncared for, in m inglorious retreat, and
imprudently claim great victory over
the Fedsrals. Our wishes were at length
gratifed, and al were on tiptoe a we re-
ceived the order on the evening Of the
26th ult, TO b ready 70 march at day
break on the following morning, with six
days rstions. Each cavalier was ordered
to carry one peck Of shelled corn for his
horse. This was quickly interpreted to
mean that we we're TO take the mountain
route, and would, perhaps, see the Arkan-
sas river before We should return. Next
morning the whole expedition moved
from camp. composed Of detachments
from each Of the three divisions Of the
Army Of the Frontier, Infantry, Artille-
~ and Cavalry. The ist Iowa Cavalry,
under command Of Lieut.. Col. Bryan, was
placed in the advance of the Sd Division,
and few miles brought us to the foot of
the Boston Mountains when our tedious
march commenced. We would no sooner
get up one hill and the column stretch out
till va xonld annonnter an0thar and an
other till we reached the summit. There
was not that wild scenery and varied
landscape lexpected to find on the noun
tains. If your readers will just imagine
belt of thin oak land, from 20 to so
miles wide, covered with ordinary tim.
Der stretching along the. Arkansas river.
which some convulsions of nature has ell
evated several hundred feet high by sue
cessive rises or hills. they will have Bos-
ton Mountains. The road leading up
each rise or,hill 10 called pass. from it,
generally being narrow and rocky, caused
BY the out-cropping Of lodges Of rock ~
ing below the subsoil and clay. At 4
O'Clock p. NJ. halt was made to enable
the column to close up, and after giving
our horses feed and taking hasty sup
per We moved forward to still higher ele-
vasions. It was moonlight sud had the
scenery been more varied and Wild We
would have had very romsnticri As
it was We steadily moved forward under
clear sky and relieved the tedium Of the
journey BY an occasional song OK we'll
told anecdote, Till the night rss far spent,
when We found ourselves on the descent
or southern aide Of the range Of noun
tains. A short rest of three hours was
then .gigan to close the column and re-
fresh our tired soldiers. Daylight Of the
28th found the column moving again and
the cavalry, with 4 hewiisers, we're al
thrown in the advance for rapid march
Reaching point Is miles Of Van Buren,
the pickets Of the enemy were started and
then commenced chase. It seems they
were thrown out miles from Dripping
Springs where regiment Of rebels were
camped TO form m outpost, 10 miles
from Van Buren,. This point was soon
reached and the rebels. drawn up in line
Of battle. were soon routed BY few shells
from our howitssn. and from that point
to town tho road gave full evidenoe Of
great haste and utter route. A hat, Z
cost, paas, bools, tsnt1. wagon wheels
harness, Wagons upset, &c., DC, were
passsd IN the chase which was scarcely
interrupted till W reached Van Buren,
If . rebsl W. rash enough 70 stop and
shoot hs was sure to fall or be taken pris.
oner. Gen. Blunt directed the whole and
no time was given for them 70 make q
stand. Skirmishsrs were kept out on
either side Of the road and away they al
went ~ II on race for the Arkansaa
river. The rebels attempted last stasd
about . mile from town, hat it was only
for anbonens, for fading that they would
b Aanksd and al captured they rushed
over the hills and s~ay to make their o.
cape, in which they partially succeeded,
but still they lost many Of their men cap