The National tribune., 1886-10-21
CHASING MARMADUKE.
The Observations and Experiences or an Iowa
Tfo0ner.

Trooper.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Kindly per-
NIT me this once TO enter the arena where a
stub-pcn shall suffice FOR shot and she'll and ink,
though black and sticky, shall do service as
gore. Such an arena Of combat Is more to my
liking than the one of which the boys tell us
often. Here the warrior and the Munchausen
meet upon equal ground, though. perhaps, with
unequal equipment. The warrior, however,
fortified by truth and modest realization Of
merit, is improbable to the bombastic vapOr-
ings of him who IS, perhaps, fighting his battles
for the first time, on paper. IL l. pleasant to
recall and relate the noble deeds of the brave
men who went forth TO battle for country aud
right; and the soldier who fails TO modestly APP
preciate the important and mertoFious part he
played rs a good aud true soldier in the grand,
realistic drama Of battle for a principle, is un-
worthy the name Of soldier. But in fight
ing the battles over" OH paper we should keep
ever in our mind the possibility OF error and
injustice TO comrades. We are growing Older
day by day; our heads are rapidly whitening
and wrinkles appear in faces once fair and
smooth; our memories are dimmed by the
lapse of many years Of care and toll; we have
had other things TO occupy our minds. Business,
friends and home have for more than 20 years
been fruitful subjects of thought, aud have di-
yerted our minds from the scenes of camp and
field. In reading the letters from the boys
am many times greatly amused by the very
different accounts given of battles or skirmishes
by those who attempt the giving of details,
although the different writers doubtless bore
an equally honorable part therein.
The NATIONAL TRIBUNE of August II con-
tanned an article from Lieut.. Hill, of the Sd
Mo. Cav, in which he gave very graphic ac-
count of the experiences of his command dur
ing the Winter of 90 aud '63, in the hills of
Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas.
Ii was doubiy interesting 10 me, / assure you,
as six companies Of the good and true old regi-
ment of which the writer had the honor to be
a very small part was participant in many of
the scenes detailed therein.
The story of weary rides by day and by
night, in cold and snow and rain and mud,
during that long, dreary Winter. is we'll and
truthfully told by the Lieutenant, and is
equally applicable to my own regiment, which
was part of the same command during that
never-to- be-fOrgotten Winter and Spring of 90.
We were still closely associated in the ride to
Jackson and pursuit of Marmaduke. We were
in the advance from Jackson to Whitewater
with orders, suppose, to keep close enough to
him 10 prevent the destruction of bridges; at
least we did it, and did the fighting with
Carriers Texas cavalry at the crossing of White
water, which was neither "desultory or irreg-
ular."
The article by Lieut. Hill has called forth
iSapollSt W Out IODlc Oh tue ~ VI. -. NJ,
land Acting A. G.. of McNel's forces" from
which | get the first ntimation that we-Van-
dever's command-were responsible for the es-
cape OF Marmaduke upon this occasion. He
not only questions the veracity of Lieut.. HILL
but presumes TO even call in question the
bravery of gallant officer and his gallant and
faithful command.
l cannot allow such a reflection upon brave
men whose courage had been tested upon many
The explanation of Marmaduke's escape upon
this occasion was familiar to the men in front,
and requires no apology or mitigation what
ever. The road upon which this Missouri
rebel, gallant in retreat, sought to regain his
favorite resorts in the wilds of Arkansas after
being driven from Cape Girardeau by the Tro-
jan Major and Acting Adjutant- General. was a
tOrtuous one through dense forests aud over
many streams which, swollen by the Spring
rains, were past fOrding. These forests were
the hiding places of marauding bands of BUSH
whackers, who were familiar with every cross
ing, and who doubtless gave him much mate
rial assistance in the construction of bridges in
advance of his coming at such places where
bridges were required.
1t is true that Gen. McNiel was in command
during the fight at the Cape, and that he and
his command did nObly. 1t is also true that
Gen. Nandever's command from Pilot Knob
ance, and was being annoyed by Marmaduke's
accommodating parties, long before reaching
Jackson. Gen. Nandever's approach upon the
rear of Marmaduke had much to do with his
flight and brought the fight at Cape Girardeau
10 a close in short order, changing his move
ments from aggression TO precipitOus retreat.
The pursuit from Jackson TO Chalk Bluffs was
under the direction of Gen. Vandever who
was senior officer, and might add in explana-
that GnhgpQmRnt ha Moin
and Acting Adiutant-General was not the
favored master of ceremonies (if you pleased he
would have us believe he had been when the
bravest Of the brave" communicated through
him the word of command.
We were not so fortunate as the Major in
being permitted to accompany the Sd Mo- in its
gallant charge "On the rear-guard " near Four
Mile, nor did we carry any orders TO charge
the rear-guard. Nor were We permitted 10
ride with that regiment in order that we
might report the true shape of the retreating
army" but we were permitted 10 ride over
| that part Of the road within a few minutes
| after the charge, and are convinced that only
| those of the entire command who failed to see
huge yellow rattlesnakes in large numbers
that had been trampled under the feet of the
horses scattered in confusion along the road, with
few dead men aud many white cotton hats lost
by the Texas cavalry were those who were SO
far in the rear that distance obscurcd their
| vision.
COmrade Pool, we are told that the Savior
once directed blind man to pool from which
he should receive the great blessing of sight
lie had longed to gaze into the faces of familiar
| friends, and eagerly, with perfect faith, he
| obeyed the command and received the blessing
| The combined faith of at least three regiments
Of men / know Of boiled down and bestowed
upon one poor private now in my mind, would
not have the effect TO send him one short steT
in the direction of this mirage of light and
truth upon the Marmaduke campaign of the
| Spring of 1859. After reading that e rise to
| point of Order."-M. j. BURNS, Co. G., Sd lows
Cav, Ottumwa, Iowa.
| GEN IAJJMA NJ