The National tribune., 1884-03-06
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What Our Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns.

M w
from Fort Scott, Kan, to Fort Gibson. Indian
Territory, and situated about sixty miles south
of Fort Scott. At intervals during the war
troops were stationed there as a protection to
wagon trains going TO and from the above
places.
in July. 1853, my company was ordered
there, with Lieutenant John Critics in COM
mand, being the only troops there up to Octo-
Der 18th of that wear. when we were re-enforced
by company c of nay regiment under command
Of Captain James Pond, and company A, I'd
Kansas celored infantry, in command Of Lieu
tenant Cooke the latter companies being
ordered there on account of Qnantrell being
still in Missouri with something over three
hundred men. He had not yet gone South
after his memorable raid on Lawrence, Kan,
which had occurred some six weeks previous.
Colonel Coffee, Cy. Gordon and Bill RAIDER were
also lurking in the vicinity of Baxter Springs
at that time with about hundred and twenty
Eve men, making the combined forces some
thing IN the neighborhOod of four hundred
and fifty men.
My company had during Its occupancy of
the place built breastwoTks consisting of three
logs about two and half feet in height. and
just large enough 10 conveniently accommodate
one company within the Enclosure being about
eighty feet one way by about a hundred feet
the other way. The tents were ranged along
the sides and ends with avenue extending
from east to west through the center, on which
was eTcCiGl a lNO-SlofN DlDck-nDuSe ABOUT
teen or eighteen Ieet square.
The springs were situated about seventy-five
yards southwest from the camp and short
distance below the springs we had our tables
and open-air mess house, and directly east Of
the camp was the timber on the Spring River
bottom, extending 10 the camp on that
side. On the north was A gradual rise Of
ground, quarter OF mile or so 10 the summit,
whence il again gradually receded TO the north,
with an open prairie IA every direction except
on the east.
After the arrival of the other two companies,
Captain Pond deemed il advisable to enlarge
the line OF breastworks so as TO admit of his
company also within the Enclosure and on the
morning of the fatal 9th the work Of tearing
down and enlarging was commenced. and be-
fore noon the entire west end and the larger
part Of the south side were down and the logs
scattered about. That morning detail of
forty Gnen with wagons was sent out after
forage To this force was added number Of
volunteers making in ali about seventy-ive
men, and leaving about the same number in
camp.
TIE FIRST VICTIMS.
About half-pasi II o'clock Lieutenant Cooke,
Of the colored company, Joanny Fry, a scout,
and Shorty. another scout, and hTe men went
into the woods inst east OF camp about I50
yards distant, for the purpose Of firing at a
mark, and. when they had fred nearly
their last shot, Qnantrell's advance-gnard rode
upon them aud demanded their surrender,
which they at first refused, and as a result
Lieutenant Cooke. Johnny Fry and one other
were killed The other fiye men were taken
prisoners and turned over to Cofees men.
Two OF them afterwards escaped, and the other
three were paToled daring the day.
1t was about the hour Of noon when the
enemy's advance guard struck these men in
the woods, and the rapid firing attracted the
attention OF those IN camp. The men ar the
time, with the excs Iti0n Of half d dozen or SO,
were down al the springs eating dinner, having
gone there unarIned. The writer being sick
with intermittent fever al the time, and unable
70 walk that distance was one Of the
number left in the camp. I-was lying on a
Cot i'm my tent when i heard rapid firing in the
woods, and, reInarking 10 sick cOnrade lying
near by that believed we were attacked, got
upand went cut, and saw the guerriiiaselnerging
from the woods in every direction I gave the
alarm, which was Instantly repeated BY others
IN the CAMP. ] went back TO my tent for ny
reyOlEers and car5iae and took my position
behind the breastwelks By this time every
tlllg was paD0eMDAIum IN camp aud the
guerriilss were right IN cur midst. They had
charged from three different positions and
were shooting right and left and demanding
that we should surrender, which no one there,
however. had any idea Of doing. Those who
had GOT 70 their arms went right 10 work IN
good earnest, but those CT dinner were conf
pletelE cut OF, Tor some twenty or thirty of the
gnerrillas had charged on them and had gotten
between them and the camp and They had 10
TUE through them 70 get to their arms Happily.
but one man was shot ln running the gauntlet
During this confusion and excitement nearly
al Of our horses were cut loose and driven or
The firing nov became lively on both sides
and 8 lsltie too lively for the rcbs, who began
70 scatter and retreat to safer distance, and III
a few minutes they were driven Oh IN disorder
bat only Tor nionacnt. FOR they reformed and
CHARGED on Us the second time, though only to
be repnlsed again, and ut the cost Of several
lives, among those who tel being the noted
guerrilla Bill RAIDER, who was fatally shot IL
the lung by bale. irom a squirrel rife IN the
hands q A. H. North, Of my company.
The reDols made two more charges on Us but
They proved as unsuccessful as the former ones
had been. As they we're charging on rs the
fourth time the squad from the north wheeled
about and gallopcd back and formed line 81
battle on the brow Of the bin Just west OF the
woods and ordered the others TO follow. The
eneBy loss was Six men killed and quite Z
number wounded. Oar loss, besides thost
already mentioned, was one man killed anl
two slightly wounded, and one woman and
child belonging 70 company slightly wound
ed. The gueTTillas, having reformed on the brow
oil the hill just north Of the camp marched
westward ia the direction Of tke miiitar,
road. IN the meantime, they had hoisted tn,
stars and striTles asld dressed 10 a cotasiderabi,
disguise they marched al q brisk walk unit
they were cat Of sight. Their strange behavior
as may be imagined was at first a mystery I.
rs. The mystery was soon solved however
for presently we heard brisk firing from til,
direction IN which they had gone.
THE ATTACK on GEHERAL BLUNT.
They had discovered the approach Of Gen
era Blunt with his staff. his headquarters bant
OF the 81 Wisconsin cavalry, company /. 81
Wisconsin cavalry, and two companies of tn
14th Kansas cavalry, and train consisting O
some fifteen or twenty wagons-in all III men
The general had halted his command, in orde
10 have the wagons close up, the members O
the band had been ordered into their band
wagon in the advance, and il was intended 4
come into camp with colOrs flying.
Two hundred yards further on they woul,
have been in sight Of the camp, and they coul,
have seen what was going on there Why Gen
Blunt did not have an advance guard. and VIII
he did not send some one on ahead 70 see wha
the firing ct the camp meant-for it was pIainl
heard By thcm-I am unable to say vigilan
though he usually was, he paid but little or Ii
attention 10 ii, mistaling IL for target practict
General Blunt and his officers were al los
what to do when they saw the treacherous fraito
Quantrell al the head Of over 900 men, march
ing down upon them, not knowing, owing
their disguise, whether they were friends G
foos. The men Ia the meantime were gettin
ftnu1. ~