The National tribune., 1885-01-08
An Unlucky Scouting Party.

An tnlucky Scculibg Party.
To THE EDITOR: In the Spring Of 1854,
while our regiment, the 5th Kan. Cav, and Il
belieye) the lst Ind. Cav, were stationed at
Pine Bluff, Ark, about sunset on the evening
of April IA, a scouting party of about go men
was ordered out to go down the river about %
miles to get steamboat off a sand bar, the
boat being loaded with cotton and in great
danger of falling into the hands of the rebels
The night was very dark, drizzing rain was
falling, and our route being mostly through
heavy timber and brush, we didn't arrive at
the boat until signs of daylight were visible !;
and as soon as we had finished our breakfast
we proceeded to our work of releasing the
boat. But we soon found that the boat was so
tightly wedged into the sand bar that it could
not be accomplished without the help of
another boat About 10 o'clock / started, in
company with four comrades and one OF the
boatmen, back to Pine Bluff after the desired
boat. The first six miles was through thick
brush. and heavy timber, and, as was our prac-
tice on such occasions, We kept close watch for
bushwhackerS, knowing, as We did, that the
country was being secured by bands of from
five to 500, and at times considerable sized
army of rebel cavalry would raid the country
in the vicinity Of our camp at Pine Bluff. After
we had proceeded about six miles we began to
come out into the open fields passing farm
houses occasionally; and it being near noon,
the boys proposed that we stop at some pros
porous looking farm house and get square,
old fashioned country dinner, and it was
agreed to stop at the first house we passed that
stood on clear enough ground, so VIC could see
the approach of the enemy, if there should be
any in the neighborhood. / suppose We had
travelled some two miles after passing the first
houses, when We came to a place where the
road ran close to the river The dwelling
stood about 100 yards from the road on the
left and the Space from the house down to the
road was set with young open timber. The
house Il think was two stories high, and just
opposite the dwelling, and close to the road,
stood small log building. just as We came
opposite the small log house there
WAS TERRIFIC CRASH,
a vollcy of shotguns MS it proved. ] found
myself on the ground, my horse lying on my
right leg. j made An attempt to get from un-
der the dying horse, but found that my hip
was badly shot, and my leg was entirely help
less; but l eventually got from under the
horse and attempted to rise to my feet, but
found that was not able to stand up, as had
to hold to my leg Or violate the rules-for
every man that was ever in battle knows
that when man is hit by bullet he will al
ways grab the wounded part AS soon as /
got to realize the situation looked about to
see the fate OF the other boys l saw Comrades
Deenly and Furguson lying in the road, dead.
Yokely fell from his horse about 80 PAGES from
where lay, and WIN. Good was shot from his
horse also.
By this time the rebs were coming over the
fence with revolvers cooked but on seeing the
success Of their shOtguns, they thought there
was no need for further use of ammunition.
They then went through our pockets, re-
loaded their guns, appropriated such of our
clothing as they thought they would need,
then mounted their horses and rode away.
The boatman (whose name never learned)
was not hit. as the rabs supDoSed that he was a
prisoner that we were taking back to camp.
1t was about II o'clock, April 10, when this
happened. Our steamboat man and three
women carried Yokely, Good and myself to
the dwelling, and the lifeless bodies of Deenly
and Furguson were laid in an clubhouse We
lay here until o'clock the next day, without
our wounds being dressed or any surgical
treatment. Our boatman staid with us like
true friend, and did all in his power to give us
relief; and although the rebels told him that
if they found him on the road taking the news
to camp before the next day they would kill
him, yet as soon as it was fully dark he
mounted his mule and took to the woods, and
by 10 o'clock the next morning he arrived in
camp and delivered his sad story. Two am
balances we're sent with escort, and we were
soon on clean cotton beds, with kind comrades
and skilled surgeons to minister to our suffer
ing. Iokely was struck by II buckshot. He
suffered intensely for nearly three weeks,
when death came to his relief. Good was
struck by four buckshot in the head and face,
and two through his left arm. / received two
buckshot in my left hip, the balance of the load
lodging in my roll of blankets behind my sad
de- Mr.. Goods teeth were knocked out on one
side, and his tongue shot ust about half in
two He could not talk TO be understood for
nearly month, but he is (Or was few months
ago. living yet-JoHN SHAW, Co. ], 7th Mo.
Cav