The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1864-11-05
From tie Missouri Democrat
Col. S. J. Crawford, of Kansas---The
Hero of Old Fort Wayne.

Hero of Old Fort Wayne.
Not citizen of Kansas, nor expecting
ever 10 become such, have no wish to in
terfere in the political squabbles of her pub
lie meu-a temporary sojourn of year OF
more in that region having convinced me
that be who does so is pretty certain to find
himself involved in very "troublei waters -
do nevertheless desire, and the impulse
is irresistible, to bear favorable testimony,
in a few words, 10 behalf of gallant friend,
whose name see announced as a candidate
before the people, for the honorable Office
of Governor of Kansas. allude to tie
brave and noble Samuel ]. Crawford now.
as learn, the Colonel of aregiment raised
in that State. do this with no expectation
that my feeble words will aid Colonel Craw-
ford at all in political canvass, but simply
as a tribute of justice to most valuable
officer, and as brave one as ever drew a
sword The competitor of Colonel Craw-
ford for the gubernatorial honors is. am
assured, and believe, highly intelligent
and estimable gentleman, and have naught
to say 10 the contrary.
In the brilliant and eminently successful
campaign of the army of the Frontier, un-
der the command of Gen. j. G. Blunt, in
the autumn of 1862. s. j. Crawford was
the Captain of one of the companies of the
glorious Kansas Second, than which, per-
haps, not another regiment in all of our ar
mics has served with more distinction
throughout the war, thus far. Led by Of
6cers who were distinguished for gallantry
upon every field, rowit: Cloud. Fisk, the
deeply lamented Russell. Ayres and doz-
en- others whose names cannot for the mo
ment recall, though their persons and faces
are and will ever be, we'll remembered-it
was Crawford who, to the eye of the locker
on at the conduct of the regiment, through
the entire campaign referred to lowered
conspicuously above his fellows in the most
desperate contests. No: that he was any
braver-ior that could not have been-than
others above alluded to; but there was some
thing in his marked and soldierly bearing
that always inspired confidence, and awak
ened more than usual degree of zeal and
ardor in those around him; while his com
handing figure, whenever the enemy were
encountered, was sure to be seen wherever
the danger was the most imminent. In
person, tall, slim, erect, rather gaunt, and
dignifed in his department, when the hour
OF battle came his somewhat sallow com
plexon would seem TO suddenly light up
as the lightening's flash ilumines the cloud
before ii; and 1t was a sight worth seeing
as the writer has often seen him-leading
(never following) his brave men against the
foel A most active participant in every
one, believe, OF Bunt's battles in his cam
paign of 1862-which resulted in driving
Hindman's greatly superior army. in point
IF al ALL 4.
ing it into fragments, snd scattering it to
the wiuds-Captain Crawford was more
than once mentioned in terms of warm and
just commentator by his superior officers
in official reports and public communica-
tons.
One little circumstance, connected with
his conduct, that l do not remember ever to
have seen in print. permit me here to relate.
II occurred at the affair at Dripping Springs
where the enemy'o cavalry was encounter
ed by BIunt's advance and driven in upon
Van Buren,. Crawford, as usual, with the
advance, came suddenly upon the foe occu-
plying both sides of the road, and in such
close proximity that his men, and their
guns even. (they being upon more elevated
ground. and the latter gittering in the sun,
could be counted as readily as if they were
within the distance across a city street of
ordinary width. Every moment a rafting
and murderous fIe was looked for from the
enemy's guns. when suddenly came the or
der to tear down the fence by the road side
to let the cavalry enter the field. Hardly
was it given ere the fence was demolished,
and in dashed brave Crawford with sword
swinging over his head, crying: "Come on,
boye!' and urging his men turiously for
ward in pursuit, of the foe, who apparently
amazed at the bOldness, and more, perhaps,
by the extreme suddenness of the move
ment. abandoned their position, threw down
their arms, and sought safety by flight over
the hills and through the woods.
Every body remembers, probably, the
dashing affair at Old Fort Wayne on the
22d of October. 1862-as brilliant a one
perhaps as has occurred during the war.
Blunt, with only his body guard, aud the
advance" consisting of six hundred of
the Kansas Second. after a march through
two nights in succession came up with the
foe near the abandoned outpost of Old Fort
Wayne. The enemy lay in the edge of a
piece of heavy timber with a wide prairie
in front of them, which Blunt's forces had
to cross before reaching them. A short
distance in front of his the enemy's) lines,
near the timber. he had planted battery.
consisting of four good sized brass guns
one Of them twelve-pcunder mountain
howitzer. On approaching. Blunt discov-
cred this battery in position, and knew from
reliable information that the foe lay close
behind it in full force, concealed by the
woods, and some six thousand strong.
The head of his own column was still at
least two or three miles in the rear, aud not
in sight across the prairie. He feared that