The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-08-12


Pilot Knob Mo. We had had q long, hard
Winter campaign; had made a raid in Mid
winter down into Arkansas when the snow
was 10 inches deep; living on what we could
gather from poor country that had been badly
raided hy the troops OF bOJh armies, and strip
ped OF everything that could sustain life Tor
man OF boast. Ia that raid Of several weeks
we had been entirely without tents or baggage,
continually exposed in the most Indictment
season ol the year, the little sleep we got was
upOn the SNOW, or on our horses while riding
through the dreary country. Coming out at
We, Pans one night, hail-starycd and half
frozen, Re Joined the division of Gen. David
s0n rnUampud there, and received regular ra-
tiOns once more OF bareback, bacon, and coffee,
ana never did lhey taste good There was
no rest, however; the whole division soon took
up The line OF march for Pilot Knob, and dur
ing tha next three or four weeks the Army of
tic Southwest dragged Itself through valleys,
over mountains, always through mud, slush,
rain, slgnt aud SNOW, the soldiers making pack
mules 0f themselves by carrying the baggage
Rnd dragging mules, wagons, and artillery
Through tnc mud by means OF long ropes ac-
comprising marches OF from two 10 tive miles
day. J think II about March 20 that
we arrived al Pilot Knob, where We went into
camp Ia tents and hal months rest.
ID was an April that the rebel Gen Marina
duke now Governor OF Missouri. with about
10000 Ccniederates made his annual or semi
annual laid into Southeast Missouri. As he
seemed 90 he heading Tor Pilot Knob, troops
from every direction were rapidly concentrated
there The troops commanded by Gen. Mar
nadUke were largely Mssourians, and they
had uisaEreeshe habit Of coming up from
Arkansas three or four times year and max
ing savage tights on their own native heaths,
and 10, the privilege of enjoying, for a time,
the pleasures of their homes and frcsides.
llK tsa..
them. and usually, with very httle time for
picnicug, they We're compelled TO fall back
over Dc Arkansas line.
On the 2jth of April i had command Of
the EuaIls around our camps at Pilot Knob,
aud t-fl- nlgh5 we received the first reliable
news lHat 1amaduke was within striking dis
taull As ] WAS visiting the pckCt-p post on
the tt 1-an road j halted some OF the 81 Mo.
SiaTl Iaitla no were Fetreatng from Patter-
sou, iilagC about - miles south of the Knob.
Iha} claimed that their regiment. which had
bccn 5u outpost duty at Patterson, had been
ATTACKED 5y aiarmaduke aud badly cut to
pieces When 4 returned TO camp. about a.
NJ, .9UD2 * deserted. Our brigade had evil
dclay baan ordered somewhere very hastily
GariGl The nleHt single tent remained
standing in tlie MIDST oil the campground, and
feeling worry tired and sleepy, and assured that
the pnsla would, u necessary, find me better
there than oiseN here. 1 went into the tent.
EOuudlF uuUl daylight In the morning /
lounu the brigade dlawn mp IN close column on
the village common with hOr-es saddled and
everything ready iCr instant action. 1t was
soon learned that Marmaduke had
ONLY MADE A FEINT
toward the Knob, with the purpose Of keeping
the troops there as long rs possible, and had
turned his main force 10 the right and marched
RAPIDLY lor Cape Girardeau, which post was
H.. !. q Il.
turo ..h ali its army supplies, before rein
torccmlats could amiNe. As soon as his pur-
pose WAS evident our cavalry put in rapid
malcf Nfan his rear, followed by ali the inian-
try ahuu the Knob.
1t was the 9th Of April that we moved out
npursnit % hlaTmaduke, beginning a cam raign
iuiiy a. hard rs any we bad yet experienced
For tn next 10 days we were almost
CONTINUALLY IN THE SADDLE
and nearly an the time fighting or skrmish-
i'm. Before M.lmaduke could capture Cape
GirGFdeap We pressed his rear so closely that he
was compelled 10 turn on US at Jackson and
during The morning of the 9th soInc SIX rmish-
ing and artillery practice were INDUCED in,
with few casualties on either side. Marina
dukes next stand was made at the crossing of
the White Water River, IL miles from Jackson.
His artillery destroyed the bridge BY shooting
away the Supports, and compelled a halt until
il coula be rebuilt.
There was almost continual s1irmishing by
artillery and smail-arms. At the crossing of
the Castor River another stand was made, aud
as The river was high IL was believed the rebels
would To compelled 10 fight or surrender. Con-
siderable sklrui-hing took place in the even
ing, ANA 3 few prisoners were taken We lay
Oh ODr arms during the night ON the high
ground in the woods overlooking a broad bot
tom occupied hy the enemy, who were endeav-
OriuE n effect "A crossing. Two hours more of
N
meut. 1utdarkness came before the troops could
get into position, and during the night the
ConteGeratcs succeeded in
GETTING OVER THE SWOLLEN RIVER
and destroying their improvised bridge behind
them.
They secured such a start during the night
that We did mol Orertake them again until TO-
ward evening OF the next day at Bloomfield
Here they again made extensive preparations
for battle throN %up light breastworks Of rails
and logs for sc, NJ miles around, north and
east OF the yiilag1A There WAS some artillery
aud musketry firing in the evening and again
IN the morning, but the hulk of the Conleder-
ates had no doubt retreated during the night
leaving Carriers Brigade Of Texas cavalry TO
cover their rear.
During the night of April 30 our cavalry
were pushed rapidly forward, riding all night
without halt and in the morning we were
close on the heels OF the rebels. The artillery
Kept mp with Us, and on the morning Of May
the bali opened early. Our regiment and the
lst Wis. Cav. were in advance. and during the
forenoon were cismountcd and pushed forward
. as sllrmishers The rebel artillery kept up q
continual running FIRE, which, however,
DID But LITTLE DAMAGE.
Fir N~R, toward noon, that we were getting
bchins-, se Colonel Of our regiment, John NJ
Glover, late Member OF Congress from Missouri,
who that day commanded our brigade, ordered
the Sd No. TO mount and make a CHARGE We
were ordered to close mp in columns Of fours
and move forward AZ a brisk tr0t This was
kept up iof ono or two miles, when we came
upon the tIat line " rebels, aud
WITH a Wild CHEER
that made lhc old woods ring FOR miles we put
spurs 10 our horses and sailed IN on the John
mics WITH the rush OF hurricane The first
line o. rebels which extended across an open
field and into The woods was scattered like
chaB We paid no attention 10 IT, but rode
through ana over IT, leaving the rebels to be
g0bDlea up by cur supports. squad OF
them took possession Of q log house, / re-
member, az the roadside and poured deadly
fire on the passing column. It was here
that the gallant Lieut.. KirlSatrick and several
men and horses Of Co q went down. From
this point for half mile, more or less II could
not take note Of distance them, the road was
strewn with rebel dead and wounded We
soon passed the field, and charging along q
narrow road with woods on either side, we
received crOssire from both sides of the road