The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-10-30
PRAIRIE GROVE.
A Prisoners "Reminiscences.

Prisoners "Reminiscences.
To THE EDITOR: think Comrade s. s.
Cain, 9TH Mo- Cav, is mistaken as to Marina
duke commanding the rebel army there. My
impression is that Hindman was at the head,
with headquarters at Van Buren,, on the Ar
kansas River, where he was afterwards assas-
sinated. My regiment 9th Mo- Cav.) received
orders on the evening of the 9Th to be prepared
to move at minutes warning. Boots and
saddles" was sounded at daybreak on the
9th; we were then at Keithsville, Mo. We
moved off at trot, keeping that gait the
greater portion of the day, passing infantry,
artillery and cavalry on the way, going
through Cross Hollows, Pea Ridge, Mud Town
and Fayetteville, Ark, about dusk, stopping
some six miles below the town, where we dis
mounted to rest. We remained there some
three hours, and were again ordered to move.
About daylight on the 9TH we stopped between
two large corn-felds to feed the horses and
rest ourselves; and / remember, distinctly,
after being in the saddle that length of time,
it was equally as comfortable standing as it
was sitting. ! am satisfied that at this time
the commanding officer was perfectly uncon-
scious Of the proximity of any force of rebels,
as we could not have been placed in more
unfavorablc position to repel an attack; 1t was
Lone Jack over again. Just after daylight,
three men of Co. G went to the end of the
lane in the timber, to get one or more OF sew
erai pigs that had been seen there, when they
were fired upon and two Of them killed the
third, Balaam Fox, ran back to the command,
shot through the hand. 1t was but few min
utes before the bullets were coming from the
corn Oh either side of US and the end of the
lane south. Several attempts were made to
form US for charge, but as the lane was filled
with horses and men there was much confu-
sion, and finding it impossible to do so, q re-
treat was ordered No sooner had this COM
mcnced than the lane in our rear was filled
with rebel cavalry, who used their revolvers to
good advantage at short range and we were
compelled to surrender. The killed in this
part of the fight were nearly all stripped naked
and trampcd under foot by the horses After
being captured !, with number of other pris-
oncrs, was marched back some half-mile, meet
ing some 20 brass field pieces hurrying to the
front. Two of these were the ones taken from
the Sd Ind. battery by the rebels at Lone Jack,
Mo-, Aug 16, ~. We were told here that tho
rebel force present was between $4,000 and
$4,000. The prisoners were kept from a half
mile to mile in the rear of line of battle all
day, moving about occasionally to escape the
shells from our batteries that would sometimes
cut the limbs from the trees over our heads,
and sometimes lying fat on faces. About
noon we were marched to frame house, where
our names, rank and regiment were taken by
rebel officer There were present at this time,
as prisoners, 20 of the 9Th Mo. Cav, 123 of the
9TH Mo. Cav, IA Of the Sth Mo. Cav. and 70 of
the LIST Ark. Cav.
In the door Of the house stood an old gray
haired lady clapping her hands and crying:
"Thank God Thank God that / have lived
to see this day." But her joy was short-lived,
as the house was burned within few days, and
the rebels in full retreat.
Comrade Beatty says that the last cannon
of the rebels was disabled before o'clock p.
m. In this he is mistaken, as a battery passed
us leaving the field about 6 p. m, which was
4 l. r No
could hear Blunt plainly when he opened fire
about o'clock p. IN. 1t turned quite cold dur
ing the night and the prisoners suffered con-
siderably, as their overcoats and blankets had
been taken from them and they were not permit
ted TO build fires, although the guards outside
had fires. We We're started south about o'clock
a. III. OF the 9Th. We received nothing to eat
until about o'clock a. IN. of the 9Th, when We
received about pint of meal each. From the
time we were captured, at daylight on the 9TH,
to this time we lived upon the grains of corn
picked from the dirt where the rebel cavalry
men fed their horses and slippery elm bark
gathered from the trees near by the roadside
which was pretty thin food for long tramp.
believe some of the prisoners were successful in
begging piece of corn "pore" from the guards
occasionally. We were taken across the Boston
Mountains to Van Buren,, thence to Fort Smith,
where We were kept in all old tobacco ware
house. Our rations here was about one quart
per Yankee of c0rnmeal more like hominy
than meal) with considerable cob in it. Some
times with our corn we would get about two
tablespoonfuis of brown sugar each at others, a
small piece of fresh beef and tablespoonful of
salt. My mess had an iron kettle holding, per-
haps, two gallons. When we drew sugar we
would first make a mush and then stir in the
sweetening. When done, each with little
wooden paddle, would gather by the kettle"
and eat as fast as could be expected under the
circumstances. When we received meat it
would first be boiled and removed from the
kettle and the meal stirred in. One thing that
could be said of our rations is that we had a
variety, and not meal lad -nauseam," like the
boys at Andersonvile.-A. Ii. WoRTHEN, Jr.,
1st Serg't, Co. L, 7th Mo. Cav, Warsaw, Ill.
HERRON'S DIVISIONS.
To THE EDITOR: l think COmrade s. 8.
Knapp, of Co. G, 10th Kan, is a little off in
regard to the battle of Prairie Grove. The in
fantry of the Second and Third Divisions of
the Army of the Frontier, under Gen. f. J.
Heron, did not engage in the battle of Prairie
Grove until afternoon of Sunday, Dec. z, and
came to re-enforce Gen. Blunt as the follow
ing ORDER which is now in the hands of Sec.
johnson, of the old Goth Iowa, will show:
To the Second and Third Divisions for the
promptness with which they responded to my
quest to re-enforce me and the unparalleled march
ing done by them (ll4 miles in two and half days.
well as for the gallantry displayed by them upon
the field upon that memorable day, the highest
praise is justly due.
(Signed) JAMES G. BLUNT,