The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-05-15
e. THE BIC RAID.
An Account Of How The Rebels We're Driver Out o.
Missouri.

MtssGuEts
FnIToR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Having seen
O communication in your paper of March Is
from Comrade A. Il. Scholes 60. u. 18th Kan.
Cav, Westmoreland Kan, thought that, as l
was one of those who went TO their relief with
the brave Gen. Pleasonton, would give you a
short history of our trials while on the road go
ing and coming. About the middle of July,
1864 q detail was made from Gen A. J. Smi 8
cavalry command, Sixteenth Corps, from near
Memphis Tenn, Of from IL TO Is men from
each company to report at headquarters inn
mediately with three days rations We crossed
the Mississippi River that night. We numbered
about 1000. We marched all through Arkan-
sas, over mountains. crossing lakes, rivers, etc,
and arrived at Jefferson City, Mo-, about tho
middle of October and there we Joined Gen
Pleasonton, and then, by forced marches, over
took the rebels Mt Independence, Mo, and
whipped them. The next day we had battle
Mt the Big Blue, where n great many of our
brave boys lie buried under those old oak trees
The next battle was in the Usage Prairie, where
the biggest cavalry charge of the war was made,
led by the brave and gallant Pleasonton, where
we cut them entirely in two, capturing all of
their cannon and Marmaduko's Division, with
Gen. Marmaduke included. After the fight
we camped in Fort Scott that night. Some Of
our boys got mixed up with the Johnnios aud
rode all day with them, not knowing tho diff
ever, they found out their mistake, aud rejoined
us again the next morning all o. X.
TheneXt brush we had with them was ut New
tonia From there the rebels kept rctreating,
and would not stand. The orders were to drive
them out of the country, which we did. Wo
followed them entirely through the Indian
Nation to the Arkansas River near Fort Smith,
where on Nov our artillery gave them the
farewell salute forever and the country was
saved.
But now comes an account of the homcward
march, but oh in what condition. Our orders
were TO walk aud lead our poor brolSCudown
horses, men and horses both hanging thor
heads. Nothing in the haversack or feed
sack. Every day we were obliged TO leave
some OF our poor dumb friends alone, TO be de-
voured by wolves or die of starvation. Then
was the time that many of the boys put their
arms around their horses nccks and cried like
children when they kissed the poor old fellows
good-by. There is where a cavalryman appro-
ciates his horse, having to abandon him to die,
with hundreds of drcary miles before him.
Night after night VIC could hear the dismal
bowling Of tho wolves, who were feasting on
those we had left behind Someone may say
E" Nothing but poor old horse" Well, they
have never been situated where their horse Was
their best friend
When we got near TO the Arkansas line six
of my company, under Serg't Hilbert started
at 3 o'clock in the morning with the cxpecIa-
ton Of getting something to cat About sun
rise, near Cane Hill, VIC found an Indian hut.
where we got break fast. consisting of corn.
bread made from corn crushed with rock, and
dried meat; also Indian tea, made from sassa-
fras root. was told by Sorgt Hilbert after
ward in private that the meat was dog" hut
1t tasted as good as any that could be had at
Delmonlco's. BY noon we were all mounted on
ponies or jacks, aud by shutdown we met our
professionalism, and told them that our COM
mand was 20 miles behind us. The commander
of the train Immediately sent some OF tho
wagons on TO them. We camped that night
with the tcamsters and had nice time.
BY the middle Of December we arrived In
ST. Louis, where we were re-equippcd. Here
IS description of my uniform on my arrival
there: Pantal0ons made OF blanket, an old
ovcrcoat with the tails burned of up To the
waist, and an old SLOUGH hat. aud ! thought my
self in big luck to have them. We were then
put on board of steamboats,, but the leo was so
heavy that the boats had to tie up below 81.
Louis, and we had 10 march back We were
then transferred by railroad to Louisville Ky.
We wore there used 10 scout the country for
guerrilas in Kentucky. In the early part Of
April We were sent 10 Vicksburg, Miss, where
we arrived the day poor old Abo Lincoln was
killed. We rejoined our regiment there aud
recognized into four companies and were sent
down To New Orleans, In, to serve under Gen.
Phil Sheridan, aud were discharged Nov 25,
1865. As remember there were dctachmcnts
from the 7th Ind, "a N. j., 10Th Pa, Colorado,
Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Illinois troops.
This looks like Napoleon's retreat from Mos
COW, only this was not a retreat. / was absent
from my regiment 10 months on this raid, aud
received no pay for one year until ! was paid
off in New Orleans. II anyone can beat this,
let us hear from them through the old soldiers
friend, The NATIONAL TRIBusE.-HESRY
DiLLINngRoER Co. b. 4th No. Cav, shreve-
port, La.