Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-08-03

,,ora concentrated Immediately and held
reodv to charge as soon as there was an 81
o,,,,ortnnity. We had not long TO wa1C'
The 1 heavy rafting Of a wagon loltihg
,1ono as though there was not room
enonoh in The road, but it must strike
srs+ ono side and then the other, struck
our cars and soon came in sight.
The negro driver was lashlnS away
for life While on either side rode red
eral soldiers, pricking up the mules
With their sabers Close after them we
saw our reserve, and we dashed IN With
ont waiting for a command, and sur
rounded the wagon. 1t was quick
work, One or two of the Federals
fred at us. and then, as they saw they
were surrounded, gave up. They We're
sent to the rear under guard, while the
rest of us, with we'll spread sklrmlsh
line. advanced. We could hear the
wagons rafting loudly ahead OF US, and
we quickly closed in TO stop all that
were not already in ahead OF us. The
shots already fired had OF course warned
all within hearing that an attack had
been made, and safety could only be as
sulcd by Immediately returning to the
boat
As soon as our line closed the lower
end of the semicircle on the river, pick
cts were left on the roads to ambush
any foragers still out in that direction.
The remainder of our force pushed on
up the river some distance toward a
large plantation, from which the army
wagons had come loaded, and struck a
company Of the enemy, who were APP
parently not expecting us so soon. They
made no stand, the officers running
first, and after firing few shots scat
tered like sheep. Toward the river, the
direction they took, after passing the
plantation fence, all was wild and
broken into rayines, thickly covered
with bushes and trees, and afforded an
excellent cover for the running Fed
erals. One OF two only We're killed.
several wounded, and we took a half
dozen prisoners. We also had two
wounded. Had the ground been clear
we could have bagged the lot. AS it
was, we came into possession Of several
strong new army wagons, we'll fitted
out with mules and drivers.
We divided up, advancing skirnish
line we'll into the dense growth, posting
large picket posts on all the roadways,
and then a portion of us secured the
country to pick up the Federal foragers,
1t was now nearly dark, and the Fed
eral steamboat was whistling with ear
piercing shrieks to direct the returning
stragglers. A few minutes later an
other factor appeared on the scene, in
the shape of Federal gunboat, whose
presence was made known by the huge
shells rushing through the air with
thunderous explosions. The dangerous
hurting of such quantities of iron made
it necessary to withdraw the mass of
our pickets for safety. 1t had also
grown too dark to safely hunt the
struggling Federals, who we were sat
istied were still hidden in the thick I'M
dergrowth. 1t was serious as we'll as
laughable thing to suddenly start up
few Tederals and see them run for life.
After an hour or two Of firing the
gunboat ceased, and all became quiet.
The steamboat, soon after our attack,
moved out into the middle of the river
and anchored, the gunboat taking a
position between the steamboat and our
force. Our pickets captured several
stragglers during the night, and they
heard others getting away to the river,
whom it seemed impossible to cut off.
A number OF our company stayed at
the plantation over night, where the Ia
dies treated them unusually we'll. The
planter himself, on account of the close
proximity of danger was profuse in his
liberality and hospitality.
AS soon as it was day we were all
mounted and ready to complete pick
ing up the stragglers but under cover
OF the gunboat the steamer came up to
shore with ear-piercing screeches from
the whistle, apparently for the pur-
pose OF picking up the remainder of
their soldiers AS the boat landed.
several horsemen rode boldly up
toward US on the gallop, but We
emptied the saddles so quickly that
the horses were frightened, and re-
turned on the run. We were under
cover, and consequently did better ex-
ecution. The bravest act of the whole
affair now occurred, by few daring
Federal soldiers rushing right up into
our very faces and taking off the body
Of one of the wounded horsemen.
After taking on lot of corn that
was probably hauled down the dav be-
fore and dumped ON the bank, the boat
swung Off and proceeded down the
river. We took several prisoners after
the departure of the boat.