The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1885-04-11
a. MIDNIGHT BURIAL.
A War Hmcident i'm Western
Louisiana. &. H. #s

A War Hncident i'm Western
Louisiana. ST. FL s
Sioux City Journal. sHt ..a.. ..t
81 see by the papers to-day" said
veteran to Il reporter yesterday, "that
exLieut. Gov. Cue, of Iowa, has Sc
cured permit from the War Depart
ment to disinter and remove to the
Nieksburg National Cemetery the re-
mains of his brother, killed during the
war, way down in Southwestern Loui-
siana-that is, if he is successful 10
finding the bones of the gallant soldier
buried So many years ago" ....
''Oh, yes | knew him well that is
as well as boy could be expected to
know a man, and that man an officer
lie belonged to my regiment, the Gath
Iowa, and was Captain of Company c
at the time he was killed. Il hap.
pened while we were ont on the Techc
campaign under Banks, some time in
November, 1868. Cue was killed
while we were lying at Carencro Bayou,
small sluggish stream that falls into
the Bayou Teche from the west. 1t is
about 130 miles directly west from
New Orleans The west side of the
Tcchc is an open level prairie country,
extending to the Sabine River, while
on the east it is heavily timbcred and
mostly swamp. The country lying
between the Teche and the Mississippi
River comprises the great sugar lands
Of louisiana
lie wasn't killed in battle. Yes,
l was with the Captain at the time.
Well, III tell you how it happened
You see, was fifteen-ycar-old drum |
mer boy with a cultivated taste for
adventure and sweet potatoes. We |
were in part living off the country dur
ing that campaign, and every day or
two foraging parties were sent out un-
der an officer TO bring in sweet pota-
toes. Sweet potatoes in our mess
never held out, and | was always on
the lookout to secure some on indiYid-
ual account. On this particular occa-
sion Capt. Cue had charge of the for
aging detail of twelve men. had
secured an empty oat sack, and just as
the detail was about to start, | stepped
up and saluted the Captain, who was
mounted on the Coloneps horse, and
asked permission to accompany the
party. 1t was, of.course, very irreg
ular proceeding on my part ; but you
know what drummer boy wouldn't
attempt has never been tried. re-
member well how quizzieal he looked
down at me. and, after quite pause,
said : I would let you 60, my little
fellow, but you see can only pass
twelve men; but if should find you
outside the lines | wouldn't let them
gobble you up This was hint enough
for me. The Captain trotted his horse
ahead of the mules and | quickly |
elimed into the wagon. Nearing the
picket line, lay down in the bottom 7
of the box while the detail was counted
and SO passed ont unehalenged. We
went out distance of about three
miles from our picket lines, where we
turned into a field of sweet potatoes,
and after posting two or three sentries
began filling the wagon. ! pressed 4
huge negro into my personal service,
to whom promised freedom which \
he got--and soon had my two bnsheI
sack filed with the biggest of Louisi.
ana yams. then told my contraband
that | must have chicken, and started |
on forage that took me beyond Il
strip of very tall weeds that grew at
tbe cast end OF the potato patch, where
booking out TO the southeast, beyond
The open field, ! saw approaching from
the prairie, and at distance Of about
half mIle, some twenty-five or thirty
men, all dressed in onr uniform. Ill,
Immediately buried to our Captain
and told him what had seen. He
got on top of the wagon SO as to look
over the tall weeds tlias grew between
Us and the field and open country be.
yond, and after satisfying himself that
they were scouting party Of our own
cavalry be decided to ride out and !
speak TO them. Directing inc to ne.
main where | was, lie mounted his
lorsc and rode out to meet them. ,,
Fie enemy, for such they proved,
we're riding from the south oyer the
open ground. We were epnceaIedj
rom them by the strip of tall weeds. /
When they reached the fence sur, i
the field, all but one Of the !
party tdrned and rode east. The sin,
gle horseman came slowly down to- /
wards our end Of the field until he dis. /
covered the Captain coming towards !
aim ont of The strip Of weeds, when |
II halted and quietly waited for the !
captain, who rode up, raised his hand
d his hat on salute To the man on the
opposite side VI the fence, not more
ban twelve OF fourteen feet distant,
Asao ID turn raised his carbine ana
shst tile capteia / had reMained 81 /
ihe WAGON locking oYNf tbe- weeds and i
watching tile movements, aud as the
Captain fell from the sAddle Instantly
gage the alarm. The men seized their
lrms, and at the sergeant's orders
started OH the double quick 20 aid, IL 1