The National tribune., 1884-05-01
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Oar Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
THE 1aoth ohio's Rca River Experiences.
. the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:

The 1a0th 0hio's Red River Experiences.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
/ have been reading with a great deal of
interest the articles which appeared in several
late issues of TIE NATIONAL TRIBUNE upon
Ahe Red River campaign. The 10th regiment
o. " T. of which had the honor of being a
member, while not participating actively in
said campaign, still came forward at the
eleventh hour and took a little part shat / con-
slider worthy Of mention, and which the par
Elephants win have reason TO remember as long
RS they live. By referring 20 my memorandum
! find that the 12Gth regiment, which was
then encanped at Baton Rouge. la, received
orders to re-enforce General Banks, then at
Alexandria and about TO move on Shreveport,
La On the LIST Of Nav. 1864, the l20th en-
bafked On the transport City Belle, with orders
TO report to General McC4ernand, who had re-
Gently assumed command Of the 18th corps, at
Alexandria At 4 O'clock p m, while the
transport bearing the ]. 9TH was turning bend
on Red River short distance above Shaggy
Point, a body of the enemy-at least 900 in
numbeT-snddenly arose from concealed posi-
tion behind the levee, on the south bank Of the
river. and poured a murderOus yoiley into the
boat The cnemys batteries also opened on
The ill-fated boat. and it was almost instantly
rendered unmanageable by a shell puncturing
the steam-chest and letting of the steam, when
the boat Grifted to the opposite shore from
which the rebels were intTenehed. Colonel NJ
ii. Speigel, Of the 10th, IN command, deter
mined 10 hold the boat until the arrival of the
gunboat Monarch, which had conveyed the
City Belle from the mouth Of Red River TO
Shaggy Point. But tie odds were too great,
and, after a gallant resistance for half an hour,
the white flag was displayed. Two or three
companies on the lower deck, not seeing the
emblem Of surrender, kept on firing. which so
ineensed the enemy that be also renewed the
fire from both artillery and infantry. Inc
boat. now totally pnmanageable, on account OF
the pilot having both legs shot OF, as we said
before, drilted to the opposite shore, and large
portion Of the regiment jumped ashore and
escaped int0 the woods. Others remained on
the b0at prevented from ascending the steep
bark by the rapid firing of the enemy cover
ing the only spot st which the bank could be
scaled on account Of the thick underbrush To
prevent further efGsiOn of blood, the white
flag was again displayed and formal suTren-
der effected. Colonel Spegel, Surgeon B. STAN
ton, Assistant Surgeon John Q. Gill, Captains
J. p. RummelI, B. f. Miller, +. Frannfetter
and B. T. Jones, Iieutenants Applegate and
Roach, and two wounded men fell into the
hands Of the rebels besides the bodies Of the
killed. The gallant Colonel Marcus N. Speigel
was mortally wounded, and died the following
morning. The prisoners were at once marched
10 Camp Ford, near Tyler, Texas. After ter
rible march, enduring the intense heat the
pangs OF hunger, and heartless treatment, the
Nretehed captives reached Camp Ford on the
2lst Of May. In this miserable prison they
remained over year. and until the final ces-
sation OF hostiIities in 1866.
THE BOYS WHO ESCAPED.
The few who were fortunate enough TO es-
cape formed themselves into q battalion Of
three companies, under Lieutenant Colonel w.
Slecnm, coming together for that purpose about
one mile from the scene Of the disaster. Rec
ognizing al once the folly Of attempting to res
cue their comrades from captivity, the battal-
ion resolved TO husband the remaining amm1-
milton and use ii TO defend themselves against
the guerrilla bands in4esting the country be-
tween them and Alexandria We then started
and marched TO a plantation through path
less woods, about four miles, carrying our
wounded with Us, until we struck the river,
upon the bank OF which was q fine mansion.
Here we left Lieutenant John Baer and the
rest Of Our wounded, conceali1lg them in the
garnet Of the mansion, with positive instruc-
tiOns to the owner Of the same, who by the
way, was q rank rebel 70 hail the first boat
that came down the river and put them aboard;
snd the penalty for not following out cur in
stTuctiOus was 10 have his house burned upon
cur return back He followed the instruc-
tons by haiiing the steamer Blackbawk the
following day and placed them aboard but
before the boat had proceeded far down the
river WAS fred into By the enemy, and the
boat and men On board were captured.
AT this plantation we pressed into service a
nulatto guide, owned by the proprietor, who
piioted as through the pine woods by COW
paths distance Of about twelve miles, when
we again struck the river. At this point, Il
being late in the night we halted and qRartered
for the remainder Of the night IN a large cot
t0n-gin and other oufbuildings. About day
light the following morning we took up the
line OF march again, ana marched about one
mile farther up the river TO q boat landing,
where we got ferried across the river Ia a small
skill by Union IMAM living on the opposite
bank. Here we procured four small slap-jacl1s,
which was divided up among the regiment il
being the first food we had tasted FOR thirty
six hours After refreshing the inner man,
we again took up the line OF march and pro-
ceeded direct TO Alexandra, q distance Of about
eight miles, arriving there about dark, and
qu2rrered IN large stone building for the
night. The regiment then reported 70 Gen.
eral Banks, and we were kindly cared for BIZ
that general and his staff and furnished with
rati0As clothing, camp equipage. and com
Portable quarters. This remnant Of the 120tl
was assigned to duty on the 18th Of Nay ii
the division commanded by General LAWYER
On the 18Th Of hay General Bslks began Ii;
memorable retreat. The 10th having shared
Its bardsaips and priFatiOns, reached the Mis-
sissippi River on the 2Ist Of May, and went
into camp AZ Morganzia Bend, La, where i
remained until the 23d OF August Of the same
year. ] would be pleased to hear from other
who participated IN the Red River expedition
through the columns Of The NATIONAL TRIB
UNE.
Yours, in r., c. and L.,
J. i. VAN NEST,
WOOSTER, o. Lieut., 120th o. Y. ]