The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-07-19

the bed Of q deep valley Win preclpi-
tous sides covered with brush and the
eminences covered with forests OF
Black Jack and Swamp oaks. Two
other ravines cut across the valley
at right angles, the other Obliquely In
a south easterly and north west
direction. The junction Of these
ravines is called Cross Hollows.
A cantonment of three thousand Ar.
kansas infantry had been located there
during the winter, an excellent spring
gushed forth under one of the banks,
giving origin to q creek. 1t was
thought that the six bold promontories
which send their salient points into
the valley would constitute natural
ramparts for placing cannon to enfilade
the gorges, but 1t seemed that the
go1 ges were untenable In the face OF
the ardent troopers Of General Curtis,
and Northern valor proved to be
more than match for Southern. 1t
was said that Price had fed to the
Braves mountains in the Indian
Territory.
The Rebel camp had been located in
beautiful place three miles west Of
Cross Hollows, in the principal valley,
and they had erected one hundred and
eight commodious huts with chimneys
in the center. OF those they burnt
all but five when they lett, and in the
hurry of their flight they left thirty
game cocks, some Of which brandish-
ed silver spurs. The best fighting ma
terial was thus evidently left behind.
A book containing the general orders
and quantity of brass knuckles were
also left behind by the chivalry. As
soon as the Federal army went into
camp, many refugees returned to our
lines, among whom were two intelli-
gent women from their homes south
of Fayetteville. They represented that
their husbands were Union men who
had fled to avoid being pressed into
the Rebel army. A threat was made
that the wives of such who favored
the Union cause would be hung, and
many of these poor women were try-l
ing to make their way.into the Federal
lines to escape this threatened doom.
The day before these women left
home, there were two Union men
hung near their homes.
These women were piloted through
our lines by an intelligent country
hand, the trusty slave of their father.
This negro said that the retreat of
Price was proceeded by dispatches
sent ahead calling citizens to arms.
A perfect reign of terror prevailed.
Committees were appointed to hang
every man refusing to join the Rebel
army.
People were removing their provis-
ions to the woods and leaving them,
fleeing in large numbers to the noun
tains,
By previous act no negro must
be found hey ond his masters premises
under pain of fifty lashes administer
ed on the bare back. A few weeks
before five negroes were caught fishing
together in a stream twelve miles from
Fayetteville, were hung and their
bird.picked carcasses were seen swing
ing in the air as warning to others.
The negros were told that the North.
ern Abolitionists were trying to get
them in their power for the purpose of
transpor ting them to Cuba.
The second Of March 1862, came in
cold nd.during the day some snow
fell, as also did on the 3rd and 9Th.
This made it very disagreeable in
camp, short rations, thin clothing and
some with bare feet caused good deal
of suffering among the troops. An
incident new and intensely interesting |
occurred on the afternoon of the 5th of
March. Some time in January slight
difficulty occurred between Captain
and some of his men in relation to
who should furnish the Captains fire
with wood. The Captain was inclined
to have his fire supplied with wood at
the expense of a young private. and
the young man determined he would
not, and hence came the charge Of
of orders. Before, how
ever, the thing was entirely settled,
some further difficulties occurred
and the young man was threatened
with corporal punishment, this he re-
sisted with his knife. cutting the
clothes o: the first of his company and
to take his life. This
added to the previous charges, one of
still greater gravity, the young man
was court martialed and sentenced to
have his head shaved, uniform taken
from him, and to be drummed out of
the service on the afternoon Of the 5th.
This farce was played off to the de-
light of some and the disgust of many.
The whole division was called out and
formed in two lines across an open
field in the valley to witness the
great show. And at the appointed
time the young man made his appear
ance at one end of the amphitheater
with shaved head uncovered, accom-
panied by two guards with fixed
oayonets in his rear, to the time Of the
,ogues march he was thus paraded