The National tribune., 1890-07-03
AT PRENTISS, MISS.
How Three pickot.Guards werc Left Behind

EDITOR NATIONAL Tribune: 1t may not
come amss, but may stir up the minds of some
of the old boys of the 33d aud 99th H., also the
9th and 18th Ind. and 11th' Wis, for me to re-
late little incident that took place during the
Summer of 1862. Among the many trips we
made from Old Town down the river that
Summer to reconnoiter, feel of the enemy and
also ascertain how much cotton the Johnnies
had on hand waiting to be confiscated, was one
that all who participated in will doubtless re-
member during life.
do not remember dates, but on this particu-
lar occasion there were two transports, think
the Laclode and Alhambra, and the ram Queen
of the West.
As we were steaming quietly down the broad
bosom of the Father of Waters, about o'clock
in the evening all of q sudden, and without
warning, we were fired upon from the brush
on the river bank OF course we were greatly
surprised, and strange rs il may seem, none
were killed. and but one or two slightly wound
ed. Col. Lippincotts horse also received slight
wound.
Deeming it an insult to be treated thus, tho
boys begged of the Colonel, by way of retalia-
tion, that he would allow them to burn Prem
tiss, small town on the left bank of the Mis-
sissippi nearly opposite the old town of Napo-
leon, Ark, and only about u mile below whore
we were ambushcd The Colonel finally gave
his consent, and white flag was sent ashore to
notify the inhabitants of what we had decided
to do According to arrangements, Co. B of
the ;}3d III. wns to skirnish through the place
and Co. of the Same regiment TO follow with
the frebrand.
Alta given signal think it was the seventh
shot from a poco of artillery on tho ram--we
started. You should have heard the racket we
made rs we passed through that town tearing
off boards aud Stats from fencing Such crack
ing and swapping was enough to alarm any who
might have been tardy in moving out.
After max ing sure that there were no lurk-
ing Johnnies, my company OBJ were placed on
| guard in the suburbs and tho torch was ap-
| piled to the Courthouse first and then followed
tho business aud resident portion.
Everything seeming to be safc and no rebs
| in sight or hearing, many of tho boys, being
prompted by curiosity to know what was going
on down town, kept leaving our picket post one
at time until only three of us remained out
| of l3 originally posted, aud those were all high
| privates-Cyrus Fettermau, Charlie koshner
and myself. After remaining until everything
became quiet, we began wondering why we were
not called in. Finally, there being no non-cou-
mlssioned officer with US To act authoritatively,
| proposed to the boys that would go down
| the lovee in the direction that had seen an
other post 20, and If possible ascertain whether
or not we were being left, AS by this time the
| boats seemed to bo moving, whstling and
| blowing steam Having proceeded in tho di-
| rection l thought the other pcket.post had
! gone until | became satisfied that they had
| either gone on or had been taken in by the
rcbs, retraced my steps and found the boys
anxiously awaiting my return. Reporting my
| failure To find anyone, either friend or foe
| further proposed TO tho boys that If they would
remain mot desiring 10 desert the post entirely
would go TO tho river bank, n half mile dis.
tant, aud If possible find ont what was going
! on, for assure you, comrades, we had no desire
| 10 fall into tho hands OF tho enemy and cspeci-
| ally mt that place under the then existing cir
| cumstauces, for there were no doubts in our
minds as to what would have been our lot
| Andersonvillc would have been cheated out OF
| three victims had we been captured, as VIC no
| doubt would have decorated the first livc-oak
| tree. But ana anticipating. As approached
! the river bank sure enough the boats were
| pulling out, having forgotten that only three
| mcn remained out on picket. ] say only three
| comrades, for the reason that wo could have
been accounted for by statement that the
little city OF Prentiss, Miss, was captured, and
| only three men missing.
ran back 10 tho end of tho long street. then
lighted up with heaps of live Goals on each side,
| and could see the two boys at the other end
| anxiousy pccring over the ievee. Reckoning
| 10 them they soon joined me, and shortly wc
were safe with the rest of the comrades. / at
tach no blame TO anyone, for Ia the excitement
We were simply forgotteB.-R. NJ. Akin, Co
| B, 33d ILL.,, Nelson, Neb.