Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-10-19
HONORED BLOOD,
One of the Most Dramatic Incidents Of the War;.
A Union Captains Blood Covers Gun,
[From the Little Rock Gazette.l

A Union Captains Blood Covers Gun,
[From the Little Rock Gazette.J
Eighteen years ago, one of the most
dramatic incidents of the late war, called
late, because, let it be hoped, all of it's is.
sues are dead, occurred at Fourche Dam
few miles below this city. General
Price and his army were occupying this
city. General Steele was advancing.
The whole country was in a terrible state
OF excitement. 4 battle was expected.
Every one had confidence in tue bravery
and military skill of General Price. His
achievements were heralded, his praises
sung.
One night, before the dawning of the
10th Of September, 1863, Confederate
officer, on duty with his men at an out
post, having received direct information
from man who had been in the enemy's
camp, lay down by fire, and on a leaf
torn from an old account book wrote a
dispatch to senior officer, beginning,
"The ball opens tomorrow" 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 respectfully forwarded, %
on the paper, and dispatched a man to
Little Rock with instructions to deliver
the communication 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 des-
perately. They were compelled to re-
treat. Falling back to Fourche dam, it
was determined that final resistance
should be made. Gen. Newton, who had
been sent back to form the men as they
arrived, was executing that order, when
Gen. Marmaduke, who had been arrested
for killing Gen. Walker, and who had
just been released, dashed up and ex-
claimed:
owe must make fight here to cover
Prices retreat"
"Cover Prices retreat 2" replied New
ton, IN surprise.
Yes; for his army is Ill full retreat.
Nothing but fight was left. The en-
envy charged, but were repulsed. Jefries
was ordered to take his Missouri brigade,
cross the creek and feel of the enemy.
He crossed and not only felt Of the en-
envy, but following the promptings of an
1mpulslve nature, charged the section Of
battery, supported by cavalry. The
cavalry, from the suddenness of the at
tack, was thrown into confusion and re-
treated, leaving the guns unsupported.
The captain of the battery, a young man
from Chicago, stood by one OF his guns,
with a revolver in each hand, firing rap
idly. He was completely surrounded,
but refused to surrender. The Confed-
crates in admiration of his bravery, stop
ped firing and cheered him. He was re-
peatedly told to surrender, and as often
refused. He continued to fle, and had
wounded several men.
"This thing is gittin' tiresome.
cap'n," yelled lank Mlssourian, SO an
if you don't behave yourself an quit
your skylarkin' you'll git hurt
The brave fellow, with a disdainful
gesture exclaimed,
i 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 levelled his pistol at the
Missourian. But the lank man was too
quick for him, and throwing up his pis-
tol he fired. Capt. Reed fell across his
gun, shot through the heart. I" Brave
man," said the boys as they laid him on
the ground preparatory to removing the
gun. Brave man. 1t is pity we had
to kill him. The gun, with its death
mark of hfe's blood, was drawn away by
the Confederates, and used in dozen
different battles, but no one ever washed
off the blood. Once when an officer
asked one of the men who he did not
wash his gun. the soldier related the
circumstances of Reeds death. "Let
the blood remain said the officer, I" it
is mark Of respect to the memory of a
brave man.
Just before the close of the war, Cap
tain Reed, the name applied TO the gun,
was dismounted by a cannon bali.
After the battle the soldiers tenderly
buried the heavy iron. The rains OF
heaven nor the hands OF man had not
washed off the blood.