The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-01-20


whilom correspondent, took with might,
valor to their heels. But your humbl
servant will have a few facts to presen
in extenuation thereof, bye and bye, 70
| believe that there are circumstance
under which man is perfectly justifis
BILE in running, and perhaps | cannot bet
ter illustrate this than by relating m,
own experience, which, to say the least
was none of the most pleasant, and if
have occasion TO indulge in some per
sonal "reminiscences quite often, hope
that your readers will not accuse me O
self glorification. wish simply to re
late Of affairs as | saw them, and let the
public judge for themselves.
By the mutations Of time and circum.
stances | had been rdered from La
Grange, aud ins ructed to report at Hol-
ly Springs. Here Medical Director
Wirtz was fitting up hospital on a
grand scale, which was intended to ac-
commodate all of the sick of Grants di-
vision, and | was placed temporarily in
charge of the stores which had Just ar
rived from the North in vast quantities
We had got everything arranged in tip
top order, the dispensary fitted up, the
wards arranged, the bedding distributed,
and were ready to receive patients on the
morrow. The morrow came, and so did
Van Dorn's ragmulfins, who pitched in
without ceremony, not even thanking us
for placing them so handy. As has
been before stated, the rebele made their
attack at day break, and the hospital,
which was in The armory buildings, be.
ing near the depot, had to sustain the
first charge. | was in bed and indul-
ging in most delicious snooze at the
time, when
All at once there rose so wild yell"
that all dreams might have been indul-
ging in were put to flight Immediately,
and springing TO the window | soon as
eertaidel the cause Of the rumpus. All
over the railroad track aud around the
station house, wild steeds, with wilder ri.
ders, were galloping, while the cracking
of fire arms came thicker and faster. AT
this moment our colored boy, jim, rush
ed into tie room, saying; "Run, cut,
Massa de secesh is on us" AID away
he went through the window, and over
the square, at pace that would distance
Flora Temple in her pamest DAYS
had not much time for reflection, for the
rebels were already swarming around
the building, and hastily jumping into
my unmen'ionables, and grabbing my
boots. | proceeded to follow the darkey,
who, by this time, bad half a mile the
start. About eighty rods from the ar.
mory was a ravine filled with bushes,
and If l could only reach this without
being discovered, | was safe. | always
had a holy horror of being taken prison.
err, didn't like the idea ut all of beng pa
rolled and lying for months in the bar.
racks OF ST. Louis. And put the run.
ming accomplishments that | had ac.
quired on the old race track, at indie
pendence, while drilling with Company
E." to the best possible use. | had
nearly reached the friendly ravine, and
was revolving over in my mind the pro.
prlety of stopping to pul! on my boots,
when, halt ! halt I was yelled out behind,
and at the same time some pistol shots
came whizzing by in rather close prox.
unity. ran, before | flew now, aud
soon reached the desired haven, where
found no less than fifty darkeys. who,
like myself had decided to evacuate. BY
this time the fight had become general.
and the rebels being somewhat pressed,
turned their attention from us 10 anoth.
er quarter. | kept on and finally reach.
ed the La Grange road, just in time to
catch splendid horse, whose rider had
evidently been shot. | mounted into
the saddle. and bidding defiance to the
butternuts, rode leisurey into the woods,
where | found six boys Of the Illinois
cavalry, who had effected their escape.
All were well mounted, and decided 10
hang together. and find our way out OF
the serape il possible. had now time
to reflect little upon my condition, and
a glance at my unfinished toilet, and the
assurance that we were in a decidedly
dangerous place, with no prospect Of as
sistance from any quarter, did not fill
my mind with the most pleasurabe emo
ton. Were jeff. Davis prisoner at the
bar of some earthly tribunal. | should
briefly state my case and pre- 'er charges
as follows
lst. Without any cause or provoca-
tion whatever, they rushed upon me