The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-01-01
A Neglected Engagement of thc War

Negiccte'l engagement OF the War.
From Mari: Twain's "Privatc His
tory OF Campaign that Failed" in
the Century, we take this incident:
''For 4 time life was idly delicious.
it was perfect: there was nothing to
mar it. Then came some farmers
with an alarm one day. They said it
was rumorcd that the enemy were ad :
vanc ny in our Il rcction, from over
Hydc's prairie. Tho result was IL
sharp stir among us, and general con.
sternatlon. IL WAS Il rude awakening
from our pleasant trance. The rumor
was but II rnmor-nothing definite
about it; SO, in the confusion, we did
not know which way to retreat. Ly-
man was for not retreating ut all, in
these uncertain circumstances; but no
found that if he tried to maintain that
attitude he would fare badly. for the
command were in no humor to put up
with INSTRUMENTATION. So he Welded
tho point and called Il council of war
to consist of himself and the three
other ollicors: but the privates made
such II fuss about beng loft out. that
we had to allow them to be present.
main, Tor they were already present.
and doing the most of the talking too.
The question was, which way to ro-
treat; but all were so Hurried that no.
body seemed to have even II guess to
Offer Except Lyman. lie expla ned
in Il few calm words, that inismuch as
the enemy were approaching from
over Hyte's prairie, our course was
simple; all we had to do was not to
retreat ton"'"t him; any other lircc-
ton would answer our needs perfectly.
Every body saw in Il moment how truo
this was, and how wise; 50 Lyman got
great many compliments. 1t was
now decided that we should fall back
on Mason's farm.
1t was after dark by this time, and
as we could not know how soon tho
enemy might arrive, it did not seem
best to try to take the horses and
things with us; so we only took the
guns and ammunition. and started ut
once. The route xas very rough and
hilly and rocky, and presently the
night grew very black and rain began
to fall; 50 we had Il troublesome [ me
OF it, struggling and stumbling along
in the dark; and some person slipped
and fell, and so Il Il the rest, one after
the other; and then Bowers came with
the kcg o. powder in his arms,
whilst the command were all mix
cd together. arms and legs, on the
muddy slope; and SD he fell, of course,
with the kcg, and this started the
whole detachment down the hill in II
body. and they landed in the brook ut
the bottom in Il pile. and cachth ut
was undermost pulling the ha and
scratching and biting those that were
on top Of him: and those that we,e
beng scratched and bitten scratching
and biting the rest in their turn, and
all saying they would die before they
would ever go to war aga'n if they
ever got out of this brook this time,
and the invader might rot for all they
cared, and the country along with him
-and all such talk as that, which was
dismal to hear and take part in, in
such smOthercd, low voices, and such
a gr:sly dark place and so wet, and the
enemy may be coming any moment.
The key of powder was lost, and
the guns too; so the growing and
complaining continued straight along
whilst the brigade paved around the
pasty hillside and stopped around In
the brook hunting for these things;
consequently we lost considerable time
at this; and then we heard Il sound,
and held our breath and listened, and
it seemed TO be the enemy coming,
though it could have been COW, for
it had - cough like Il COW; but we did
not wait. but left !, couple of guns be-
hind and Struck out for Mas0n's
again rs briskly as we could scramble
along in the dark. But we got lost
presently among the rugged little ia.
vines, and wasted II deal OF time find
ing tho way again, 50 It was after nine
when we reached Mason's s,ilc ut last:
and then before we could open our
mouths to give the countersiyn, sew
eral dogs came bounding over the
fence, with great riot and noise, and
each of them took a soldier bv the
slack of his trousers and be gan to back
away with him. We could not shoot
the dogs without cndangcring the per.
sons they were attached to; SO we had
to look ON, helpless. ut what was per-
laps the most mortfying spectacle oil
the civil war. There was light enough,
and to spare, for the Masons had now
run out ON the porch with candles in
their hands. The old man and his
son came and undid the dogs without
difficulty, all but Bowers; but they
couldn't undo his dog, they didn't
know his combination; he was of the
bull kind, and seemed to be set with
Yale timc-iock; but they got him loose
at last with some scalding water. oil
which Bowers got his share and re-
turned thanks. Peterson Dunlap after
wards made up Il fine name for This
engagement, and also for the night
march which preceded it. but both
have long ago faded out OF my mem
DRY.