The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-04-17
THE FRONTIER ARMY.

Missouri Mans Experience on the Price Raid.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Comrade A.
b. Scholes. of Co. b, 18th Kan. Cav, wants
TO hear from some Of the boys of frontier
fame. | want also To correct the comrade lIe
states that ho was ont and fighting old Pap
Price 81 Jays. lie was lucky that he was not
out 60 days on the same expedition. think
that our command. 9Th Mo. Cav, and the Sec
ond Brigade were ont on hard tack aud no sow
belly, for al least 60 davs. Now IL appears from
the comrado's letter In THE NATIONAL EEtB-
UNE that Gen. Runt's men did all the fighting
in that CAMPAIGN aud he wonders why Gen.
Pleasonton did not come up. They conld hear
nothing from him aud his 10000 cavalry. Let
me say 20 the commde that we never saw any
Of Gen. B,uHts men on that campaign. but /
10 know tha Gen. PleRsOuton, aud especially
the Second Brigade. under Gen. John McNcal.
fought Price fr1m Jefferson City by the way OF
B0onyille on TO Lexington, then to the Little
Blue then 90 Big Blue, and then 10 Independ-
ence. Mo-, where our brigade-the Second
charged down the streets with brave Gen. Nc
Nra az the head aud leading the charge. The
rebels had two chains across tho street, tied to
locust trees with ropes. One brave woman,
taking an Ak. ran out and chopped the ropes
la two, letting the chains down. by her
bravery aud patriotism she assisted US in cap
turing two large brass guns aud two caiss0ns,
and we had 10 kill IS Of their riders and gun
ners before they would surrender their guns.
Anyone knowing this woman's name will
please give il to me through THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE or by letter.
Now for Kansas City aud Westport. After
our haii-day's fight nj independence Gen. Nc
Neal took our brigade aud marched all night
around the rebel lines, aud formed in line in
their advance and awaited them until in the
morning. Gen. Pleasont0n had ordered Brig
Gen. Brown to attack the rear of the rebel
army at Westport early in the moruing, but
Brown did not bring au engagement, aud
the result was that we did not capture the rebel
train Of wagons as Gen. PleasOnton expected.
Brown was put undcr arrest for cowaTdice aud
disobedience OF orders.
Comrade Scholes is mistaken about the Big
Blue. Both streams are east Of Independence,
aud not between Kansas City aud independ-
euce, IS the cOmTadc says. Gen. Blunt waited
for zen. Pleasonton aud his 10000 cavalry 10
come TO has aid. Daring this time wo were
fghting the enemy al the time, aud living on
one cracker a day. As TO foragiuc there was
absolutely nothing 10 get; Blunts men aud
the rebels were in ahead Of Us. living on the
lat of the country, aud they devougcl il all. ]
did ind two heads Of cabbage ia cellar, and
meeting Gen. McNeai. saiutcd him with them.
] was eating one, and he said: Give IL -!
aud laughed. Well, the fight continued. and
We got old Pap Price on the run; we chased
him along the Kansas line, and about 10 miles
southeast Of Fort Scott Kan, We charged the
rebels, aud captured old john s. Marmaduko
and Gen. Caiail. with 600 prisoners. five pieces
Of artillery ] 800 small-arms, aud about 30 line
and staff officers, aud number of baggage
wagons.
Now, this was all done by our command.
which was under the immediate command OF
Gen. Plcasonion. Bat in all this fighting
failed 10 see any OF the command OF Gen
B.unt-st!l they waited Tor Gen. Plcasonton
70 come up 10 assist them. We whirled the
rebels doNn into Arlauaas and had several
scraps with them; bnt We knocked the wind
out Of them. ] think that we wcrc as near q
starved SET OF soldiers - could toe found. and
rest assured that our hafdships were great
The c0mFade spoke Of Gen. a. j. Smithl
command of iHfaniry not getting up ia time q
reinforce Biuuta command. They did well
but the nearest they could could get to as wa
about . miles ia hearing Of cannon, but h,
was doing hig best 30 get a tarn at the rebels
but we had sent them whirling into Dixie lane
before lie could get up. All honor to Gen. 4
J. Smith and his command.-T. J. HUGHEs
9Th Mo. Cav Decatur III.