The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-04-10
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns
WONDERFUL ENDURANCE.

,lace SO long ago that 10 Is about forgotten eN-
cent by those directly engaged in il, this story
would not be written. As it is, the incident
Is SO foil of adventure Of hardship and of i'm
agery that il is web worth place in the history
of the country.
AZ the close of the war Of the rebellion
large number of the good people OF the coun-
try were appreheusiyo of the deleterious elect
OF turning loose upon the community horde
of volunteer soldiery who had been Tor years
given TO war and desp0liatiOn of the enemys
country. The world knows the result. The
citizen soldiery was absorbed by the trades aud
professions Of the country, and totally disap-
1eared. without a ripple, TO reappear only as
The Grand Army of the Republic, an organiza-
lion OF such strength and grandeur, OF such
LOYALTY aud intelligence, that p years later 1t
largely dictated the policy and shaped tho legis-
lation the country.
But there were, probably, q tfew exceptions,
and the incident here related is one of them.
Afew adventurous spirits, who had during the
war belonged 10 one Of the most noted OTsanlza-
fions in the Army of the Cumberland, an or
,rapization Of five mounted regiments and
field battery. which was wholly inviucibie in
battle and whose tattercd and shot-rcnt flags
attested continued and desperate service, found
inactivity burdensome and looked about Tor
something TO stir the blood, aud one of them
matched from his fertile brain a scheme of such
adventure and magnitude as TO be totally
startling.
ffe communicated il 10 few choice spirits
until is of them had signified their willingness
10 engage in the perilOus undertaking. They
were however, without leader; but there
lived IN eastern Illinois a brilliant brainy
soldier who had seen more fighting more hair
breadth escapes. more riding and ralding than
any other man IN the West and whose lighting
qualities were equalcd only by has intelligence,
bravery aud mOdeS,y. The eyes OF the 10 were
FmpmaN ms dHFEctlOn- and nn
was at once communicated with. He had
shOurht himself of the scheme, and when he
discovered that his old c0mradesin-arms had
trrvstalized his own thought, his surprise and
delight were unbounded. At once he took his
way 10 the rendezvous, point IN Indiana, and
there met the party. lie was unanimously
chosen Captain Of the company, and actual OPP
erations were at once begun. The objective
point was Salt Lake City, and the adventure
was the sacking and r0bbing OF the Mormon
Temple, which was reported 10 contain untold
millions of wealth.
On account Of the unsettled state of the
country the National Government was keenly
on the alert and had its agents ali over the West
keeping watch upon adventures, and the
utmost secrecy was maintained, it being
arranged that the members of the party
should singly and at different times
make their way 10 Kansas City, there to
perfect the organization and procure the neces-
sary supplies This was done within few
weeks, and the party rendezvoused at that
point.
summer was going. and it was late when the
westward trail was taken, but the party pushed
ON over the Rockies, meeting with many
ninOr adventures Oh the route, but none OF
much importance save an occasional brush with
rowing bands Of Indians, who were soon dis
posed Of by these veterans with their hinches-
ters. They were used to camp life, and their
than, in oond Cfead in
the mountain march toward their goal
IN due time they entered MormOndOm, and
mt the close Of a November day they camped
al 3 canyon only Is miles from Salt Lake City.
Here they halted for rest, recuperation and
preparation. They sent IN a few men 70 locate
the temple and gathcrsuch information as wonld
aid them in their purpose, and these scouts
brought hack the additional information that
q regiment OF United States troops was in the
CITY. and that Gen. Sherman was there IN per-
son; zud, further, that the raid was expected,
and the troops were there to capture the party.
This was somewhat discouraging, but did not
4uEn the bold spirits from their main object.
They lad 90 make different plans, however, and
before these were perfected a binding snow
storm set in, and they aWOke one morning to find
themselves under y feet Of snow. The canyon
WIS fun Days OF labor and suffering passed
before they fought their way through the
snow 10 the surface, and, worst OF all,
when they escaped from the snow they found
themselves surrounded by the troops. They
were il no condition to fight, and were com
PEELED 10 surrender. They were disarned
and marched into salt Lake City and confined
IN the military prison until such time Is
their trial should come Of. The leader,
learning that Gen. Sherman was in command,
obtained permission 10 see him, and was accord
lBgly brought into the presence Of the stern
Old warrior. Craving q private interview
a.. a. .a.rHf - h..
eEal who was ovejoyed 10 meet one Of his best
old soldiers. but was deeply moved 20 learn that
1his gallant officer WAS the leader Of what ht
termed band Of land pirates and highway
robbers
DO you know, Mai. -" the irate old
soldier shouted. using tie Captains army title
do you know that the penalty Of your adyen
tUre is dc4thf"
Tie Captain said he did, but he made *
strong plea to Sherman that he moved th'
heart Of the veteran, and the interview close
quite satisfactorily 10 the adycnturer. ii
gives il IN these words: Tie General said
As be closed the conference, You 20 back L
tbe guaFd house. ] will confer about your court
martial aud DEATH and as he turned away b.
slowly winked one eye at me, and knew tina
we Tcrc al right"
That night was a desperately cold one, q
least - degrees below zero, and the snow wa
piled n drifts all over the country; but Ga
adventures we're On the alert for chance
escape, aud about midnight they found tia
the guards had become droWsy with tie cold
and had retired from their posts This was "a
opportunity, and the II men quietly got ~
and as quietly slipped away from their prison
1HdiGereBtly clad without arms or food. thcs
UncOuquefable spirits took their way tbr0ug
the snow and cold toward the East aud ate
the most desperate ezcrtiOns and hardship
reached Cheyenne, half starved, frozen, Iagge
and pennies.
Here they learned that the Government WI
still Oh their trail, and after remaining ia hidiH
for q lcw days the entire party stole into a Ct
laden with buffalo hides and wolf pclts COZ
signed 10 q city In the East and were palie
cut " Cheyenne and IN a few days rcacht
Omaha. They had represented themselves
cramps. aud had evadcd The authorities ia ia
way They suffered from cold the thermon
eteT being down below - ali the time, an
1rsm hunger. although their surroundings
ahc car u buffalo hides, where they were stea
ing ride, somewhat mitigated the cravings
Eppclite.
Upon reaching Omaha, thinking the ella
by tie Government had been abandoned, Ia,
left their car, aud going down 10 tho river
nUlged IA q much needed bath, which great
refreshed them. Capt - then hunted UP
old army comfade Of his, vino had been vi
him in many bloody fray aud hard -f0ug
battle ia the South, aud making himself know
got some assistance ia the way Of funds al
finding that they were still the objects Of {
81 GH.eH Il. -