The National tribune., 1883-02-22
Some Further "reminiscences Of a Famous Cavalry
Regiment.


To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
Since my article regarding the death of Major
Smith, of the Second Colorado cavalry, appeared III
your valuable paperI have received several letters
from members of that regiment kind, sympa-
thetic letters, some of which have found time to
answer all of which 1 will answer. The old soldiers
cannot be too grateful for TIE TRIBUNE and for the
earnest interest it takes in their welfare. THE
TRIBUNE is doing a noble work. Long may il wave.
The following letter from of the officers of the
Second Colorado have Just received and Will
prove of interest to the survivors of that regiment
nearly all of whom take THE TRIBUNE.
Very truly, A. c. JONES.
CoSNERsyILLE. IND.
GOLDEN, Colo, February S, 1883
Ny DEAR SIR: / have noticed your communica-
ton in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE of January 25th, in
relation to the death of Major J. Nelson Smith of
my old regiment, the Second Colorado cavalry, and
am extremely gratified at your remembrance of as
true a soldier and noble hearted gentleman as
ever drew sword in his country's cause.
As you express a desire to learn whether his body
was recovered, and as you may not receive reply
from any other source, am gratified to inform you
that his remains We're removed from the field i'll
ambulance and buried at Independence. And am
informed they were afterwards removed TO his old
home in Ohio.
My recollection of the battle of Little Blue and
of incidents connected with the death of Major
Smith are very vivid as / was probably the last
officer to whom he gave order. My men, with
those of two other companies OF the regl-
ment. were dismounted and deployed as skirmish-
behind the fence running along the brow of the
massed. As you doubtless remember, a large force
of the enemys cavalry were at that moment seen
advancing at a galop towards our skirmishers.
Major Smith and myself sitting horses
a short distance in rear of our skirnsh line and as
the heavy battalion of Johnnies charging
across the bottom towards US, he remarked as cool
as though parade: There comes Joe Shelby.
hell-benti Get your boys back to their horses and
be ready for him. As | turned my horse to obey
the order he started for another part of the field
1t seemed but moment, for had more than
given the order to my bugler to sound the recall
when Captain Holloway, of l. company, grasped
my knee as | was about to ride forward and eX-
claimed, My Godi there goes poor SMITH"
had just time to see him falling from his horse, and
that two or three men We're near him. remember
telling Captain Holloway to see that he taken
to the rear if possible and then mounted my men
to be ready to ayenge his death.
We lost many gallant man on that bloody field,
but none whose death shocked me did that of
poor Smith, as he and We're almost like brothers
i have always felt though he had premonition
that this would be his last fight nearly all of the
night before he spent in arranging his papers and
writing letters His papers he gave to me IN the
morning, requesting me to send them TO my wife,
at Leavenworth. for safe-keeping, where she and
other ladies of the regiment had gone when prep
arations began to meet Prices advance.
Although many of the subsequent battles of that
well-remembered raid were more closely con-
tested-notaby, WestpOrt, Mine Creek, Newtonia-
none of them impressed me as did that of Little
Blue, and L suppose it was account of poor
Smiths gallant death. Some years ago was at In
depence, in company with Captain Maurice Lang
horn, who commanded a company in General Shell
ground of Little Blue, where had met face to
face and steel to steel that memorable day i'll Oh
You may be interested in learning that both Col.
Ford and 1t Col. Dodd lin honor of whom our Post
is named) are dead. Major Pritchard and Major
Sam Curtiss are still hving-the former at Lead
vile, in this State, and the latter somewhere in
Iowa.
In closing this somewhat lengthy screed, desire
to thank you heartily for the good opinion of our
old regiment expressed in your letter to The TRIB-
UNE. l shall be very glad to hear from you per-
sonally, and to take you by the hand, should you
ever visit State, and to extend to you soldiers
welcome. Yours, very truly,
GEO. WEST,
Late Capt. Co. F., Second Colo. Cav.
/ was glad to hear from A. c. Jones, late In
speetor of cavalry Department of Nebraska. The
writer remembers him well; also the battle of the
Little Blue and the fine Second Colorado cavalry.
part of the Third Wisconsin volunteer cavalry
and the Second Colorado cavalry were brigaded
together and had many tight little brush wherein
issues were pooled against the over dreaded Guam
trill and his Cherokee Indians. wonder how
many of the readers of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
remember the Baxter Springs affair? 1t was con-
ceded that the Second Colorado chaps were as
brave as brave could be, and real good provinder
providers, but never good at hiding As an Illus
tration, will mention the hive-of-honey affair
how well and successfully they executed flank
movement and captured the hive-but how much
more successful the Third Wisconsin boys were in
he WARNER