The National tribune., 1885-04-09
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
"BUSHWHACKING."
The Trials of Loyalty in Southwest Missouri.

The Trials of Loyalty in Southwest Missouri
To THE EDITOR: again renew the story OF
Royalty in this part oi the Union. The chlValry
who bushwbackeG through this country did
not always have things their own way. In the
Fall of 1862 soon after the murder OF Rev Nm.
B. Southard, Solomon Schouse and Abraham
Hewitt, spoken of in a former article, a bush
whacker Lieutenant named Lindsay was shot
from the bushes by Union man, thus paying
them IN their own coin. Several scouting par
tics of Federals coming into this country, others
were killed and several taken prisoners. Among
the latter was notorious Capt Moses ). Baker
and Lieut.. Polcet, by Capt. Coleman, co. ID,
9th Kan. Cav. They never molested US again.
Both escaped soon after, but before they got
back to their command POleet was killed and
Baker was rccaptured, and was finally killed by
some of the boys, who were concealed, and never
made ii known.
In December / reported for duty to Maj. Jno.
Foreman, of the 30 Ind, commanding the post
Mt Ncosho. Newton Co. Mo-, going from TT. Scott,
Kan, with L. 5. train, which was en- route to
Bentonville, ark which was at that time our
most advanced post TO the South. l was gen
eIal fOragCT for Ily mess, and Jno. H. johnson, OF
Shoalsburg, Mo-, who afterwards served in an
Indiana regiment, was for his mess. l often
think of the risks we ran TO get chickens for
our respective squads. Once We Went into camp
at Talbotts Mill on Spring River where Gales
burg now is, and John and l started out. We
went about half or three-foar;hs OF 4 mile, and
finding a farmhouse where chickens were
plenty, we got of our horses and loaded up
About that time squad OF Indian soldiers
came and began 10 shoot hogs outside the fence.
The old lady came out and told us We were
welcome to all We had taken, and more, II
We wanted them, but made a request that
We should stay until the Indians left. We
replied that the Indians would not molest her
nor the house, and We would return as soon as
yra had faE oh IN
We did, but under circumstances very different
from what we expected. 1t seemed that an
Indian in pursuit of crippled hog had run into
o den of bushwhackers not more than 100
yards from the house. A volley was fired and
. rally was made on both sides. The Indians
were too strong for them, and the bushwEack-
ers fed, leaving among other spoils suffers
wagon they had captured from another train
few days before. The owner was with our
train, and, Of course, recognized his wagon.
Search was made, and most of the goods found
oil right, the missing portion being found under
the floor of the house. boy and team of oxen
were pressed into service, and the wagon ans
goods were taken on with our train. Now, what
could have been her reason for trying to get US
to remain? Was it to have us killed or taken?
if so, why did she not have it done before the
Indians came? We were there alone at least
half an hour.
Reaching Neosho, other matters attracted our
y
were attacked while out, and several killed and
wounded. Some days after four bushwhackers,
one of them being an Adiutant, were captured.
The AG Gutant, admitting he was present at the
attack aforesaid, was shot by order of the Major
In command in retaliation, and he sent notice
to Livingston, who was chief among the BUSH
whackers, that if Capt. Terry, who was in com
mand and had ordered some prisoners killed,
was not delivered TO him in 10 days he would
have the prisoners he had killed. Two of them
broke from the guards at night, and one
capped ; the other was killed. The remaining
man was killed after the 10 days were out on the
very spot the Indians had been massacred. No
white man nor any who could speak English
was allowed to witness the execution. The
names of these bushwhackers Were Yancey
Richardson, Adjutant; Monroe Scott, killed
trying TO get away Ben Finney, executed after
10 days, and Alexander Price who alone es-
caped. and he made himself very scarce. He
was not seen in Southwest Missouri afterwards
during the war. l know not whether he is
living.
Among the most daring of the dcsperadoes
who infested this country as bushwhackers
were two brothers, named Brysou and Crawford
Mayfeld, commonly called Brice and Crack.
Many Union man, soldier and citizen, came
to an untimely end at their hands. Always
mounted on good horses, such as gamblers and
horse racers usually sported, and destitute of
AL honor, they went armed to the teeth and
woe bctide the man who fell into theirpo
but their end came, in one of the most bloody
engagements OF the war, in proportion TO num-
bers engaged, and deserves special mention. A
train was going to BeItonville Ark, and with
the train were two soldiers, one named Nichols
and the other Winkleman, j think, belonging
to the ID Kan. Cav. The night the train camped
st Neosho they, with boy about Il years
Of age named Coyer, citizen, who had been
raised in that vicinity, about eight miles back,
- al ,sr1t@ - ,af.
named Parnell, where there were a lot of girls.
In the morning, about breakfast time, two men
rode up dressed in blue uniforms, and called.
The two soldiers walked out, sHpposing they
were u. s. soldiers and when near the gate firing
was begun by the men on horseback; Nichols
fell, wounded, and his comrade carried him III
the house. Then the fight became one unto
death the men on horseback dismOunted and
rushed to the door, where they met shot for
shot and when 1t ended Nichols and Coyer
were killed in the house, while the two on the
outside were killed trying to get in at the door.
But one alone, out of the five engaged in that
terrible fight, remained to tell the tale, and he
. stranger in the country. He told the people
that if all was not found on his return as he left
IL he would burn the house. He started for
Neosho as fast as his horse could carry him; he
soon came in sight of some four or five men ON
horses, who fed before him. Arriving he got
assistance and returned TO the OF slaughter,
and brought the four dead men to town with
al their horses and arms Then it was known
the two Mayfield brothers would commit no
more murders On Union men. But this will do
for this time, merely remarking the hero re-
ceived the well-merited and hard-earned COM
mission. II living would be glad TO hear from
him. would also be glad to hear from any
surviving comrades of the 9th Kan. Cav, LIST
Kan. COlOred Infantry (76th U.S), and I'd Kan.
battery, who were in the fight near Sherwood,
No, May Is, lo63.-HUGH L. THOMPSON, Co.'S
@, A and II, 3dWis. Cav, Carl Junction, Mo.
The Soldier Element In Kansas.