The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-08-20
MERRILLS HORSE.
Member Tells the Story OF Bloody Little Bat.
tie in Northeast Missouri.


To THE EDITOR: Within the last few months
I have seen several communications from men,
bers of my old regiment-Merrilrs Horse-in
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, which leads me to
believe that a few of the old boys are still this
side of the hereafter. Fear of being accused
of egOtism must deter some from giving in their
experience, for / know the members of that
regiment when called on to go, stood on no
ceremony, but went, and to win at all hazards.
With your leave / desire to call to mind
of the boys little affair which occurred in
Northeast Missouri, and of which l have seen
no record, and, for the numbers engaged, was a
CORY little fight.
About the 1st of July, 1862, we started on
the Northeast Missouri campaign. There was
battalion of MerrilPs Horse and about the
same of the Missouri State militia, and all told
would not exceed 500 men probably. After
being on the move for some days without any
thing happening to relieve the mOnotony of
the march, we finally entered the County town
thlemphis), and the indications were that We
were close upon the heels of Gen. Porter, who
was meandering in that section, obtaining re-
cruits for the c. S. A. About four miles from
the above-named town our column came to a
temporary halt, and Corp. Bob Sutherland was
ordered to take few men and make a recon-
Nuisance some distance to the right of our
line. We filed into the forest and soon struck
an abandoned road, when, casting our eyes to-
ward an elevation some hundred yards distant.
We observed a mounted man in the act of firing
on us. He discharged his gun; the shot, a
small rifle ball, passed harmlessly over our
heads. Bob said, "Come on boys" and we
made dash for that individual, reaching his
position in few minutes and observing that
we had encountered picket post of the enemy
which was making frantic efforts to retire
not even risking the loss of precious time by
taking chances of a second shot at us. Away
thn oh ont hin fha hac ttron To no
got out of their steeds, We some so yards in
their rear, urging them to their utmost by an
occasional shot from our pistols accompanied
by lively whoops. The Johnny boys were on
the home run, as we soon found out. 1t Is
very nice and exhilerating to the pursuer as
long as it lasts but to be confronted suddenly
by line of men with guns in their hands,
dampens ones ardOr almost Immediately.
There were just six of us. The line we en-
cOuntered looked like it meant business and
was said to contain 400 men all armed with the
nasty ble-barrelled shotgun. They were
aligned parallel with the main road, some eight
or ten yards from it, and on our right. We
had ridden in past their left flank some dis
lance before we could check our chargers,
and, on the impulse of the moment, our
little squad, not considering consequences,
leveled their revolvers and fired into the
very faces of the JOhnnies. The audacity
of our attack staggered portion of their line,
but recovering from their surprise and seeing
our insignificant numbers they returned our
salute in fearful volley of buckshot. Where
the deuce all that lead went to is one of the
mysteries, for / am satisfied, perfectly, that
there was enough launched into the atmosphere
to have utterly demolished a whole brigade.
Two cOmrades-Rolf and Yates-were killed
outright, and four of US were more or less
wounded. For myself, l will say that my
bride arm was paralyzed by a shot in my
shoulder; my horse, being shot also, became
frantic and threw me violently to the ground ;
my saber, in swinging over the back of my
horse, gave me a clip back of my ear, which felt
as though my head had collided with six
pound shot. Losing the grasp ON my pistol as
l struck the ground, l hastily recovered it and
made dive for friendly swamp on the oppo-
site side of the road from the Johnnies. The
refuge was, fortunately, for only few mo-
ments, and you bet Rugged that ground, for
could distinctly hear the clatter of our column
coming to our relief. Arriving, it went in
without hesitation, and only to be repulsed.
When, retiring and dismounting, it formed
line of battle and made second advance, it was
discovered the Johnnies had left the field. In
less time than it takes to tell it some S0-odd
of our boys were killed and wounded. This
bloody little fight occurred July 10, 1862, and
the comrades composing the reckless squad
were Bob Sutherland, Jim Yates Hank Hines,
Nath Rolf, Yakey and the undersigned, all
members of Co. A (Merrill's Horse, I'd Mo. Cav.
l should like to hear through THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE, or by letter. from any comrade who
was with US on the campaign against Gen. Por-
ter in '62.-WM. THOMPSON, Co. A (MerrilP s
Horse), I'd Mo. Cav, ChillicOthe, Mo.