The Butler weekly times., 1883-03-14
NO MUTILAT1ON.
Gen. Lyo rs Bsdy Was Treated Win
the Utmost Respect.
Graphic Ske ch of Wilson Greer
Events BY an Eyewitness.
usj. C. C. Rainwater Refutss Cru
el and Malicious Falsehood.

OF late the charge that the body ot
Gen. Lyon was treated with indisni-
II BY the confederates at Oak Hill
has been renewed in communications
to the newspapers, to the great IN
Iignation of men who, wearing the
cray, had the fortune to meet that
gallant officer IN battle. One OF
these, now prominent and respect
ed citizen of ST. Louis, sends COM
munication to the Republican calling
on Maj. G. G. Rainwater, Of the firm
of Kainwater, Boogher q Co., as an
eye. witness, present when the body
was found, and as one of the party
which escorted it to Springfield, to
refute the slandcr. On the hint thus
given, a Republican reporter called
On Maj Rainwater yesterday and
Induced him to go over again the ex-
citing events of that exciting time.
He begged to be excused from recit-
ang the principal events of the bat
tie, on the ground that they were
we'll known, but at the reporters re-
quest sketched the scenes as they re-
CURED to him, detailing number of
those incidents which, though really
the most Interesting part Of history,
seldom find their way into the books.
SIT is long time ago." SAID he,
s'and though as these things come
back to me they seem clear, yet am
not willing to go OH record as being
.nmutely exact in my memory OF
them. Even in events which occnrr-
ed three weeks or month age, YOU
snay take the stories OF the different
eye-witnesses and find in them gre at
differences, while all may, perhaps,
ke true the seeming discrepancies
arising from the one observer see
ing what the others failed to see.
AS to the treatment OF Gen. Lyons
body, however, there can be only
one true story, and if you think it OF
interest to the public, will give my
recollection of it with pleasure.
THE BATTLE OF OAK HILL.
AS the confederates called it; ot
Wilson's Greek, as it was named
hy the federals, and as believe It
vas generally known in The histories,
occurred on the 10th Of August. 1861.
Until a few da VS. before that / had
been lieutenant IN the Warsaw
Grays, Capt. O'Kane's company,
which figured in the bio ody fight at
Cole Camp. | had just been made
y captain IN Gen. Weishtman's
brigade. We were camped along
both sides of Wilson's creek, during
she night which preceded the battle
It had been the intention to surprise
the federsls. 1t commenced rain
.ng, however. and AS the confeder-
ates were poorly armed-some few
OF them having flint-lock guns-and
As many of them carried their anu
astion in their pockets, the rain was
to make their arms use
less. So the order was given to lie |
on the arms, and from hour to hour |
we waited for it to cease raining the |
sicket had been withdrawn in the
of the march and we had |
nothing but camp guard, when just
at dapbreak the tedcrals attacked on
both sides the creek. [ carried the
iews from Gen. Price to Gen.
Weightman that we were surround
ii. Weightnan was brave and
,allant officer, but peculiar man.
lie had 4 small tent made of blue
md white striped cloth. and | found
''ns IN II os his knees reading a pray
II book. Twas greatly Impressed at
he time. for had been reared a
ouatry boy IN region where there
we're few or no members OF the de-
which use written pray
RS. When l announced to him that
ve were attacked he rose from, his
,nees commenced swearing. Iner-
r heard 4 man swear with such vol
lollity and t1uency IN all nv lite be-
ore or since as he did then. Poor
eIlns6 he d,aI S-l. .