The National tribune., 1883-11-15
WEST PLAINS, No.
ARMY vICIssITUDEs.
The Mysterious Search TO which wilson's Com
mand Was Subjected.
ISAAC n. SKILLMAN,
al IL

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
Inotiee in your issue of October Is an inquiry
from Samuel Shafer, company d, First Ohio
cavalry about "a Mysterious Search that
took place in April, 1865, throughout General
Wilson's command at Macon, Ga | remember
that search very well, and l viii give him the
story of that affair, as of the Second division
saw it, and as it is told in the history of the Sew
enty-seeond regiment Indiana volunteers (p.
500, which is as follows:
April 2S.-Reveille this morning at 2;S0 o'clock,
and ordered to get ready TO march Immediately.
a little strange we had heard nothing of it before
Nobody knew where we were going; but ruinor
said back to Montgomery. We had breakfast at
daylight and M up the buge blew strike tents
We had just got our hunks well up and our quar-
tiers cleaned nicely, and 1t worried much to leave
them After the usual amount of fussing and cuss-
ing, moved out about q. M, went back on the
Columbus road three miles west of the city to the
TobeSof kee Creek and found all trains parked
in d small field awaiting us. We turned OIL the
road and massed in the little field in column by
companies, and the first thing we knew there was
chan-g1lard clear around the field, and we heard
the command Stand to your horses" and were
forbidden TO stir. The teamsters were all placed
under guard This made the straggers and pill
layers open their eyes and the rogues and thieves
to swear 1t was tie Shafpest thing we ever saw
done re think that army of 10 600 men could be
taken SO completely by surprise, and not single
private soldier know thing of it, Thus far every
thing had woFke TO q Il, and we give our offi-
credit FOR doing the sharpest thing ever under
taken.
in the city some rogues had taken advantage of
them and had broken open the bank of Macon and
stolen vast amount Of specie and other valuabies
and this method was taken 10 find the treasure. 1t
further TRANSFERRED that the whole army had moved
different roads just as we had, and all were
thoroughly searched. We understand the idea of
the search was originated by General Upton, and
some of the stolen property recovered from the
men of his division But we are glad to announce
that nothing valuable was found any member
of the Seventy After the search was ali
over, we moved right back to old camp where
we arrived at p. M, hungry as wolves and IN
various moods as to our march to Montgomery and
the search
The Second division of General Wilson's Cav
airy Corps was commanded by General Eli
Long, until he was wounded at Selma, Ala,
when the command fell to r. G. Minty, colonel
of the Fourth Michigan cavalry.
| also notice in the same issue Of your noble
| paper that Comrade E. Mcdonald, Union City,
Mich, is afraid that Wilder's brigade wants to
| claim all the credit of the affair at Hooyer's
/ Gap on the 24th Of June, 1853. No, no, COM
! rade Mcdonald we don't want it all, but we
must have credit for capturing that strong
position and holding it for four hours at least,
| when other troops relieved US and took our
place. Private William r. Clark, company 81,
Seyenty-second regiment, Indiana volunteers,
who was shot on the pieket-line, was the first
man wounded when that action began. L
| know, for l was there.
CHARLES D. MCCLURE,
Serg't, Co. Il, I'd Ind. Vols.
/ NEWTowN, IND.
| To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
In regard to that mysterious Search " at
Lacon, Ca, l would say that it was made be-
cause an old (Union) citizen lost some property
| which was supposed to have been taken by the
soldiers, among the articles stolen being q
| fine gold watch He complained at hcadquar-
| ters, and Brigadier-Gene Winslow, COM
manding the Fourth brigade, ordered the
search. All their valuable souvenirs were
taken from the boys. Some got them back
and some did not. We're we mad? That Is nc
name for it! 1t was reported at the time that
high-fown popinjay OF lieutenant on Gen
Winslow's staff had tie mans watch in his
pocket all the time, yet looked quietly on
while the boys' private property was being
taken from them. This was not the first time
that Winslow had general search made fol
some old rebels property, and he will not for
get the Tenth Missouri cavalry raiders very
soon.
] wish General Grierson, if alive, would
write sketch of the Brice Cross Roads o.
Guntown fight What was the object in taking
Sc many comnlissary stores specially coffee
GEO. w. BUTT,
KNOXVILLE, Ill. Co. A, 10th No. Cav.