The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1872-11-22
AN ANNIVERSARY THANKSGIVING.

~ A4SOA ASSoeOo t-SSt " RAOSAauASSAOu1
ret apart the same day as . day of
thanksgiving, so that now it may
be appropriately termed National
Thanksgiving Day. This year the
last Thursday of the month occurs
on the 2sth, and by reason thereof
. local interest attaches to its OBJ
servation--it being the tenth ami
versary of the battle of Cane Hill,
which event is familiar to many of
our readers, but which will bear
brief mention In connection with its
soon recurring anniversary.
For some weeks prior to the 9th
November, 1852, the Fret Division
of the Army OF the Frontier, under
command Of General Blunt, had
been eampsd . short distance south
of Maysville, Arkansas, on Flint
creek, at first waiting developments
of the enemy's ferces, but for the
last week of the time, for the arrival
of supplies from Fort Scott, which
finally came to hand on the even
ing of the 18th. The Division was
composed of the I'd, 9th, 9th, 10th,
1lth and 18th Kansas-thO three
first being cavalry and the three
last infantry regiments-the 1st, I'd
and Sd Indian Home Guard /;
the 9Th Wisconsin infantry and
Aliens, Robbs', Hopkins and Stock
tons batteries. Aliens and Hop
kins' were Kansas batteries-that of
Hopkins consisting of the four
brass guns captured from General
Cooper at Old Fort Wayne, manned
by a detachment of the ID Kansas
commanded by Capt. Hopkins, of
that regiment. Rabb's battery was
from Indiana, one of its Lieuten-
ants being a young man named W.
W Haines, who had formerly liv-
ed near Emporia. Stockton's bat
terry was named after Its first COM
mander, Capt. Stockton, of the 1st
Kansas, but his command was
wholly made up from the Sd Wis
eonSin cavalry. The force was di-
vided into three brigades, COM
mandeda by Coils. Solomon Weir,
and Cloud, respectively. Weir
was Colonel of the 10th Kansas,
Solomon of the 9Th Wisconsin, and
Cloud Of the I'd Kansas-the latter
having enlisted from Emporia
where he resided at the commence
ment of the war. There were not
moro than ave thousand electives
in the Division.
About ten o'clock Of the morning
of the 9th Of November, the entire
available force-after providing
guards for the trains, sick, ETC., left
behind-amounting to about thirty
FIVE hundred men, provided with
six days cooked rations, and with
ont transportation, started for Cane
Hill, fifty miles to the south, where
General Marmsduke was stationed
with q force of rebel cavalry, vari-
ously estimated ct from five to
eight thousand. The first days
march was about twenty miles. At
daylight the next morning the
march was resumed, and about
eleven O'Clock the enemy's outposts
were reached and driven in. The
march of cavalry and artil-
lery left the infantry about two
miles in the rear-but with the
of the action the
18th Kansas and the 1st and 2rd
Indian regiments, having the in
gantry advance, were hurried for
ward at double quick and shortly
came into action-the 11th IN sup
port of Rabb's and Hopkins bat
tories. While the remainder of the
force was coming up the action was
mostly maintained by the artillery
but upon the arrival of the re-
of the infantry the rebels
closely pursued, and g
fight took place through
he town ofCane Hill and for SOW
sral miles beyond. About four
miles south Of Cane Hill, at the
point where the road leaves the
7alley and aseends the Boston
in heavy timber, the reb-
lie endeavored to make stand 10
,heck General Blunt's victorious
march, but the position was soon
For the next four or i've
niles over the mountain the fight
vas continued, the rebels availing
of the dense timber and
II every inequality of surface and
Dther natural obstacle to make fire.
Iuent stands, but without success,
md about dark they were driven
INTO the valley of Cove creek, down
which the Van Buren, road ran,
where they made desperate stand,
My to be signally routed again,
mt at considerable loss to our side |
n killed and wounded-among
hem Lieut.. Col. Jewell OF the 9Th |
Kansas, who was MORALLY wound. |
d. The battle closed at this point
n account of the darkness which
further pursuit. The
nemy continued his retreat to the
of Van Buren,. Gen. Blunt's
orces remained on the battle field
hat night and the next morning
rent into camp at Cane Hill. The
Jnion loss was about sixty killed
nd wounded; that of the rebels
bout twice IS great. Among the
asualties In the 11th was that of
.ichard Best, of Company c,
rounded in the head. Er. B. re-
overed and now lives in the north
art Of this county.
The battle was Of no great mag
itude so far Is to results immedi-
ely apparent-but of the greatest
oment in the light Of events
lortly Eollowing.' Most OF the
oops engaged on the Union side
ere new to the ssryice, and the
-psrisncs and confidence result
9 from that days operations we're ]