The National tribune., 1886-09-02
THE MARMADUKE RAID.
The Fight from Cape Girardesu to Chalk Bluff
He Didn't See Snakes.

The Fight from Cape Girardeau to Chalk Bluff
He Didn't See Snakes.
To THE EDITOR: rise to q point of order
and to assist Comrade N. N. Hill in relation to
his account of the Marmaduke raid given in
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE of Aug IL. Lieut..
Hill in his account of that whole business evil
IDENTIFY shows that he knows but little of what
really transpired outside of the limited circle
in which he seems to have operated. Now,
then, will boil the whole story down and sub
nit to the participants and see If this side OF 1t
wont suit several regiments better than Com
rade Hills Munchausen representations.
What in the world has Lieut.. Hill done with
Gen. John Mcneil and the Federal forces that
at the time composed the garrison at Cape Cir
ardeau2
During the latter part Of April, 1863, Gen.
Marmaduke advanced into Southeast Missouri,
his main objective point being Cape Girardeau,
where were stored large quantities of ordnance
and quartermaster's stores under the protec-
tion of the I'd NJ. S. NJ. Cav, the LIST Wis. Cav,
the 1st Neb. and several batteries Of artillery,
with three permanent forts mounting heavy
guns, the whole commanded by Brig. Gen.
John Mcneil "the bravest of the brave" As
soon as Gen. Marmaduke with his large COM
mand had formed his lines, on the very edge of
the city, extending from the river to the jack
son road, he sent in a peremptory demand for
the immediate surrender Of the place, threat
ening an immediate assault in case of refusal.
The Department Commander, knowing that any
outside play, such as a feint on Pilot Knob, was
not TO be noticed, sent us couple OF gunboats
and the 37th ILL.,, with the gallant Col. Black in
command, who reached US just in the nick of
time. We lost no time in preparing to receive
the present Governor of Missouri, with his nu-
merous if not brilliant suite. We were ungal-
liant enough to turn the nuns out of their build
ing and ungodly enough to put the monks out
of their fine commanding buildings, and filed
them with loyal citizens and home guards to
guard weak spot in that direction, and the
very first thing the Johnnies knew we were
talking to them from every fort and hilltop
and from every regiment in line. and even the
little mountain howltzer belonging to the I'd
M. s. NJ. Cav. was run out and knocked out"
rebel battery that was stationed near the
Penny mansion.
This couldn't last long, and we charged. The
Johnnies broke ranks for Dixie, with MeNeiPs
force pelting them down the Bloomfield road,
until we met. 10 miles south of the Cape, the
Pilot Knob troops under command of Gen.
Vandever. suppose Comrade Hill was train
ing in that crowd. and perhaps was too much
eated over the moonlight charge at Jackson to
know anything about the charayari ut the
Cape.
After the junction of the Federal troops it
seemed TO me that the pursuit was not pushed
with the vigor that the necessities Of the case
demanded. Gen. Vandever ranked Mcneil, and
as a consequence became the controlling spirit,
and no doubt it was from lack of experience
and not from want of courage OF patriotism
that Marmaduke's forces were not pushed with
more spirit and pertinacity. / was present
when the Sd Mo. Cav. charged the rear guard
of the rebel army near Four Mile-in fact, /
conveyed the order 70 Col. Glover to charge,
and | rode with that regiment in order that
al. H. $50
army. 1t is true we had some skirmishing and
some artillery duels all along from Cape Girar-
deau TO Chalk Bluffs. but, with tho exception
of the grand charge of the Sd Mo. already re-
ferred to, the fighting was very desultory and
irregular.
At the crossing of the st. Francis the I'd NJ.
5. NJ. Cav, dismounted, were close to the bank
of the stream, aud the rebs in the high, wooded
bluffs on the other side, within 20 yards of US,
made it quite hot. Il was more than loo in the
shade. Gen. Mcneil and the writer, in our en-
thusiasm, approached quite near to the banks
of that classic stream; but the singing of bull
lets in close proximity to our manly proper
tons soon cooled our ardor, if not our patriot
ism, and We both hung-I should have said
cluBg-to a large cypress tree with that tenacity
born OF despair and as the General was meat
that they were particularly laundering after,
| he remained childlike and bland, affeetiOnateiy
embracing that tree, while your humble servant
run the gantlet TO a plateau about o quarter Of
! a mile to the rear, where the artillery was
parked, and had them open ON the bluff, over
| the heads of our own men, beating off the
Johnnies and thus relieving the General with
many others from their cold, but yet loving
and affectiOnate hug.
| The artillery fire here was very hot, and the
| tops of trees that were cut OFF during the can
nOnade killed one officer and wounded several
soldiers. IL seems TO me that this must be the
| noise that is ringing yet on Lieut.. Hills tym-
panums. / admire his style Of ears, and this
will largely account for the deficiency in hi:
| eyesight.
The comrade makes another mistake when
he tells you that Carriers cavalry were all armed
in addition to their cavalry weapons, with that
| wonderful Arkansas tOothpiek that boomerang
! like, they could throw with such great preci
sion. and that they were better horsemen than
| any in either service. Such statement as the
above is absurd and ridiculous. / know all
| about the Arkansas toOthpieks and the men
that made them. but rarely ever got close
enough to use them, as JEFF Thompson and my
| self held many q little matinee and soiree in
the swamps, where the few idle blacksmith
mani pulated the festive toothpck.
Well. Comrade Hill, you let it all out in you
closing remarks about the battlefield bein:
covered with snakes. Well, we did not see
snake. We were good prohibitionists; didn'
taste drop since Marmaduke put in his frs
appearance until he left us, we had NO Oppor
tunity to see snakes. Now, look in your boots
] for ii your ears are ringing yet the old boot
may have tenants.
To conclude. am forced to echo the senti
ments OF Glen. McNeirs entire command: Tha
il We had ever formed a junction with Gen
Yandever's command Marmaduke would hav
been forced to surrender before he crossed tn
ST. Francis River into Arkansas.-F. r. POOLE
Major, I'd NJ. S NJ. Cav. and A. A. G., Mcneil
! forces, LaTned, Kan.