The National tribune., 1885-07-09
"MERRILLS HORSE"
The First Troops TO Enter Little Rock.

To THE EDITOR: In the advance of Steele's
forces upon Little Rock said forces being COM
posed of part of the Thirteenth Corps and the
Cavalry Division from Missouri, commanded by
Gen. ]. w. Davidson, my regiment did It's
whole duty and did it well-at least such was
the opinion of our division and brigade COM
manders. On the morning of Sept. z, '63, after
breaking camp near Brownsville, tho First
Brigade, Cavalry Division, took the advance
of the army; Merrilrs Horse the advance OF
the brigade, and Co. E (my company the ad-
vance of the regiment. We found the enemy
about 10 miles below the city of Little Rock, at
the crossing of q creek or bayou. There had
been a bridge over this stream, the banks being
high and the water deep and sluggish. This
was the main road leading up the north bank
of the river to the Notifications opposite the
city. Marmaduke, now Governor of Missouri,
then Confederate General, had put force at
the crossing above named, and they had taken
up the floor of the bridge, but left the stringcrs
The order came: "Merrilrs Horse, prepare to
fight on foot" We were dismOunted in line
and counted by fours at lightning speed
"Chargc!" and on to those stringers we WENT
Co. L in advance. When we were just on the
stringers the rebs rose from their ambush, and
didn't they give us voley? My clothing was
riddled. On we went into the woods and after
them.
When the Johnnies began to "git F" stopped
to take an inventory of my person, and found
a painful flesh wound in the side just above
the right hip joint, canteen strap partly CUT
six bullet-holes in my shirt, slight wound on
left hand and jacket and hat cut with bullets
While bathing my wounds, my old Colonel.
Lewis Merrill, the brigade commander, came
up, called my name, examined my wounds
ordered me to the rear, and went on to the
front on foot. My First Sergeant was badly
shot while behind me on that bridge. My
Captain, j. NJ. White, of Battle Creek, Mich,
laI |, 80. l,1, alafl,x hx,ot taaSf hal a
dozen bullets.
We drove that brigade of rebel cavalry back
four or five miles that day. Old Col. Merrill,
now of the 9TH U. S. Cav, is proud of our rec
ord; and every man of that grand old regiment
whose backs the enemy never saw and whose
colors never knew defeat, is honored by that
record.
The army camped near the Arkansas River
that night and for day or two. While there
one man of Co. ID, Mcrrills Horse, waded to
the middle of the river, met his brother, who
was a rebel soldier, exchanged letters from
home and to home, had good talk, and each
man returned TO his command to resume duty,
as they understood it, in deadly conflict.
About the 10th of September the Cavalry Di-
vision crossed the Arkansas near our camp
several miles below the city. The infantry and
artillery moved up the north bank and we
up the south bank. The strong earthworks
were just north of the city on the bank of the
| river. The truth is, our Cavalry Division fought
the battle of Little Rock with the help of the
artillery, which did good service throwing shot
and shell across the river into the JOhnnies in
our front; but the moral support of the in
fantry did as much to give us the victory as
the balls aud Shells ETC., did.
MerrilPs Horse had twelve companies of cav
airy and a hOwitzer battery of four pieces with
Lieut.. Lovejoy commanding the guns. Our guns
were ordered to stay ON the sand beach and
she'll fha woods ad yanPin0 slowly and
tiously. The Lieutenant got reckless and ran
about 300 yards up the beach hwithoutshelling the
willows on the bank. Just as the guns opened
with shell the rebel infantry charged and cap
tured the guns, killed and captured all the men
but the Lieutenant and two or three privates.
The Lieutenant was the worst perforated man l
ever saw to live. His horse carried him out,
but the horse died and the Lieutenant recov-
cred. He was soon Major for his gallantry.
My wounds were very sore, it having been
three days since ! was shot on the stringers,
but got one of the boys to help ME on my
horse, and / rode in rear of my company nearly
all day Just to be with the boys aud to see what
was going on. Merrill's Horse was the first
regiment to enter the city. There was no
firing after we were near the city. Our regi-
mental band went in front after we were well
up among the residences and business houses,
giving the citizens loyal airs, and from many
houses came friendly greetings, and even from
some WAS unlurieu, 10 our JOY, INC glorious OH
flag, the Stars and Stripes.
There has been good deal said lately about
the first regiment to cross the river and the
first to enter the city. ] write what saw and
heard and felt. Having lost my old army
diary, write from memory. If l am in error.
/ am honest in it, but certainly Merrilis Horse
was first to open the battle on the 7th and first
to enter the city. We lost not only our guns,
but more brave boys than any regiment in the
command. Every regiment of the division did
its duty-W Il. FISHER. Geo. III. Thomas Post,
G.A.R Dept. Tex, Denton, Tex.
Bee Hunting Expeditiop.