The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1884-03-11
UP LOOP CREEK.
A Stream That Was In the Way
All Night--The Guides
Wife

zen. benhdm was severely c6nSur-
cd, once upon time. beeau>e he diana
70 up to Loop creek. according to
orders, and cut off Floyd's retreat
from Cotton mountain. People no
doubt imagined that it was very
easy thing to go up Loop creek, but
then the people never had any ex-
periencs in that direction. Very early
in the first Kanawha campaign a
strong detachment of troops made a
reconnaissance up Loop creek valley.
The march commenced at dark, and
was conducted so quietly as to give it
q. air of mystery. The stream comes
into the KanaWha through little gan
that is very deceiving. The BOYS
moved along for few hundred yards
in high spirits. Then there was a
stream to cross. This was Loop
creek. and shoes and stockings were
taken off, and barefooted the men
waded through the cold water in not
the best humnr. A on OK march of a
few hundred yards brought them to
another barrier of water. This was
Loop creek. The bows made Jokes
about the loop, and stripping off shoes
and stockings, waded the stream
again. A short walk and there was
halt in front. What now? That
burned old Loop creek again, said a
nan in front, and then the heaviest
swearers went into action in a very
spirited manner. AS the men
stopped to take off shoes, q Virginian,
acting as guide, said: | won ONT do
it, men. The creek will be in your
way all night. And so it was. 1t
was crossed thirty-six times before
morning, the men wading reckIesslv
through without removing shoes or
stockings. AS the high lands were
reached, the stream became smaller
and was less troublesome.
All night the quiet Virginian walk
ed steadily with the advance guard.
speaking only when it was necessary
b give a direction or when asked
question. He was a tall stalwart,
self poised man, in the confidence Of
the officer commanding the expedi-
ton, but saying little to any one else.
He carried a squirrel rife, and was
so watchtnl and vet SO quiet that the
BOYS called him Old Secrets. Toward
morning he relaxed little. and be-
came more laxative. He said:
You will see fine country pretty
soon. This plateau is fertile, and
better than that, it was full of good
Union men q few months since.
They were driven away from home on
short notice, and these Old Codgers
IS you have been calling the scouts
10 front, are men who are returnin
TO their homes, or to where their
homes were, for the first time for
half year have, or had a young
wife up here some place. When
Fort Sumpter was fired on L had a.
sSzy little home az man could wish. |
/ went on business trip down the
Kanawha, and before nav return the
whole valley had been seized by the
rebels, and haven't heard from my
wife since.
The boy at Cnce felt great interest !
in the taciturn guide AS daylight
came the country began to answer
me description of the south. Farm
houses were seen in different direc-
tions, and the old men in front drop
ped off to he welcome here and there
BY screeches of delight The nan in
whom the boys were most Interested
could hear nothing from home.
These people had not ventured away
from their homes at all, and they
heard nothing. He was nearly fran
tic. and the soldiers, taking up with
his feeling, moved forward in long
suick strides, thinking little Of rebels,
and much of that pretty little wife.
At last turn into a pleasant little
valley brought them to pretty lit e
cottage nesting among trees in well
arranged yard. 1t was as different
from the houses that had been passed
as a villa from a log cabin. The
guide said to the commanding officer.
This is my house, and he sat down on
. stone, nervous and trembling.
The windows were dark, the doors
closed. and there wasn't sign Of life
about the premises. The boys stood
leaning on their guns, painting from
the quick march. The guide started
up the walk. the very picture of
despair. He listened but could hear
no sound. He tried the door, but it
was locked. He went to another,
but it was bOlted on the inside. He
turned away, and the soldiers in
c~o,,f xrara ,,tforipr cumpot hotio ay-