The National tribune., 1890-03-13
ARMY OF THE FRONTIER.
How They Drove Old Price Out OF Missouri.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: We Kansas
boys would like 10 hear from some of the boys
Of lhe Army OF the Frontier. Department Of
the Missouri, and in order 10 draw someone out
j will give running account Of the last raid
made by Price s army into Missouri IN 1864 !
can't give dates Our regiment 9th Kan
Cav az the time was hunting for Quantrelrs
gang, and when the news reached US that Price
and AaTmaduke were marching on st. Louis,
Gen. Biunts little army uf Kansas and Wis
corsia troops was hurriedly rcndczyouscd no
liIckmaus Mills, about seven miles south OF
Kansas City, and took up the line OF march,
aud met Price army near Selalia, No. We
got licked on very short notice, and Tetrcated
back 70 Lexington; made 2 stand aud got
licked again Ne again Tctrcatcd, in good
order, OF course and fell back TO Little Blue
llrcr, east Of Independence, where we made
another stand, and fought from daylight until
p III. Being nearly surrounded and oat Of
ammunition. We again fell back through indie
pendcncc aud took another stand Oh the Big
Blue, about SIX miles east Of Kansas City. Tho
next day Saturday there was hard fghting
aud skirlGishing along the line and around
Ncsip0rt Al dark we were again driven back
IN the suburbs Of Kansas City We had no
sleep Saturday night and felt blue knowing IL
Pleas0ntOu's cavalry aud A. J. Smiths infantry
did not reach US that night Kansas towns were
doomed.
Sunday morning firing again opened in good
shape 10 NcstpOTt three miles south OF Kansas
City, and 10 tiaings vi when Gems. Pleasonfou
and Smith would reach us; but during the
night Gen. Buuts forces were reinforced by
the timely arrival Of the Kansas State mill
tia, under Gen. Deilzler. Fighting continued
until o'clock p. m, aud Blunt's forces were
whipped and doubiy whipped. but stuLborHly
held the ground, When just IN time 10 save
Kansas from invasion, Gen. plcasouton's cay
at EgFF aud 4 4
sent Price whirlinR south along the Kansas
line. We followed slowly, because Of our faded
and hungry condition, nearly all night aud OH
Monday morning Price, being pressed SO closely,
ln order 10 save his baRgage-train, gave battle
on Mine Greek, on Kansas soil. Gen. Pleason.
TONS cavalry led the charge aud did it pal
!autly, capturing six pieces of artillery, 500
prisoners. 1909 small-aTns aud Gems Marina.
duke and CaDdil. Price aud his army went
Pell-mell s0nth leaving his baggage train seat
tered promiscuously along the road. We did
not overhaul him again until We reached New
touIa, where another short skirmish ensned
aud that was the last we saw Of them until we
reached the Arkansas River at Fort Smith
where VIC saw the rear Of the rebel army dis
appear on the opposite side Of the river.
We then gave up the chase, the 18th Kan
Cav. returning 10 Fort Scott, Kan, having
been on the march for - consecutive days
without change Of clothes. Well, the boys
were not pretty, being ragged. dirty aud lousy :;
half Of US had no horses, and We looked like
the last rose Of Summer.
III wager a coon skin that there no march
ing aud lighting on record that beats H. ] have
gwen no details or incidents. and will ask some
comfade TO open the ball. Now boys speak up
and don't be- afraid that some Eastern boy viii
turn up his nose aud cali Won gmalI-fry. The
Army Of the Frontier did gallant work and lots
Of fighting, If 10 was on a small scale. We
fought for blood, and got there, Eli "A. Is.
scHoLEs 90. IL, 18th Kan. Cav, Wcstmorcland
Kan