The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-06-21
The Story of Boy Soldiers Escape from pixie.

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
notice that many of the boys who wore the blue
are relating their experiences IN THE tribune l
have no story to tell about myself this time. bat
have something 10 say about the escape of one of
our boys who was captured by the rebels on Seine
river. Ark, about the Goth of April, 1851 During
one Of our raids into Missouri. we came across q
boy about fifteen years old who wanted to be q
soi;iIer. Although he was much too young,
had linn mustered in He stated that his name
was George W. Hickman that he orphan,
and that he resided ut De Kalb so He seemed TO
be q quiet sort of boy, but in remarkably short
space OF tiple learned how TO play poker and " bai
he called ciluck-lucl1" However he DEVELOPED
no other bad traits and made good soldier. We
belonged TO the Twelfth Kansas iniantry, and were
sent to Fort smith, Ark, where we were attached
to the Seventh Army Corps, Under Steele Some
of the readers of this paper VIII remember that
Steele was ordered to cooperate with Banks on the
Red River expedition; and will, doubtless also
recall how disastrous TO arms thar whole
project proved. Sterling Price confronted us all
the way 10 Camden, and was REINFORCED there by
Kirby Smith, who had just driven Bsnks ont Of
Louisiana We We're not able to hold own
against both armies combined, and, accordingly,
fell back towards Little Rock. Ii was ON this re-
treat that Hickman was captured. We had nothing
whatever TO eat us those who were with Us on this
march will testify. and Hickman went forasing
one day, on his own hook, returning TO the COM
nand in the evening with small ham on lis bay
onet. The next morning he started again, but did
not return for two or three months. Afterwards,
when narrating his adventures. he said that ne had
not toraged much that morning before the John
mes gobbleo MN up, and alter the battle OF .ten-
nings Ferry, lie WAS started with several hundred
other prisoners for Tyler, Texas One johnny
after another swapped clothes with hira till ne was
dressed like the most of the rebels After weary
march, the party arrived within four miles of their
destination, and then stopped the banks OF q
small creek for rest and water As they were 10
heavy timber, Hickn thought it would be a good
time to try TO make his escape lie had no trouble in
eluding the guards and thereupon he started North
He had not gone far before he fell in with another
boy rom Iowa who had escaped about the
time and they consolidated and by marching only
IN the night and avoiding public roads : much
possible they managed TO reach Red River safety.
Here the Iowa boy thought it would be better for
them 10 separate, which they did. Hickman then
took the road tor Camden, and boldly passed HIM
self oil as q country boy going to see some OF
his friends in Prices army, which he knew was
somewhere North. lie arrived at Camden in due
time and found the rebels there. They had estab-
hshed a hospital, and the Union sick and wounded.
who had been left on the field at Jenkins Ferry,
We're being cared for there, After looking around
awhile and talking 20 of his comrades or the
sly he started on but had not proceeded far before
he was halted. lie pretended that he going 10
Prlnceton to see his aunt but told ths,s hs could
not go on without pass from the provost sInar-
shat; so he eoolly returned TO that funetionsry's
office and got pass with bat little trouble krraed
with this authority he had no difficulty in reach
ing our lines at Little Rock, where he was promptly
put into The guard house and kept there Tor three
weeks. Finally, however, he Was furnished trans
portation to his regiment at Fort Smith IL he
should chance to this hope he will write me-
as ne viii remember that ! first taught him 70
write. W. Ill. MCGUIRE
McCusK KAN