The National tribune., 1890-06-26
PRAIRIE GROVE.
The Introduction of tho Goth Wis. to Actual War

The Introduction OF the Goth Wis. to Actual War.
EDITOR NATIONAL tribune: | soc that in
" Fighting Them Over" the 10th Kan. jay
hawllers have been nosing round to see what
they can find, and will Just say to Comrade
Scholes that he can find here in Manitoba one OF
the boys that made Hindman hurry his boots
once in Arkansas. / can do good deal of
thinking, but am poor hand to put in good
shape n story on paper.
/ will, however, rs near as ] can from
memory, give description of trip in Missouri
and Arkansas in 1862. On Dec. 3 Gen. Heron,
with his division, lay at n camp think called
Twin Springs, waiting for word from Gen.
Blunt, then trying to draw Hindman over the
Boston Mountains and get fight out of him.
He (Herron) got the word very suddenly on
Wednesday afternoon Mt o'clock, and in Is
minutes the division, in light marching order,
struck that go-as you-please gait so well re-
membcrcd by the boys that were there, and II
miles were covered before halt was called.
Thursday took us three miles south of Cassvilie
Friday three miles south of Pea Ridge, aud
Saturday 40 miles into Fayetteville. getting in
at II at night. Coffee was made by my regi-
ment twice in the next two hours, and Mt about
2:l5 a. IN. we were moving south on the Van
Buren, road. About ~ miles had been covered
when we met some OF our cavalry closely fol-
lowed by tho rebel cavalry, and the way they
rode would have made Gilpin stare. Ont of some
40 of an advance party of cavalry only eight or
10 got away, and they could not be blamed for
doing their best in the matter
Col. Bertram commanding tho Goth Wis,
turned and ordered Capt Telfair to doploy Co.
i 1--WE were marching left in 'front.' Mt rail
fence on the left of the road TO check the
Johnnies which was promptly done. We were
here waiting for orders till about IL o'clock,
when Orderly came with the word to move
forward and join the regiment, which we did
on the north side of Illinois Creek shortly
after fording that stream waist deep aud form
ing behind Battery l., 1st Mo. l.. A.
The shrek of those shells was a new thing
to us, as we were not yet initiated, but were
shortly afterward. While lying here waiting,
Ed Lewis, of my company, sat with his back to
little black oak tree, while / lay on my
stomach, when asked the question, Ed. do
yon suppose we will ever live TO trot our grand
children on our knees and tell them of this ?"
A very sober face was turned to me with the
remark: " BY go, don't know. 1t looks q
little risky now"
Just here the order rang ont, "20th Wis, fall
in, and We were soon in line of battle, with the
18th Iowa 10 support us on the left aud the 9th
Ill. 10 support us on the right, aud then we
tried to take a rebel battery that was coming
into position on the ridge in our front some 500
yards or more away. / know nothing of how
the troops kept their formation in getting TO
that battery, as | had all could attend 10 TO
keep pace with the regiment and obey orders.
When within about 20 PAGES Of the fence behind
which the battery was posted, the order was
given TO lire, and can assure you that we saw
the necessity Of it as much as the officers. for
the men stood with tho lanyards Ia their hands ;
but our bullets got there before an arm could
be worked, and what men were not shot or
wounded got % the rear aud into the bushes rs
quick as their legs could take them.
What the result would have been had tho
regiment thon withdrawn and took the battery
with them cannot say, but such was not to be
the case. for Bertram, thinking he could lick all
the rebels in the South, ordered us forward ut
doub!e-quick, and away We went. We had
passed the reb guns some eight rods. when We
ran onto snag in the shape OF infantry, of
which some OF the rebs aftorwnrd CAPTURED
said there were eight regiments; at any rate
too many for us, and We stopped right there,
and stald, too. for some 10 or 10 minutes, when
the eolor-line being broken, three of the color.
guard dead, another wounded, and the rebs
swinging round 10 take us in, we drew out
the left wing oblquing to the left aud the
right going straight back for a short distance
then closing IN on the left, where the 18th
Iowa had taken position
IL is needless 10 say that Hindman, with
% regiments of infantry, besides artillery and
cavalry, was too much for our division TO drive
nub 10 Hpih Ahci VII ABOUT 4 y. IN, WnBn
Blunt Joined Us and the fun was kept up I'LL
dark, shortly after which Hndman withdrew
in hot haste to Van Buren,. to which place We
followed him some two weeks later.
will say that the records show over so pei
cent. Of the Goth Wis killed and wounded IN
this little fight. Rather a rough introduction
but / think the answer TO my question can vel
be answered in the affirmative, as Conrad,
Lewis Is living in Iowa, and ! have no reason
IA "a In oh <
Co. b, goth Wis, Manitou, Manitoba.