The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-10-09
The Daily gtsns.
"reminiscences Of Gen. Elliott and the
late War---No. 2.
BY A SOLDIER OF HIS REGIMENT.

1t is remembered of Gen. Elliott that he
inaugurated, in one part OF the Held at
least, the practice of utilizing the negroes
in the late war, and of fighting hre with
fire, by placing arms in their hands And
as Elliott is being alluded to as copper
head" by the Republican supporters OF the
late Democratic candidate against owen
Loveioy, tom Henderson, it may be
well to recall one OF his first and most char
acteristic acts in the enemy's country. Oc-
cupying an outpost in Missouri, where ne
was continually harrassed by an enemy
which seemed everywhere present, yet
was nowhere to be found, and of whom the
loyal" citizens of the vicinity seemed SIN
gularly ignorant, he determined to test
some of his neighbors in way OF his own.
One of his lieutenants and sergeant were
accordingly disguised in butternut suits,
and starting from camp at night groped
their way, about morning, to the premises
of an influential planter some miles dis
tant, whom they found surrounded by
grown sons and numerous retainers OF high
and low degree. Coming to him as Con.
federates about to join the command OF
Gen. Price, the old man was not slow to
disclose his true character to his visitors,
and promptly gave them full information
in regard to the enemy strength and po-
sition, warned them of the neighboring
camp of the Yankees, against whom he
boosted that he and his were waging a
clandestine warfare, with the determine
ton of making the country too hot for
them. With this choice information the
lieutenant and mis- comrade reported back
to camp the next night, and, without de,
lay, Elliott and few picked men started
for this loyal man. Over the toughest
country, the blindest roads and through
the darkest night they scrambled and
CROPPED their way, half the time lost and
bewildered, but undiscouraged, and bent
on pursuing their purpose, they finally,
about day break, reached and surrounded
the planters house. Elliott proceeded, in
his impetuous way, to interview this stand,
ard but indignant type of loyalty. and, at
ter receiving as many assurances OF friend
illness and professions of zeal in the federal
cause as he could conveniently hold, pro-
duced his men and confronted the old man
with them He seemed to think he bad
seen them somewhere before and as the
full force of the situation dawned upon
him his Jaw gradually fell, and his coun-
tenance heightened into an expression OF
the utmost astonishment chagrin and dis
gust He had nothing more to say. Then
followed the search of the premises, which
resulted in goodly collection of miscellan-
eous arms and the arrest of the party Of
course the place was swarming with dark
les, and it at once occurred to Elliott that
they could be made useful on the fortified
tons at Pilot Knob. in relieving the over
worked troops there. But to make them
the more Immediately serviceable, his own
force being small, he equipped them with
the captured squirrel rifles and shot,guns,
and, to the infinite bewilderment Of sam.
bo," placed them as guards over his loyal
guerrillas and sent them down to head
quarters.
But the hour had not come for making
war in earnest, and Elliott was in advance
of his time. Ben Butler had not yet de.
clared negro slaves to be ''contraband' Of
war, and neither the people nor the powers
at the North had dared to grapple with
the real problems of the contest These
slaves were religiously released, and their
services, even with the spade, timidly de-
lined,-but there was less sharp shooting
done in that vicinity as long as Elliott oc-
cupied that camp.