The National tribune., 1888-08-02


was rapidly increasing in Southwestern Mis-
souri, while McCulloch with some Texas and
Arkansas troops, was preparing to move north-
ward from Arkansas up into Missouri ana JOIN
Price. Rebel recruiting was going on briskly
through the whole of Missouri Gen. Fremont
was appointed to command the Western De
partment but was vet in New York endeaYor-
ing to procure arms. Our regiments, organ
izing for three years in the adjoining states
were slowly one by one, coming &c Missouri 10
replace the three months regiments now anA-
i0usly waiting for the line 10 be mustered out
and 20 home. 1t was a critical and discoarag-
ing time in Missouri, and if there ever was a
time and place for the display OF the greatest
energy by our military, it certainly was then
and there.
PUTTING A STOP To REBEL RECRUITING.
I made I'D my mind 10 stop rebel recruiting
IS far as I could reach it, by compelling the
planters to stop feeding rebel recruits that
were organizing and drilling on their planta-
tiOns, and TO refuse them shelter. We had at
that time only one solitary horse in the camp,
and that was my own saddle-hOrse. We had
not single wagon. Gen. Hurlbut kept saying
that be was expecting some Illinois cavalry,
bat there was none as yet. l could not chase
mounted rebels with infantry alone, so 1 was
bound to have some cavalry. There were
plenty Of animals around, and the population
was inimicai to Us; in fact, we were TO all IN
/ ordered my Quartermaster to levy on the Sc
cessiOnists for 40 horses, with saddles and Drl-
dies for temporary use, and give vouchers 10
that effect. They were soon brought into camp.
i picked out Of the regiment the best riders,
formed q company OF cavalry, put capt Oo-by,
Of Co. ID. IN command of it, ordered the men TO
use guns with bayonets fixed in place OF lances
when on horseback. and ordered Colby TO scour
the country around, telling him that he would
be supported with infantry. 1t was great fun
for the boys to pitch iD, and they were so glad
70 begin The war.
For several days did not see that company,
only receiving dispatches from Colby and few
Of the most rabid Secessionists that he arrested
and sent under escort The cavalry was ram
paging around, striking terror through the
country. AT the same time ] was sending eZ-
peditions Of infantry in different directions,
accompanying some Of them myself Wherever
plantations were found with rooms arranged
In the shape Of barracks for rebel recruits we
would chop all bedsteads and cots TO splInters,
tear blankets and sheets, scatter feathers from
pillows and burn mattresses. Then we would
take meat out Of the sm0keh0uses aud -four
from closets: sometimes we would load corn
and oats on wagons, and even would drive
away all horses and mules found on those
places Thus in a few days our cOmmissary
tent was full Of smoked meat, great pile of
corn IN the ear was rising by the tent of the
Qu8rtermasteT, and sn imprOylsed corral was
rapidly filing with animals.
When planters pockets were so rutblessly
attacked there was a rush 70 the camp. The
delinquent planters We're anxious 10 sign
pledge that they would at once stop the feeding
and giving shelter TO the rebel recruits, and
never would do it In the future; but that If
any Of the young men should want TO join the
Confederate army they would compel them TO
leave the country and 90 and join that army.
They told me they were going to have large
meeting. and would appoint day when they
would come 70 the camp and sign the pledge,
They were begging TO get their animals out Of
the corral to do the work in the field and 20
take care OF them. They were allowed TO take
them this time, but were told that in case they
should continue to harbor rebel recruits their
animals would be cOn6scated again. / prom
ised to give them back their meat and corn
when / saw that they kept their pledge; / al
lowed some Of them 10 take some meat and corn
at once In 10 days we cleaned the country
for 20 miles around Palmyra Of all the camps,
gueTrillas and every other rebel organization,
and I thought we were doing our duty pretty
diligently. Learning what we were doing, the
Union meh IN the ueighb3Thood took courage.
There was 4 company Of Home Guards raised
on the sly by the Union men Of Palmyra, aud
the Captain Of the company came 70 tell me
that, having no arms, they dare not show them
selves, and asked me If ] could not get arms
for them. 1 told them I would try. Then
there was a delegation Of Union men from
Newark {a town about s. miles northwest OF
Palmyra) sent to me with request to get arms,
If possible, for three companies Of Home Guards
organized there on the sly also, saying that il
they had arms they would have done some
good wark at that place. / promised them that
W0uid try 10 get arms for them also.
COMPLAINTS MADE TO HEADQUARTERS.
But while we were endeayoring so euergeti-
eSlly 10 saaelch the unholy rebellion as far al
we could, q stormy cloud Of wrath was gather
ing over cur heads. A depUtation Of citizens
lEebel, Cf coGTse) went with complaints to Gen
Hurlbut; another ceputatlOn went 10 see Gen
Pope; another started for st. Louis 10 see Sen
Fremont, and another went 70 see Gov. Yates
OF Illinois. The Quincy Herald an ultra
Southern sheet, came ont with flaming article
that there was horde Of bar5ariang toy The
name ef tac 18Th Ill, and a. their head was thC
worst barbarian ever seen On the free soil o
AmeriCa-a Russian. and they were pillagju1
the country around Palmyra, wantonly de
stroylng private property, tramping on ths
sacred rights Of free American citizens, arrest
ing people FOR no cause and against the law
etc, etc. Gov. Yates was alarmed; the whole
people Of Illinois were wondering; the Chica
gOSus, who thought 50 much Of their own regi
nlent, felt scandzlized, and could not account
for such uuhcard-of lsWlessness, and Gen
Eurlbut wrote 10 me 10 stop such arbi itrarI
proceedings Col. Palmer, who happened 3
pass through Palmyra, kindly suggested 10 le
things alone. Finally, one day, Gen. Hurlbu
appeared at my tent in the camp and said Gen
Pope was 1t the railroad depot, and wanted Z
sse me. ] asked him If be was going ther
also. he said no. So j rode to the depot whicl
was out of town, and where I had a guar
Of few men. There ] saw Gen. Pope dresse
IN the same half-miltary costume ia whic
saw him az Chicago with the same cap ia oil
cloth cover, pacing up and down the platform
while tram 0f g few cars was standing read
70 start. ] saluted him, and said:
"Gen. HuEbut informed me that yOu Hishe
20 see me-"
lie looked at methreateningly, was pale an
excited. lie said:
How dare you 70 take private property Il
the use Of your regimcnt2 How dare you TO 3
through the country pilferiDg, arresting mel
taking possession Of horses2 etc.
told him the rati0ns were 50 bad that n
men could not eat them; told him ! considcre
il my duiy 70 break up rebel camps, and coul
not do II without having some mounted mel
lie exclaimed:
Aou should starve ia your tracks before 20
touch private property
I think differently" said I. Il" II the Go
erument intrusts me with loo men. and 4
some reason cannot furnish them with eaiab
ratioas. my duty is to find rations IN the en-
my's country"
VIII court-martial you,s said he.
d0a't care" said /; " bat under sirail
-Hsa. IA "a.