River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-11-03
STOOD BY HIS GUN.
A Chicago ArtiIIeryman who Died
Game.
Little Rock Gazette (confederate).

Little Rock Gazette (Confederate).
Eighteen years ago one of the most
dramatic incidents of the late war,
called late, because, let it be hoped, all
of its issues are dead, occurred at
Fourche Dam, few miles below this
city. Gen. Price and his army were
occupying this city. Gen. Steele was
advancing. The whole country was in
terrible state of excitement. A battle
was expected. Every one had conf
dence in the bravery and military skill
of Gen. Price. His achievements were
heralded, his praises sung.
One night, before the dawning of the
10th of September, 1868, Confederate
officer, on duty with his men at an
outpost, having received direct informa-
ton from man who had been in the
enemy's camp, lay down by a fire, and,
on leaf torn from an old account
book, wrote dispatch to a senior Off
Ger, beginning: "tThe ball opens to-mor-
row." and giving statement as TO the
number of men in the enemy's ranks,
showing that his force was inferior to
Prices army. The officer wrote ere
spectfully forwarded on the paper and
dispatched man to Little Rock, with
instructions to deliver the communica-
ton to Gen. Price.
The general could not be found. He
was playing cards at a private residence,
and only became aware that the time
for action had come when the booming
of cannon, just at daylight, aroused
him. The soldiers down the river fought
desperately. They were compelled to
retreat. Falling back to Fourche Dam,
it was determined that a final resist
ance should be made. Gen. Newton,
who had been sent back to form the
men as they arrived, was executing that
order, when Gen. Marmadnke, who had
been arrested for killing Gen. Walker,
and who had just been released, dashed
up and exclaimed:
eve must make fight here to cover
Prices retreat"
"Cover Prices retreat?" replied New
ton, in surprise.
eyes, for his army is in full retreat"
Nothing but fight was left. The enc
my charged, but was repulsed. Jeffries
was ordered to take his Missouri brig
AIDE, cross the creek, and feel of the en-
envy, but, following the promptipgs of
an impulsive nature, charged the sec
ton of battery, supported by cavalry.
The cavalry, from the suddenness of
the attack, was thrown into confusion
and retreated, leaving the guns unsup-
ported. The captain of the battery, a
young man from Chicago. stood by one
of the guns, with revolver in each
hand, firing rapidly. He was complete
ly surrounded, but refused to surren-
der. The Confederates, in admiration
of his bravery, stopped firing and
cheered him. He was repeatedly told
to surrender, and as often refused He
continued to fire, and had wounded
several men.
"This things gittin' tiresome, Cap'n,
yelled lank Missourian, can if you
don't behave yourself an quit yer sky
larkin' yeu'll git hurt"
The brave fellow, with disdainful
gesture, exclaimed:
II told the people of Chicago that |
would never surrender this battery, and
by all the demons in hell I'll keep my
word" and he leveled his pistol at the
Missourian. But the lank man was too
QUICK IOT MIN, duuy lliiUNlbS up ms
pistol, he fred. Capt. Reed fell across
his gun, shot through TIE heart
Grave man." said the boys, as they
laid him on the ground preparatory to
removing the gun. Brave man; it is
a pity we had to kill him."
The gun, with its death mark of life's
blood, was drawn away by the Confed-
crates, and used in dozen different
battles, but no one ever washed off the
blood. Once, when an officer asked
one of the men why he did not wash
his gun, the soldier related the circum-
stances of Reeds death.
"Let the blood remain; it mark OF
respect to the memory of a brave
man."
Just before the close of the war, Capt.
Reed, the name applied to the gun,
was dismounted by a cannon ball. At
ter the battle the soldiers tenderly
buried the heavy iron. The rains OF
heaven nor the hands of man had not
WASHED off the blood.