The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-01-27
Rattle of Dardanelle.

count of hIs narrow escape during the fight at that place, August, 1863. During the war Arkansaw was not noted battle ground. consequently many skirmishes take the name oi battles.
 Hills regiment of Cabeli's brigade of Fagan's division of ArkAnsaw cavalry be- ing under ofGers 10 retreat from the iine of the ArkanSaw nyer and reloin the army a, Arsadeiphia, were encanped on
 the spot of ground not far from Mrs. S.raynorn present residence We had been czmped there about three days. Most of the regiment had been permitted to go 10 their homes in order 10 get clothing and other necessarles before giving up our homes 10 the enemy. l presume no; more than seyen;y-ilse mem pers oi the regiment were m camp, the others having gone 10 Pope, Johnson and Franklin counties for the purpose lnol- c4,cd. myself had been at home with my family t~o days and came into camp th~, morning. A great part of the few aao were presumed 70 be ID camp were siroiling about the town and country. Woods battalion Of Missounans were also here in camp. They were un-
 
 ii number. They had only small piece Of artillery aad no smaller arms Al all. unless the officers and few of the soi- diers had side-arms. such as pistols. bu; no swords. \ company of Texans which had shortly before had battle in the Magazine mountains.and been badly de- moralzed were also camped near town. This being the condition of the few troops here on ;hA, day. we were attacked very suddenly Virtually surprised) by Colonel Cloud and his kansians with ! quite number of Arkansas renegades. some forty or fifty of whom were desert CTS from our own Hills regiment. l shall never forget tha, day. had just dlspounied in camp from home and was lying doan resting my head againsi d tree. taking ;o Colonel Hill. had been ac.ina as his qaarermasief for tvso weeks in Ma]or bonyiile's place and had not. up io this tune. surrendered the ;rain 10 Ma;or bonyllie. so that Colonel Hi S;..l looked 10 me as acting quarter master. made free To intimate ;o him .ha; we wete n danger of surprise and was so expressing yseit 70 him. when 4il ai d sg. =iden our yldette. from tae up s9lH 4f iAaA 4ttsANt. Sk1k.6lAChA 44kk4G pG- yend the present graveyard. dashed up apon Ais ioamiag horse and called o4; io Colonel lii that the enemy IT strong force was apon us. h atwinkliag took ID the situation and dashed ,o the wagon master and called out for the teams to be geared and pu, 10 the wagons Al once. \ part oi our wagons were taken 10 pieces for repairs. and this, ln part, MAS what was delaying us from day 10 day. These i 1 abandoned and in i've minutes the tram was ready for moving. Chet. Underwood was the wagon master, and he and led 1 the way across the river ugh, where the ferry IS, Tn front of C. l.. kimball's In twenty-five minutes the train was safe across the river. and gave orders to Chet. 10 move on 10 Potts, while re- turned quickly into the town. last as l go; tc where the Riverside hotel now stands the nrst gun WAS nred. Colonel Cloud turned his artillery upon the town. hfing up the street. now tiuay street. to- wards the rlver from near the graveyard. Looking down Front street could see no one. and seeing that Cloud artillery raked across Front stieei. hasiened down the hluff, and went down the river with the s*aif for cover till l reached where CatletI's store now stands. then hutrled my horse up the bluif d, tina piace and came into Front street could see no one, ard dld not know where to ind Colonel Hlli. lust then an officer Colonel Wood. l supposed. j dashed up to me and. demanding who l was. commanded me 10 reconnolire the lower Dan,ii.e road. and then place myself between the upper and tower Danviiie road. and give warning 10 hlm f the enemy approached by the lower Daneillc road. We knew they were Tn force on the upper road. Al the same ;llne he ;old me where Colonel Hi. had ,.ken position. as well as himself. Col onel it.!l had taken hIs position just west of the seminary. n the bushes that then abounded Inere. \o, long after l had taken my position between the two roads the small arms. for the hIst tune. commenced. Up ;e thls tune not pis- tol or musket had been fred. The bat lie did not las, twenty minutes. Indeed. our men gave way so suddenly that was perfectly bewiidered. read the fate of Hills regiment by the reireating tre to- wards the riyer. 50 soon aS the enemy $ strength was LnmasseG. winch vas done by Hills men directing one deadly fire into them. Colonel H.i! ordered retreat and he and few of hls men made good ,heir retrea, without the loss of man.
 Before Cloud could venture to press Col onel Hil in his retreat. his men were more than half across the river, where the train had previously crossed. The Texans and Woods battalion did not ire gun. bu, as sad. Colonel Woods men were totally unarmed. l believe. too, the lttle one-pounder piece of artil- 1 lery was fired a few times simultaneously with Hills charge upon the enemys van. These all fled down the river, by the l4coway farm. While this was all gong on. there sa, on my horse about three hundred yards west of where McGuire's residence Is now situated. Not knowing certainly tha; our men had retreated, ! veniured to ride up to the Dawson house. and was leisurely making my way 10