The Iola register., 1889-05-17
WAR "REMINISCENCES.

WAR "REMINISCENCES.
At an early hour the column moved
forward, but during the night Price
had again fled leaving large portion
Of his camp e9upage and a number of
wagons. During that day the chase
was very exciting, there being constant
skirmishing between our advance and
his rear guard.
The road was strewn with broken
wagons and dead and dying mules
and horses. At four o'clock in the af-
ternoon the booming of cannon Motif.
ed us that the rebs had made stand.
A battery was sent forward and for an
we had a fine artillery fight. BY the
time our infantry got to the front the
enemy had fled. We pushed on, find
ing many evidences of the hasty flight
in that days march. During the af-
ternoon our cavalry again overlook
the enemy at Cross Timber. Here
was made a gallant charge by Colon el
Harry Pease and forty men, who,
coming on the enemy's pickets drove
them dashing at once right in the
midst of his camp. One of our men
was wounded and five or six horses
were killed. The enemy's loss was
much greater. The charge was really
one of the most brilliant things that
occurred on the route.
On the 18th we had several skir-
mishes and at last discovered the ene-
my in position on the south side of
Sugar creek. The valley through
which Sugar creek pursues its meand-
ering course is nearly half mile in
width at a place then called Trott's
Store. Skirmishing between the pick
cts of The two armies occurred during
the morning when Price moved out OF
sight beyond the brow of the south.
western hills. His army was then
formed in two lines on both sides of the
road. Two of the enemy's cannon
were planted on the brow of the hill
loverlOoking Sugar creek and their
pieces were all ranged along the road
about two hundred yards apart fol
half a mite or more. These pieces had
prolongs attached indicating that a
running fight was intended i'll case ol
pursuit.
In the meantime our cavalry formed
on the opposite side of the valley and
marched across the creek to 4 point
near Trotts store. The enemy then
opened fie with his batteries. Bu
our batteries answered them with such
telling effect that the enemy were for
ced ID fall back with their battery
|. Tue cava ~ was then ordered to move
up the hill and charge on the retreat
ing foe. The order was gallantly
> obeyed 10y the 1st Mo. cavalry follow
: ed 10y three balta ions of the Srd Hi
nois cavalry. The whole force of oul
cavalry making the charge numbered
: eight hundred.
Gaininw the brow OF the hill it wa
ascertained tina, they had fallen back
: over a mile and beyond an open felC
where their battery was again station
Ell, and the enemy formed line. Ou
cavalry, regardless of danger, plunged
forward to the charge on the enemy.
position. Mostly screened by the in,
t tervening woods, nothing could hav,
withstood the impetuosity of such I
charge, and many of the enemy wer,
cut down behind their places of con
cealment and the rest fled. The can
nonading was kept up for some time
the enemy falling back, taking most o
their dead and wounded with them.
The inhabitants along the route
from Caswell to this point, We're tolt
by Prices army that the Yank's wer,
) marching down and were burning al
. the houses, killing women and emil
, dren. These ignorant people, it seems
! believed silly tales and the result wa
! that a general stampede took place
I Men procured teams, gathered up wha
, little valuables could be carried along
2 and, taking their families aboard, de
, serted their homes.
: Only three men were found in Cass
vile when our army arrived. A
Keetsville nearly all the inhabtant
| fed from that point to Cross Hollows
About two-thirds of the inhabitant
: on the road had deserted their dwell
s ings. In several houses the table
$ were spread for breakfast and in thei
f hurry of flight were thus left. Th
8. wash tub was seen filled with water OF
:. the back of the chair, indicating tha
the hegira occurred as it actually die
l on wash-day. The doors were ajar, tn
s clock on the mantelpiece had cease,
t ticking, feather beds were piled in tn
s center OF the floor, all sorts of furnitur
!, scattered about and not a sound wa
E heard but the mewing of cat. Al
r air of lonesome, heart-sick desolatiol
s prevailed. One large dwelling had re
Gently burned down and the ruin
l were still smoking. Although stric
8 orders forbid our boys disturbing an,
l private property they nevertheless
t helped themselves to such things a
: they fancied. Cooking utensils, hams
t lard, molasses, vinegar, meal, bean
7 and whatever else their hands incline,
5 toward was appropriated. RatioDs a
:, that time were very small, owing t
o having outmarched the provision trail
: aud the boys were very glad to hav
I such opportunities of filling up. Cot
t fee had been exhausted several day
g before and many had been restricts
g TO hominy and parched corn. But noy
!. the fleeing rebels had left enough {
t more than satisfy their hunger an
e they were not disposed to treat thei
e liberality with contempt.
: W. H. A.
h Advice to Mothers.
= Mrs. Winslows Soothing Syru
e should always be used when childrel