The National tribune., 1888-07-26
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
DEATH OF SHELBY COLE.
An Account by One OF the Men Who was Wounde
by the Desperate Guerrilla's Knife.

death of Shelby Cole, which no doubt have
been amusing TO the men Of the 9Th Iowa;
the first from Comrade Mckinney, then IRON
T. NJ Riddle, Fred Rumble and a member of
Co. Z, I4th Iowa and lastly one from J. b.
King, Co. +. 9th Iowa. Some write from
memory, others copy their diaries written at
the time; al SAW and report II differently.
Comrade King mentions my name in connec-
ton with the affair, and / write this TO correct
him, he being in my company, and others
whom I have heard relate the circumstances,
all OF whom must have got their information
from hearsay, none of which are correct. No
doubt the reason why members Of my regi-
ment are in error is because those who knew the
most about the matter were taken TO the nos
pital without first seeing the members of the
several companies 10 which they belonged, and
Boae of those who were paTticipaiors seemed to
think they had done anything brilliant, and
said but little about Il. In fact, they were
rather laughed at, and il was a conundFum
among the men: If one guerrilla with little
knife could kill one Union soldier and disable
four Others how many would il take we'll
armed 10 clean out a regment?"
Cole was arrested as . spy by order of Col.
Gilbert, 9th Iowa. upon advice of citizens OF
Mineral Point, and he was allowed to go under
guard TO a citizens house for his breakfast, and
when returning to the guard-hOuse he seized
the gun from his guard and snapped 1t at the
Sergeant, who, think, was reported unarmed.
lie then threw down the gun, pulled off his
coat and hat and threw them down, and, as has
been stated by others, like deer for the
timber near by, but was stopped by the plckets
and brought back 70 camp and again put into
the guard house, where he remained until the
regiment took the cars. about shutdown on the
27th of September, 1864. The day had been
quite warm, but the evening being cool for the
time Of year, Serg't Treat, seeing his prisoner
suffering from cold, in the goodness that was
Characteristic Of the man took of his own over
coat and gave it 10 Cole to keep him warm.
he also divided his rstions with him; in fact,
be treated him like brother. When the train
stopped after crossing the bridge mentioned by
others, Cole said to Treat; " Here, take your
coat" No" said Treat; you need it more
than do. keep it, Cole said, g will not have
il any longer" and after being further urged by
Treat TO keep il, he threw the coat on TO Treat,
and at the same time struck him in the neck,
killing him almost instantly. He then jumped
from the platform car. Up TO this point know
nothing only what was talked al the time by
the 9th men. As soon as the cars stopped the
order was given for the men get or on the
right-hand side Of the trair Co.'S Z and K
were mostly on top Of two boK-cars, X behind
T. and Serg't Penny of Il, and myself
Orderly Of Co. i, were talking together, he
on the left-front corner and / on the left
rear corner Of the two. As soon as the order to
get of was given there was much noise and
confusion, the men shouting Hand down my
guu" my haversack." my this OF that. and It
seemed as though it would be some time be-
fore Penny and myself would be able to get
down on the right side. 50 he said, f" Let Us get
down on tb is side1-the left. All right" an
swered 60 ahead" He reached over and went
down on the ladder at my SIDE As soon as he
was out Of the way ] followed him, and when
nearly down be was six or eight feet from the
end Of my car. going TO the rear. ] Immediately
followed him. aud think he could not have
been more than 10 or 20 feet in advance, and
when about half the length Of Co. KS car was
reached / heard the cry, Catch him catch
himi" 1 knew not what II meant, but with
out changing my gait continued on until
came TO the end Of the bOx-car and front end of
the platform-car from which Cole jumped
Here / saw two men in q struggle, both stand
ing one bent over and the other at his back
trying to hold him. i dropped q sword was
carrying, and tried to seize the lower man by
the coat collar. It was 50 dark i could not see
who they were, but knew one must be Penny
and concluded the other was the prisoner, Cole
trying 10 escape. The man had no coat on. so
found no collar. then put my hand on his
head, thinking TO force him down by holding
him by the hair; but be had short cut and /
could get 10 hold. i then stepped in front and
ms did SO be Strengthened up, and seized him
around the waist, inclOsing his arms in my
grasp. As he Strengthened up Penny stepped
back few feet and stood with his hands up to
his face or neck. Not word had been spoken
Up TO this time by either. / then pulled the
man Cole, as il proved 70 be, onto me- knowing
he could be held surer by locking hands and
feet over him than any other way, and as my
shoulders touched the ground his knife went
into nay back. ! made up my mind at once
shat ] had got a tarter, and Immediately
shouted Help, help; be is trying 10 stick
something into me, but no one came. There
we were all alone in that cut, where il was very
dark, made more so by persons looking into
cEmpfres few rods away on the banks or sides
Of the cut. As soon as the knife was felt
made up my mind that, probably, my life de-
pended on nay holding bis arms so he could not
use his knife any more, and strained every
muscle that could be used and during the time
Cole was trying 10 insert his knife. / could
feel the prick OF il and the motion Of his hand
but be could get no force; his elbows were fast
and his weight and my own were on his fore
arm. After shouting for help, and holding him
probably one half minute, though it seemed 10
! again shouted :" Help, help: he Is sticking
something into me" After a while shouted
the third time, Help help; he is stick
ing something into me-" During all this
time be had lain without the least at
tempt 70 get away; and without making a
motion except with the hand that held the
knife. Immediately after shouting the third
time, Jake Shannon, Of Co. @, came up and
struck Cole on the head with his gun and it
was said that he broke it al the small Of the
stock. At any rate, be took out bis bayo-
net and struck several times with il, when
Coles head dropped by the side Of mine, and.
thinking he was used up lOOsened my grasp
around him, and be seemed 10 slide of without
any effort. Shannon says be pulled him of
Penny. That is where he is mistaken He
pulled bin from me, If any one. Cole was not
dead by any means. As he slipped off he struck
my LETT arm with his knife above the elbow,
cutting deep and making painful wound. He
also struck me over the heart, but a row Of pins
stopped the force Of the blow. he cut a hole
through my coat half inch long above and four
OF five inches below the pins. He then got on his
feet, turned around, and struck Shannon in the
back with the knife, and then started toward
the rear Of the train. ] Immediately got on my
feet and saw Cole opposite the middle of the
platform car, and just at this time A. Cordell OF
90. ii, started up the side Of the cut and Cole
turned several feet out Of his way and gave
him stab IN the side. COrdell turned around
% defend himself and got another stab in the
left eye destroying il entirely. immediately
the cry was raised, Shoot him Shoot him p
and one or two guns were fred, when some one
said, Don shoot; you viii shoot each other p
Cole then dropped down, crawled under the
platform 10 the other side, where the crowd
was, and where be had his arms tied behind
him and then put on the car, under guard
After an hour or two il was reported that ht
was dead. The wounded were placed in q box,