The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-11-09

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On the 7th instant, Captain T. J. Bs6-
coke, being in command Of militia
company organized under Order 1O7,. was
returning from Rolla to Jefferson City,
with thirty men, mounted, having been
sent to the former place with dispatches
from General Brown to General Mcneil.
About twelve miles from jefferson City he
came upon q rebel picket guard Of thirteen
men, including captain and lieutenant, at
q farm. house, part Of the party being
inside the house. Thinking a bold course
the better one under the circumstances, he
rode up to the sentinel in the road with
the greatest GOODNESS, and when the senti-
| mel halted him, he said, in commanding
tone, "Halt, yourself!" and assumed such
an authoritative air, that the rebels sup.
posed him to be one Of the officers Of their
own army. making the grand rousds. It
must be remembered that Prices rebels
are sometimes clothed by whole companies
in Federal uniform The rebels, thus
thrown of their guard, permitted Capt
Babcoke and his men to ride into the yard.
As soon as the house was surrounded,
Captain Babcoke told the whole party of
rebels to surrender, in such .ohes as con.
vinccd them they were sold. lie had men
that he could rely upon, and he ordered
them to shoot down any rebel that attempt.
cd to move or use his gun. The rebels
outside Of the house dropped their guns,
and those inside, seeing the house sur-
rounded, surrendered ut discretion. The
horses Of the rebels were hitched at some
distance in the woods, these the Captain
sent for, and mounting his prisoners-tw
officers and eleven men started for Jeffer-
son City. ,..... 4... " .. win III
The capture was within one mile Of.
Prices main column, and Captain Babcoke
soon found himself like the man that won
the elephant in q rattle. He had ''got n
good thing''-,he point was to keep it,"
But the mind that conceived the capture
Of the rebel outpost was fertile in expedi.
ents. He placed his prisoners in the front,
and started to 60 around the rebel army,
which lay between him and Jefferson City.
He crossed the Usage several times, and
made a number Of narrow escapes from
running directly into the rebel lines. He
was tangled in the bends of the Usage,
like Mr. Raymond, in the Elbows of the
Mincio," at the battle Of Solferino. But
he knew the country, and succeeded in
cffectually lodging the, whole rebel army.
On thc next day after the capture Of his,
prisoners. while riding down hill, he saw
a rebel company descending hill opposite
and coming toward him. As on the
previous occasion. he conceived that his
safety lay IN boldncss, and, with thirty
men and thirteen prisoners, he charged on
the rebel company with yell, and drove
them back. Each prisoner had two or
more men especially to look after him as
well as after the enemy in front, and the
captured reb>, instead of being an incurn.
brance, were an advantage, as they helped
to swell the numbers Of Captain Babcoke's
force, and make it oppear more formidable.
No sooner had hc got the rehs in front Of
him on the skedaddc than he made a
sudden detour by by path, and got into
the brush. 1t was afterwards ascertaincd
that the skedaddlers reported to Price that
the Federals were Advancing in force in
their rear, and he had his army drawn up
in line Of battle to meet them.
The rebels were hunting for Captain
Babcoke for six days, knowing that he
could not have reached the Federal forces
a, Jefferson City. The brave men Of his
company had tedious time camping out
nights, and, between guarding their pris.
oners and keeping watch out for tho
enemy, they had little time for sleep. Six
days and six nights were thus passed,
when Captain Babcoke nn2 his faithful
band safely arrived il Jefferson City, and
delivered to General Brown their thirteen
prisoners, who are now safely confined
here.-St. Louis Paper.