The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-06-26
MARKS MILLS.
An Iowa Veterans Description of the Fight and
Subsequent Adventures.

Subsequent Adventures.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
noticed in your paper quite recently
request for description of the battle of Marks
Mills. and here il is: On the 23d of April, 1904
an empty train OF some two hundred wagons
left Camden for Pine Blntis to get supplies for
our beleaguered troops. This train was placed
in charge of the available force OF brigade
that Colonel Mclean commanded in General
SalOmon's division. There were comprised in
it the 43d Indiana volunteers, in charge of
Major Norris; the Seth Iowa, Major Hamilton,
and the 18th Ohio led by Captain Mccormick.
These regiments had been depleted greatly.
WITH then. were dispatched about two hundred
of the lst Indiana and LIST Missouri cavalry,
under Majors McCauley and Speilman, the
whole commanded by Lieutenant Colonel
Drake, of the 36th Iowa. They encamped,
after being one day out on Bayou Mars, and
the next morning as the train advanced they
foana the enemy drawn up in line of battle on
the road near Marks Mills, five miles on the
Pine Bluff road aud six miles from the Saline
River. This river Colonel Drake had received
orders TO cross before going into camp the
night before, but from some cause which we
never could learn, he disObeyed General Steele's
orders. Our Indiana boys were in front and
speedily became engaged, assisted by small
detachment Of the 9Th Kansas cavalry, just
coming up from Pine Bluff Six thousand
rebels fhnndered at our little guard. but more
than once it drove the enemy's center, aud, re-
enforced by the Seth Iowa, comprising scarcely
four hundred men, who soon dashed up, our
brave front withstood unshrinkingly the
heavy FIRE Of rifles and cannon concentrated
upon it for more than an hour, until at last
after two pieces of Stenge's ID Missouri artil-
lcry had been literally oyerrnn and captured
and retaEen by our rallying boys several
times, they began to give ground reluctantly
before their foes. though not however, till
every horse attached TO the battery had been
killed and the gunners shot down at their
pieces Then, and not till then, did our glori-
Gus Western soldiers, bleeding and exhausted,
give up their portion of the train. In the
meantime CAPTAIN Mccormick, who, with the
9Th Chic. was guarding the rearIaost wagons
had been ordered by Colonel Drake to hasten
forward with all speed, and he at once started
his regiment at d0uble-quick passing impeded
trains and section Of artillery which had be-
come mired IN the boggy Mars bottom. The
woods were open ali around the battle ground !:
the rebel sharpshoolers could screen them
selves Oh either flank; heavy lines We're mass
ing about the train, and at length, 10 their
disinay, the Ohio boys found themselves sacked
with tho rest Of us and were all compelled to
surrender. We lost 250 in killed and wounded
ana about 900 prisoners, with 200 wagons and
100 fcanlsters. The eneTay's loss could not
have beca less than ], 900 killed and wounded,
~ tIl SAlltAiSEtI,s Ntiot SG II llS f1I1DoT. ClQ
fearful execution on rebel masses during the
prO.ra-ted engagement. Beyond mules, wag-
Ons and arms and many OF these were dam
aged the eneTay obtained moi hing but prison
ers, for the train was an empty one. OHr
brave boys, robbed and msltreated, were then
marched to Red River, and soon afterwards
arrived, weary and worn. az the populated
prison-pen at Camp Ford. Tyler, Texas, which
then numbered about 800 inmates.
AN ESCAPE FROM CAMP FORD.
7 remained at Camp Ford until September
following. when / thought il best to take a
furioueh and ia order TO get OH of prison per-
shaded guard TO Jet me exchange haversaclls
across the stOckade with one of our boys who
WIS staying at the hospital. In his sack
found pass Cor two TO pass out to the hospital
So taking Comrade Campbell with me, walked
out about sundown 20 the hospital. We re-
Inainec at the hospital till after dark. when it
commenced 10 gzin, and then struck for the
woods. taking Northeast course as near as we
could Judge by the lay of the country in 50
dark night. II cleared of by and by and we
discovered the North star, which was our guide
for the twentE-0ne nights We were together Ill
fhe woods We had swamrs 70 wade rivers
End creeks 70 swim, and had 10 subsist on
grtcn corn wild grapes and sassafras sprouts.
aac occasionally corn pOne from some colorcd
friend. A few nights after our escape we carac
70 . church in the woods where colored and
while people were congregated together sing
Ing an old revival bymn. ] walked up TO the
d0or and viewed the congregation within my
c0nFade waiting and watching the enemy.
We thought n0w was our chance TO rest our
wesry limbs 50, untying couple Of horses.
We mounted and let them walk iesarely away
for aisouf half miie when we struck ont on
the gallop Tor Red River in hopes OF reaching
there by the Dawn Of day Unfortunately VIC
got on the wrong road and went down the
valley towards Shreveport We turned The
horses loose at dawn Of day, and, starting north
again. kept in the woods most Of the tirne and
stracl the river at the mouth Of Sulphur Creek
twhcre negroes told Us afterwards they had
seen ailigatoTs large enough 10 swallow a
man without breaking his bones) about noon
We lay there until after dark and then
tying our little bundle Of clothes on q
small log. we showed il into the rcd. muddy
stream. which was then even with its banks
and, plunging IN after it, swan 70 the other
shore. & night and part Of DAYS travel
brought us out in Arkansas. We suffered
greatly from thirst. Some warm DAYS. In ths
morning, We would lick the leaves on the
bushes, and one day cot down and licked ths
mnd where two wild hogs had been lying.
expect we looked about as wild as those hogs
with 50 little clothing 10 cover our bodies
Mother earth was cur only bed and the blu.
Sky Of heaven our sole covering One brigh'
morning just after sunrise, as we We're cross
lng the Washington and Camden road We cam,
Al contact with rebel colonel and captain
TAKEN IN, AFTER ALL
They thought they would take Us in. but the,
die not have any arms, and consequently thel
were not big enough TO capture two Westerf
Aanks who had travelled more than two hun
drcd and fifty miles, mostly by starlight witt
no road or guide but the North star. Thes
brave officers said they would 20 10 CamdeI
and get pack of hounds and catch us: and a
soon rs we got out Of their sight, you may b
snre VIC liz" out pretty lively. After hare
march Of forty-eight hours, worn out AM
nearly starved, j went TO house 10 get some
thing 70 eat, leaving my comrade in the woods
Wits instructions not 30 wait over one hour il
case ] did not return. When got 10 the hous
there was rebel soldier there and he wa
well armed and took ne in" About o'clocl
that night seven rebs rode up TO the hous
where ! was under guard They lad a pacl
Of hounds with them and had been on on
track al day. Some Of those fellows were Il
favor OF hanging rne, but Others prevailed o.
tbcm 70 take me 10 Camden. The next morn
ing they put me on an old mule and sent tE'
guards with me, and ] was turned oyer to th
provost marshal al Camden and confined In
dungeon with lot of wounded prisoners. NJ
conrade made his way through TO Little Roc
alone, but suffered almos, death by starvation
ta;d at Camden shirty-iive days, and was the
marched back to Tyler with the wounded pris
oaers There ] spent the winter, and in tn
spring following was exchanged, al the mout
a. Red River, for the prisoners we helped I
capture on the fth of July, 1863. Thence W