The National tribune., 1885-07-02
Fight at AshleY's Station. Ark.

To THE EDITOR: On the Goth of August,
1864. my regiment 18th Mo. Cav.t, 11th Mo.
Cav. and 9th Iowa Cav. were lying in camp
about three-quarters of mile west of DuvalPs
Bluff, Ark. We were under the immediate
command of our Colonel, Washington f. Geiger
The day was very hot and sultry. We were
lounging around in the thick shade of the beau
titul oak trees which environed our camp.
Suddenly boots and saddles" rang out in loud
shriil notes from Col. Geiger's headquarters
In few minutes we were all mounted, armed
and equipped. Whats up?" Where are
they?" were questions frequently asked, but
no one seemed ready to answer. Forward ="
the bugle sounded, and soon we saw the head
of our column, led by the gallant Geiger on
his fine bay stallion, heading westward toward
Grand Prairie, which extended from near our
camp westward along the route of the railroad
running from Duval's Bluff to Little Rock.
Our whole force numbered about 800, as fol-
lows: Sth No. Cav, 300; 11th Mo- Cav, 100,
and 9th Iowa Cav, 400.
After marching at rapid pace three or four
miles we met some straggiers who Informed us
that the rebel Gen. Joe Shelby, with force of
about 2,5O0 or 5000 cavalry, had struck the
railroad on the prairie about II miles from
DuvalPs Bluff, and near Ashley's Station that
he had routed small band of cavalry near there,
and had surrounded the 5ith H., who were
standing the Johnnies of. having made breast
works of haybales. The hay had been cut and
baled in that vicinity for the use of our cav
airy. Soon we heard the roar of artillery.
Knowing the rebels were shelling the 54th, and
would soon burn their hay bale breastworks and
capture them, We quickened our pace to a
sweeping trot. Before we arrived within
striking distance the 54th had been over
powered and captured. We were in sight,
and probably not more than two miles away,
when the rebels made their final charge. With
out materially checking gait, we formed
line of battle, with the IIth No. on the right
and the 9th Iowa who were comparatively raw
troops) as reserves. At a distance of about 300
yards we opened fire with our carbiues and
slackened our pace little, but continued to
march steadily forward until We arrived within
good pistol shot of their main line. The rebels
replied TO US vigorously. Pistols and carbines
cracked and bullets whizzed for about an hour
We felt too weak to risk charge into such an
over1 helming force, aud they believed that
we had a large force of infantry and artillery
masked in skirt of timber to right and rear
of our line
While the fight was progressing my horse
received a fatal shot in the breast, but one of
our company M, j. b. Heart, having received
a shot in the arm, went TO an ambulance in the
rear and l mounted his horse and again rode
into line. Soon our ammunition ran short and
as some wagons had arrived with fresh supply
OF that necessary article, we formed columns of
squadron and began to replenish our cartridge
boxes. While we were thus engaged the rebels
began hasty retreat, and soon disappeared in
the timber to the northward. 1t was now near
sunset. Believing that the enemy was maneu-
vering TO get between US and our camp at Du-
wallis Bluff we turned the head of our column
in that direction, where we arrived short time
after dark. Our brigade lost 52 killed and
wounded, while the rebels acknowledged a loss
during our part of the fight of 104. Shelby
continued his march northward toward Mis-
souri,, where he joined Price in his last famous
raid. We, having been REINFORCED by another
brigade of cavalry from Little Rock the whole
under Gen. West started in pursuit of Shelby
and followed him about 50 miles, but did not
succeed in doing him any material hurt.-E
BRIsTow, Scrg't, Co. NJ, Sth Mo. Cav, Alba
Ore.