White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1863-02-12
Correspondence;
For the Chief.T

Desperate Enc0unteP With Bash
whackers In Southern Missouri.
On the morning Of the 2sth Of Dscember
1862. a. Government train was on the va,
to Elm Springs. Arkansas, they halted for tn,
night in tn . sneighborhood of Neosho. Newtol
County, No., when Samuel Kassermaun, pri
vate Of the Kansas ID, Co. I, Capt Ayers
Henry Nichols and . citisen went out on ,
scout, and when about ten Miles north of Ne
osha, put up for the night with . man BY tht
name of Pernell. The next morning, just .,
they we're doas with their breakfast. two mer
came riding up and hallooed. upon which Mich
ols vent out and Kassermann followed. When
few yards from the house, one of the men
notioned to Mr.. Kasssrmann to come 70 him
when he started in the direction Of the men
but soon discovered that they were Bush.
whacl ers, upon which he drew his revolver
and gen eral firing commenced. Mr.. Kas-
sermann's first shot took effect in the elbow oi
the Bushwhacker, but the fire of the Bsshwhack.
ers being more directed towards Mr.. Nichols,
while he was the nearest, and still advancing.
he was pierced with some four or five balls
and fell to the ground. Mr.. Kassermann as.
sisted his fallen companion to the house and
one of the Bushwhackers followed them in,
when Mr.. Kassermann shot him through the
forehead and he reslsd out of the house and
fell to the ground and died.
Mr.. Kassemann now having emptied his re-
volvers, was inside the house loading. and had
placed the citizen in the door with a pistol,
telling him to shoot any one who attempted to
enter The other Bushwhacker seeing the
fate of his conrade, started for the house,
when the citizen shot at him but missed, where
upon the Bushwhacker shot him down; and
pointing his revolver in at the door fred at
Mr.. Kasscrman at the same instant. Mr.. Kas-
sermsnn jumped to one side and the Bush
whacker entered the house ready to fire again.
While Kass ernann was loading his revolvers,
there was enc hall that would not 60 down,
it would not revolve and was Of
no account. When he saw the danger he was
in, he lesped at his adversary, caught the bar
rel Of his revolver in one hand and with the
other took him by the throat. Now commen-
ced desperate struggle for the possession of
the pistol, but Mr.. Kassermann proved to be
the best man aad got the pistol. The rebel
now commenced to beg for his life, but Mr..
Kassermann being too we'll acquainted with the
of the Bushwhacksrs was not
inclined to be lenient. he we'll kuew that his
life depsnded0n killing the rebel, 90 he fred
and the ball entering the rebels month, came
but at the back Of his head. He Immediately
started out of the house, as Mr.. Kassermann
thought, to die. But not so. Hearing noise
,ustside of the house ana supposing there
we're more coming in, Mr.. Kassermanp ran to
he door and saw the rebel taking . revolver
from his dead comrade. Kassermsnn jumped
,ut of the door, and short distance from the
house lay revolver which Nichols had drop
,ed. He took it up and by that time the rebel
vas just tufning round to fire, and both fred
simultaneously. Happily the ball from the
ebel's pistol whistled past the ear of Mr.. Kas-
ermapn, while his took effect just below the
ar of the rebel, and to use Mr.. Kassermann's |
'wn words, made him "stretsh."
Thus ended the lives oftvo of the most des- |
'erate characters in Southwestern Missouri,
s they turned out to be the two Mayfeld boys, |
rho have been terror to al loyallsts in that
art Of the country since the commencement |
Z the war, and it is said they have killed |
boutsixty Union soldiers since they commen-
cd their bushwhacking.
Mr.. Ksssermann was citizen of Brown Co.,
lansas, and when the Kansas "a was made up
e volunteered his services and has been in
he army ever since. and certainly deserves
reat praise for his gallant conduct. He cap
nrsd nine revolvers. one Sharp's ride, and four
orses. and came out Of the battle with no
thsr injury than . bullet hole through the
kirt of his over.coa and one through the
rown of his hat.
I took the above down as related to me BY
ir. Kassernann, and knowing him to be
ian of undouhted vsncity, the above can be
slied upon - being true.
NV. OBERHoLTZ,
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