The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-01-10
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns.

he Faitor NATIoNAI TRTRuNE:

TTONAI. TRIBUNE OF November l0Jn from
Lieutenant Thomas Hynes, who, at the battle
of Wilson's Creek, acted as staff officer TO Gen
eral Lyon. As enc of the survivors of that
famous battle, everything pertaining to its in
cidents, OF TO those who participated in II. are
Of surprising interest to me- While believe
that j was the youngest soldier who took part
ia the battle with arms,--being barely fourteen
yesrs of ace-yet its details, horrors and Incl
dents, SO far as they came under my personal
observation and experience, are as freshly i'm
printed on my memory to-day, as though but
week instead of twenty two years OF time, HAD
rolled past since
The story of Wilson's Creek has been told
and written so often that it has long since
passed into the unwritten and written history
Of the land and I should not now attempt TO
add anything from the humble standpoint
from which / saw it, but from the fact that j
gather from Lieutenant Hynes communion
ton, viz, that there seems TO be some contro-
versy or uncertainty as to how and what time
Of the dav the body of General Lyon was taken
of the field Without being able, perhaps, to
throw any special light on the matter, yet
am induced to write TO y0n, and through the
medium of the soldiers great friend, 1HE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE, give my old comrades
soHae Of my experience on the memorable loth
OF August, 1851
OF the march, under the stars.-qniet and
stealthv-from orr camp near Springfield, on
the previous night, TO within a mile of the
Confederate picket lines, then silently drop
ping down on the dew-damp prairie grass
without blankets or covering, other than our
blouses aud sleeping on orr arms Z until we
were aroused up little before daylight, u is
unnecessary to 20 into details. j remember,
however that / slept soundly. and resumed
the march with all boys enthusiasm, IN an-
ticipation Of a big time and an opportunity TO
FIRE all the cartridges choose up TO that
time Our firing had been restricted TO the
charges rrmsining in our guns after doing
guard or picket duty
Just as the suns first rays were gliding the
tips Of tbs serub-oaks which were scattered
over the Wilson's Greek hills, we heard the
opening of the fire from Sigel's guns, which we
answered With cheer. how vividly, after all
these years, is the scene, with all its surround
ings impressed on my mlnd-the hills, the
trees, the winding country road along which
nv regiment was hulTving, the morning sun
flashing on the muskets along the lines of blue
and gray uniformed soldiers-for portion of
our littlc army wore the gray on that dayi /
saT Efte army now, but or that day, TO my
youthful imagination and enthusiasm we had
the most formidable and powerful army on
earth. and I greatly wondered ST the toolhardy
audacty Of the rebels in daring to give US
battle There was puff of blue smoke along the
entire front Of d regiment. The next instant
the reyerberating rear Of q thousand muskets-
Us wild echoes sent flying through hills and
hOliOws- proclaimed 10 the soldiers of both
armies and 70 the startled inhabitants Of the
county round that the battle was actually on.
] have q clear recollection of the effect of that
first volley on myself ] was pleased beyond
measure here was an actual, sure enough =
battle commenced, and they were going TO let
me be In it. As we moved rapidly forward we
passed over the place where the first firing oc-
CURED. Ca my left ] noticed soldier in blue
uniform lying on the grass, his head resting 10
an easy position on one arm. / thought "a
myself that fellow ought TO be ashamed 20 drop
out Of line and go 10 sleep, and the battle just
beginning. I called the attention OF a comrads
60 him; he ran over 10 where the soldier lay
but returned in a moment The soldier was
dead. He was the first i ever saw who
had yielded up his life for his country on
the fed OF battle; his comrades bad swept on
and left his body 10 Eli nameless soldiers
grave. How cruel and heartiess it seeIaedi
TIE BATTLE Is on.
After advancing short distance farther we
were aalted IL sort Of hollow and ordered 70 lie
down, and remain there in reserve until further
orders. Meantime there was fearful turmoil
going Oh apparently AL around us. On top Of
ridge, on cur right and 'front.', was our main
line o. battle; sway to our left could be heard
the tbaaaer u sigei's guns. who had gotten
sTound III tae rear Of the rebel camp; almos;
IN the l.naied.ate rear of my regiment one O!
t.
taken position on a high point, and was pouring
shot and shell over Cur beads into the C0nfed-
crate lines and camp. As the shots from oGl
OWL guns came shgleking ard tearing ever rs
well remember what peculiar feeling o.
affection 1 felt fur tbein- Ii seemed that
could almost hear these screaming missiles
Of death talkisg ia the ar and c1gtionins
each other 10 be careful not 70 hurt any Of US
a. We were friends
After what seemed an age Of inactivity and
gEspcasc, there suddenly cane dashing along
our front Garlic Blair Oar gallant lieutenant
colonel, who had been Up 70 the front. bearing
the much AZ ISIS Cd for order from General LYON
Second haas1s 70 the 'front.'" be yelled. IL
o. momcat VIC were on the do1ble-qHick- On
our way up Vl pissed dead and wounded sol
dierE and fur the first tllne J beard the pitifn
cries Of lncs wounded and dying on the Eel.
Of battle. Several incidents especially i'm
pressed me before We got into line Of battle
The first WAS passing section Ct artilier,
which had been pulled > short distance 10 tn
rear in order that The guns might cScl; the,
had been fred 50 rapidly that the men coul,
not work them. The grim and heated artil
ler-men Reeeularzl we're standing near. On
old gunnrF-hatle6s, collar open and sleeve
rolled up-sto0d near our line Of march ant
e0Oc -n2lusediy bantcrcd our boys on what "
might expect, and cheered Us up with expires
sions like tlsis; Al, boys. it's disil Of no
place yes are goin' into, and It's many Z one Q
ye kids tilat'l niver como out o that" This
thought, was not ia keeping with the sOleIn
nifty OF Tie occasion. a few steps further en- va
the gallant l.t.le General Sweeney, who stood
sword Id hand, his left hand; nc lost his RICH
arTn ! hll5eve. AZ the battle Of Rneaa Vista,
shouting words e encouragement to US 3
stand blarely Cor the flag. Give em -
boys" he exclaimed, give en- -. Aim a
the - seoundrels right below their belts
give 'em . ] tell YOU I thought It's
general oeyoad comparison the most hardenc
and reckless man had ever known, else h
would noi dare 70 use Sc much profanity made
circumstance 80 serious. ] also renlembe
seeing General Lyons noble little gray charge
lying, or rather sitting, on his launches, dying
TIE ID KANSAS * A HOT PLACE.
The FIRST thing 10 especially attract nv a,
teDtion after We g0r fairly into Inc and coz
mcnced firing was seeing the earth part.n
right and left as though some invisible ploug
WAS tearing up a great fGrrow OF line cornin
right At me- The next instant, with whist
Ike that Of steam engine, q cannon ba
ric0cheitcG oger my head aud barred Itself
tire earth fpw feet ia our rear.
Our regiment was armed with the ok
fashioned smooth -bUre mnskcts. tho an
munition Tor which was paper-caTtridg
containing an enormous charge Of powder, Z
gether with BAH aia three buck slaot Nhi
these primitive cd weapons were very esectiy
especially ~ close range, set, as many a 20.
soldier W.ll bear witness. they were the grea
CIT hiekers Of al the guns that ever we