Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-10-14
General Marma(luke.
The Battle Of Usage During Which
the Present Governor Of Missouri
was Taken Prisoner.

was Taken Prisoner.
The Battle Of the Usage" was
fought in the latter part of October,
1864. There were two engagements,
one in the morning and one in the Of
ternoon.
During the morning fight the pres
ent Governor of Missouri, General
Marmaduke, was taken prisoner. |
was a participator in the charge made
by the Union forces, and an eye-wit-
ness of his capture, although his iden-
tity was not known for half hour
afterwards. The country for miles in
the Usage region is unbroken prairie
the ground undnlating; the hills and
hollows seeming to run parallel. 1t
was, therefore, a model battle ground,
and, in reading the accounts of the
English compaign in Soudan, | was
reminded vividly of our pursuit of the
Confederates through Missouri.
Just after crossing the dry bed Of
the Usage river, we heard skirmishing,
and soon came in sight of the enemy,
formed in line of battle, and waiting
for US. | was Captain of Company
II, Tenth Missouri Cavalry; Colonel
Bentine, commander, and General
Pleasanton, brigade commander. My
position was on the left, as we drew
up in line. During my four years
service | had seen many wonderful
sights, and had been in some very
close quarters. But never had seen
nine thousond horsemen drawn up in
battle array, and the sight was GER
tainly thrilling one. believe | am
safe in saying that since the battle of
the Pyramids in Egypt, modern war
fare had not seen the like. The enc
my were well supported by their
artillery, and as I looked across the
intervening space | could see the
mouths of the cannons. Willie we sat
on our horses waiting for orders, Gen.
erals Pleasanton and Curtis came rid
ing down between the lines. AS they
passed me / heard Pleasanton say !:
"We must come together now."
These words, and the ominous looks
of the cannon, assured me that ser
ious moment was at hand. | had six
hundred dollars about me, and put
it into an official envelope. | then
directed it to my sister, and gave it to
our surgeon, with the request to for
ward it in case of my death, or as the
boys were in the habit of saying, in
case did not "come OUT
At last the bugle sounded the
charge. The long lines surged in
and out, but no advance was made.
Again the bugle rang out on tie
still air, and again the lines wavered.
Then suddenly rider on white
horse burst through the ranks and
rode at the foe. Like an avalanc he
we followed. In the excitement every
fear vanished, and we rode through
the enemy's ranks, dispensing them
right and left. They had fired one
volley and had no time to reload.
Their right wing was completely
cut off from the main body and sur
rounded. Having no other alterna-
tive they surrendered, and we were
soon busy dismounting them and hur-
rying them to the rear On my way
back with crowd of prisoners, we
met General James Lane going to the
front. He stopped, and pushing his
way through the crowd of guards and
prisoners, walked up to a tall, line
looking Confederate, held out his
hand, and said: "How do you do,
General Marmaduke?" The man
shook his hand warmly, and after a
few words General Lane walked away
taking General Marmaduke with him.
When taken General Marmaduke had
on his hat star and crescent. AT
the time no one knew him, and Colo
mel Bentine noticing the ornaments
cut them from the hat as trophies OF
war. The star when last heard from
was in q museum in Chicago. Gen.
eral Marmaduke had no insignia OF
Office from which he could be distin-
guished from the common soldiers,
having simple gray uniform and a
large slouch hat. I have never learn
ed who the rider on the white horse
was that led the charge other than
that he was staff officer.
The Confederates made stand
apain in the afternoon, forming in