The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-03-14
"THE LOST ARMY =
Cnrreeiine CoI. Knox Again.

DOyS are niue DdchHdId III 1iciplDS wi.
Knox TO handle The Lost Army" / ask per-
mission to give him another little prod to help
him along. We viii, therefore, call attention
to that part of the narrative where one of the
boys +" tells his own story in relation to the ex-
petition to Huntsville prior to the battle OF
Pea Ridge.
At that time was First Sergeant Co e, Sd
Ill. Cav, and was in the front during that ex-
petition; so what / have TO say, If it is OF no
other merit, may be relied on as not being
cribbed from anybodys cyelopedia.
The boys " first little error is in saying
there were but two companies of cavalry, when
in fact there were two battalions-viz, the
LIST and I'd of the Sd III. Cav. The next thing
requiring touch of correction is about the dis
patch sent by Gen Curtis to Gen. Vandever.
was within 10 feet of Gen. Yandever at the
time no received that dispatch. at house in
Huntsville that, from its exterior appearance,
was the tavern.
We had not been at the place over an hour
when an officer of the lst Mo. Cav, accompanied
by an escort of about n company, arrived, and
presented the paper Gen. Vandever immedi-
ately called the troopers to attention" and
read the dispatch from the porch, as one sent
especially to inform us of victory gained by
our army in Tennessee. Nothing had been
limited of the advance of the enemy on Cross
Hollows.) Gen. Vandever at the same time
ordered the right about" to return to the
main army.
1t may be regarded that Theses errors are
trivial and unworthy of notice. l grant it as
to the first, but as to the second it must be re-
membered that errors in history are blots;
and when the kinks are gotten out of the mar
rative of 1.-The Lost Army" it can be vouched
for as true history.
As to the true condition of affairs it was not
generally ascertained until we had been some
time on the return march; but when it was,
tn I ta vHyarr Tnrx-o finn hon
selves forward was caution. cavalryman
could not help but see that, so far as annihila-
ting distance in quick time was concerned, his
occupation was about gone.
With regard to the purchasing power of the
rebel shinplaster, will give Jack and Harry
two in the game (being as they are only boys)
and beat it with that same batch of shinplas
tiers on that same expedition.
On the evening of the first day the horse of
John Cooper, Co. i, Sd H. Cav, became dis
abled, so as to make it difficult for him to keep
up with the command. A temporary halt was
called and, by accident, our company rested
opposite house where fine horse was hitch
ed by halter in the dooryard. Some Of the
boys suggested to Cooper to try and make
trade, aud not stand back for want of money.
He got up $75, and said he would give it,
together with the disabled animal, for the sake
of keeping in the ranks. The owner refused the
offer in such an indignant manner that Capt.
Thos. b. Vaughan, who was in command of the
company measured him up as an Out-and-out
rebel, and turning to Cooper, with a kind of
droll expression he had when he meant devil
ment asked to let him do his trading. Where
upon the Captain told the old reb that his man
offered him all his horse was WORTH but as it
was case of necessity, he would give him his
choice of taking 1925 in U. S. or 800 in rebel
money. The old reb took the latter.
At this point came the tug of war in the
transaction, as it was not certain that the 500
in shinplasters could be had in the whole bat
talon, as those only who were fond of Curl
oslties were supposed TO have them; but by
close shaving the shinplasters were raised and
| Cooper was as well mounted as any man in the
company.
This was the first intimation we had in re-
lation to what could be done with the shin
plasters among the graybacks. 1t was taken
advantage OF by the boys in the regiment and
in their foraging expeditions if trouble oc-
Cured they would pay for their chickens at
the highest market price. Indeed, some OF the
boys who had financial ability discovered, from
the nature Of the engraving on the shinplas-
tiers, that any handsome picture cut to the
regulation size had current value and under
these conditions believed it to be akin to sui
eide to go hungry when anything was within
reach.
After the Sd I'll. Cav. got lost from the Lost
Army" as whole or in part it did little
skirmishing in every rebel State bordering the
Mississippi. They became SO well known for
fair dealing that whenever their exchequer
became low they could obtain things on credit
1t was not infrequent at times when their
finances were lowest to find their haver-
sacks fullest. During seasons of financial
dearth it was not uncommon that good fell
low would come into camp with nice, clean
little pig hitched to his saddle, for the envious
to inquire where he got it. L sold eggs and
bought it." was the general answer Few ever
| had the hardness of heart to ask where he got
his eggs, for the life of a hen in our vicinity
was not of such length as to allow her to
perform any such manuver as to lay an egg
No, the only use the poor innocents could make
of this answer was to hide their poverty.
It can't be denied that all the Jacks and
Harries who went through our Western armies
with their eyes open have had big experience.
Who bat the Western soldier who has been
through the Southern States can get to the bot
tom of the righteousness OF Messrs Mills and
Vest giving their valuable time to teach the
| people of the free States all about tariff, free
trade, finances, etc, when such fine field for
missionary work was open at their own doors
to teach the poor people of their own States how
to tell dollar bill from picture cut from an
| almanac ?-W. McEVoY, Equality, III.
n