The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-04-30
AFTER BUSHwHACKERS.
A Spirited Campaign After Livingston and Ills
Gang.


gave brief review of Capt Conkey's campaign
after Livingston's bushwhackers, in the early
part of Feb, 1863 / will now give Capt. John
Moore's campaign in the latter part OF the same
month. and after the same band OF bushwhack-
ers. 1t was about the 18th of Feb, 1868, an
order came for detail of % men from our COM
pany &c, Sd Wis. Cav. J, under command OF First
Lieut.. James b. Pond to 90 on scout, report
said to Springfield. No. the writer being in
cluded in the number. | readily concluded
that 1t was after game nearer than that point,
and so it proved Starting out about p. IN. we
soon left all roads and went in a southwestern
course across the open prairie, III the direction
of the Forks of Cow Creek. Before going very
far we learned that we were to meet Capt. John
Moore, with 80 men of Go. G of our regiment,
at the place of camping for the night VIZ, the
Forks of Cow Creek. A man named Banks
lived there, so we knew there would be plenty
of feed Tor our horses. Soon after we arrived
there Capt. Moore came with his command.
above mentioned, with an addition of some
half-dozen scouts. Among them, James Nc
Lahlan commonly called Jim Scotch) and
Walt. Merrick, both of the 9th Kan. Cav.
These two men and myself were the only ones
who knew anything about the country when
we got of the main travelled roads. Capt.
Moore, being the highest officer present, as
sumed command of the force tabout so mem.
That night passed Off all right. Next morn
making direct for the Merrick Ford on Spring
River. Arriving there we found the river up,
but not past fording, although Walt. Merrick,
who had been raised within half a mile, on the
opposite side, contended it was until crossed,
then all followed over. By this time 1t was
getting late, nearly sunset, and 1t was about
six miles to Sherwood, where we aimed to
camp. We rode leisureiy until about four
miles were behind us, then, knowing some one
m discover m ahead a q
a gallon and never drew rein until we rode into
the town. We found no one in arms and the
stay-at-home rebels were badly surprised and
scared They were greatly aStOnished to think
we had got there without their finding it out,
but there we were and they had to provide for
us. Of course, they knew nothing of Living
ston or any of his band. After stopping over
night we started out next morning. About 10
a. IN. we met two little girls who told us that
a stay-at-home rebel had some horses keeping
for Livingston, and that two bushwhackers had
stayed at his house the night before. As con-
sequence, we paid his house visit, but not
finding him he was not molested in any way.
His brother-in-law was found, and l appealed
to him to tell the truth, telling him it was the
best for him to do so. l told him what we
knew (but not who reported), still he denied
all knowledge, but appealed to me to save him.
finally left him after getting promise from
the men who had charge of him that they
would not kill him if he told the truth and
showed where the horses were concealed, which
he finally did. The most of the horses were
branded u. S. Another bushwhacker who
had been wounded in the Summer of 1861,
when we met him that day, tried to play
fool" on US, but could talk fast enough and
sensible as usual when he saw a rope prepared
TO raise him from the ground. Finally we
struck the trail OF two horsemen, and followed
them into camp about p. M, but the " birds
had flown" They left their dinners cooking
on the fires and skipped We followed Oh and
crossed the road from Neosha TO Fort Scott
which ran by where Webb City now is. and
meeting train under Capt. Coleman, Co. ID, 9th
Kan Cav, en- route TO Fort Scott, some of our
boys went with it. The rest Of US pursued the
trail on through Diamond Grove, camping that
night at the house of Mr.. Hickey, near north
east corner of said grove, scattering out to the
farm houses for supper and again
for breakfast When time came to start two
of Co. & were missing. All we knew was that
they had gone about d quarter OF a mile farther
than any of the other boys who went the same
road for breakfast, and, supposing they would
come along soon, we started. About an hour
the man and his wife from the
house where they had gone overlook us and
reported the two men, with their horses and
arms, captured by two bushwhackers, and told
the course taken. We turned in that direction,
and soon striking the trail, there was an ex-
citing stern chase for several miles, when we
met The boys coming ON the run, meeting US
with ropes on them. One of these boys was a
irOll, good natured but homely fellow, who was
known by ali the regiment as the Major" 1t
was very funny TO US TO hear him tell their
story in his quaint way. He said they rode up
to the house Of another Hickey, son or nephew
Of the man where we had called, and saw two
men on the porch; one OF them, which proved
to be the man Of the house, and, as | suppose
TO get out OF danger, got up and went into the
house, when they called for breakfast The
man sitting there invited them to get down,
and went with them to take care of their horses
He drew water at the well for them to wash,
and was very laxative. When they were
called to breakfast they left him sitting on the
porch Before they had finished eating two
men walked into the rOom one of them being
5he man left on the porch, with guns leveled,
and spoke the Ominous words "YOu are our
prisoners" After disarming them, they We're
marched out some two or three hundred yards |
into the woods, where they found their horses
lied; they mounted and started through the |
woods. After being driven before their cap
5ors for several miles, they were stopped and
ropes prepared to hang them, but we were
90 close, and the chivarous bushwhackers |
lad to run and leave them. While they were |
liking to hang the boys a man passed near and |
'alled TO them, and told them to make sure |
work OF it. In the pursuit we caught this man, |
ind he denied seeing anyone that morning |
He had full outfit for se-shoeing in his |
pockets. After he had been dragged some dis |
.ance with a rope he acknowledged, but the |
ielay had saved the men we were after He |
vas taken to Fort Scott, and his family follow
ng, he was soon released. major" lost his |
spotted horse, and we never got him again |
ailing to overtake them. We turned, and |
striking Livingston's trail, we followed until |
nearly sunset, when We met a scout from Bow |
,r's Mill, who informed us that in running |
rom us Livingston, with his band, had run on |
| small forage party from that place, and, hav- |
ng fight, had gone in the direction Of the |
head Of Dry Fork Creek, northeast from Car
hage, and company were after them. We |
hanged our course, passed through Carthage, |
md, travelling until near midnight, went into |
amp without food for our ourselves or horses,
lear where Alba now is, and stayed until it |
got light enough for us to travel Saw moth
ng, but that afternoon we learned that we had |
amped within less than 800 yards of the band |
We were hunting, and had passed within some
~ or 30 yards of their guards in the morning
IS we marched out Going several miles we
ound feed for man and beast, and learned the
rain we had passed two days before was pass
Dg near on another road. We came down the
liver ahead of Livingston's band, meeting the
nen from Bowers Mill, but saw no enemy,
amping that night at Mrs. Vivians, where |
}lende City now is. Next day we went to
Joshua Martins place and stopped. waiting for
N order. which we learned was in the vicinity,
rom Fort Scott. Scouting about through the
rush some of the boys picked up Bill RAIDER,
nnfQFInns nd hnrc arnl tpith 81 |