The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-04-12
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
A True Story OF Army Life-camp in
eide lts-Forced Marches-Skir.
mishes And Hard Fought Bat
ties in Missouri And
Arkansas.

mishes And Hard Fought Bat
ties in Missouri And
Arkansas.
The army proceeded to within five
miles of Springfield without any indi.
cations of an enemy, but coming ID an
open country the troops were halted
and long line of battle was formed
across very large piece Of meadow
land. Our line was formed In front of
the heavy timber joining the meadow
and our supposition was that the enc.
my was posted i'm the timber ready for
battle.
The troops marched into line on the
double quick and in splendid style.
Very soon the whole line was formed.
and the men were standing on their
arms awaiting further orders, when
Gen. Curtis and staff rode along the
line with the announcement that
Springfield was in our possession.
Price had evacuated without fight.
The news was received with shouts
and the tossing of hats in the air. Al
though it was pleasing news yet the
disappointment in not getting satisfac-
The line of battle was broken and
the troops again formed in marching
order. Then commenced the retreat
and pursuit OF two armies.
Price commanded the retreating
army that left Springfield on the 18th,
and in four hours after the rear Of his
army had left the town, our advance
was passing through in pursuit.
1t was said by the rebel sympathisers
that Price would make a stand at
Wilson's Creek ten miles below town,
that he had twenty thousand fighting
men and would drive Curtis as he had
Gen. Lyon the summer before. 1t is
more than probable that the rebel
army numbered that many If not
more. Price came from Lexington to
Springfield on the 23d of December,
1861, with his whole army. He had
been using all his energies to recruit
fifty thousand men for the Southern
Confederacy, the object of which was to
secure him the commission of major
general in the Confederate army. He
soon accomplished his object, and the
men were sworn into the service for
twelve months. Several regiments of
the State Guards were broken up.
The men went into Prices army very
readily because they were made to be-
lieve that as soon as Price was promo
ted he would have power to order
troops from any of the southern states
and they would soon make a clean
thing of it in Missouri, and also invade
Kansas and leave it as the Lord made
it, without home to shelter Jayhawk-
ers.
These men felt confident that they
would soon be let loose to accomplish
this glorious work and were highly de-
lighted with the idea but the poor fell
lows were badly fooled. Gen. Curtis
and his brave boys seemed to be inter-
feripg somewhat with their glorious
anticipations.
Our army made no delay in passing
through the town, and marched about
three miles beyond before going into
camp.
Camp was pitched on farm belong
ing to an old rebel, and his effects soon
fell ipto unsparing hands. The old
gentleman had left large house and
log stable on his premises. The log
stable was designed and worked up
into quite fort for the protection of
the house and barn. Heavy timbers
and earth were SO thrown together as
to be a perfect defence against musket
balls. Portfolios were opened for the
use of the besieged. But they did not
use it on us and our boys soon made it
untenable for the future soon after
dark. The house and barn seemed to
make a good light that night-plen-
ty to read by in all parts of the camp.
Everything about the premises wae
destroyed. The next morning ashes
aud embers alone marked the spot
where the house and barn stood and
posts and bottom rails where fences
had been.
On the 14th the march was contin-
ued to Wilson's Creek for dinner, and
several miles beyond for camp.
Wilson's Greek was the scene of Gen.
eral Lyons defeat and death. A spot
beneath an oak tree was pointed to the
writer as being the place where the
brave leader fell pierced with two reb-
ell bullets, while leading his men in a
charge on the enemy. While passing
this battle ground the soldiers picked
I'D many human skulls and bones
which were scattered upon the earth
in the place where the soldier to whom
they once belonged had fallen.
On Friday afternoon the 10Th, after
tweEty-four hours retreat from Spring
field, the rebel army was encamped on
Crane creek twenty-nine miles distant.
The FEDERAL army was just five miles
ia the rear preparing to make an early
start in pursuit next morning.
w. H. A.