The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-01-10

tuelr transports ana eh1ppeO IOr OtneE
parts. I had forgotten to state hereto.
fore. that the Union troops in this bat
tie were under the command of General
Reno, and the Confederates were
handled by Colonel VIM. B. Tsbb, of
Georgia. This was one of the hottest
little battles of the war, and one of
which history takes no Notice, although
the Union troops acknowledged loss
n killed aud wounded Of over six hun.
red men.
The country was again left open to
US and We again moved back In the
direction of Elizabeth. Here We settled
down in our old camp within three
miles Of the town, everything seemed to
be peacable and quiet.So one dark night
we stole away from camp for the ex-
press purpose of visiting our best
girl, for we always had one near by
when we remained in the same place for
even few days. This one was a
farmers daughter, Miss Baker, and
lived within one mile Of Eliza.
beth City, and We knew that our
enemy was in the town and that they
had been scouting through the neigh
borhood, and this fact made US very
careful low we proceeded, for fear of
falling into their hands. but we went
all the came and went alone. When
within some rs yards of the Baker resi-
dence, which was large brick build.
ing, we heard voices that did not
sound familiar to US and we stopped
to listen. There was a large orchard of
peach, pear and fir trees on the north
side of the residence which ran up to
the house and small garden that al.
most reached the back door of the
building and along the side of this
garden next to the house there was
heavy row of current bushes and with
in few feet of the back porch. The
old picket fence had been neglected,
had rotted and places in it had fallen
to the groun; it was here in this back
porch that we located the strange
voices that we heard and wedetermin-
ed that we would know who this
stranger was. So we moved by the
right flank and being familiar with
the place we hid no trouble in gaining
the advantage desired. By taking a
circuitous route we came in the back
way through the orchard, reached the
garden under cover of fir trees and
took refuge under cover Of the current
bushes. We were now within ten
feet of the takers, who proved to be
old man Baker, the father of the fair
daughter, and Major Grimes Of the
Union army and Notwithstanding, Mr..
Baker pretended to be q great rebel
while with us Southern troops, it soon
became very evident with me, that he
was great traitor to US or the Union
one and knew not which, for he
seemed anxious to tell this Major ali
oil that he knew about US and more
too. He expressed himself as being
highly delighted to have him stop
with him and asked him to call as Of
ten as possible, but the old gent did |
not remain long with him after 1 had
gotten my secluded position, but ex-
cused himself and left his fair daugh-
ter, our girl, to entertain the Major,
and it was now that the most interest.
ing part, to me, Of this story comes in.
He, the Major, was q pleasant talker
and full Of flattery. She was ALEC
we'll educated aud full of fun and
romance and it was pleasant for them
indeed, but hard on me, as 1 was ly.
ing prone on the wet ground with q
heavy sea flag pressing upon me, and
hearing my girl being entertained by
a man that would rather even take
my life if he had a chance. My
situation was unpleasant indeed, and
1 was at times in a notion to rise up
from my hiding place, put on bold
front and step forward and order him
to hold up his hands, and but for fear
I would have done this, but as had
no arms. not even pistol, aud 1 con-
,idered that he might possibly be q
brave fellow and present Colts or
Tesson and then the joke would go
the other way. So 1 came to the
conclusion that would keep still and
earn all l could, though I dared not
tell what learned though 1t had been
worth thousands to the Southern
,ause, for I had stolen away from
lamp and would have been punished
'everely, had my superiors found that
act out. will here relate part of
he conversation as it occurred accor-
ling to my recollection.
He. the Major, wanted to know if
he believed in the Southern cause.
She answered that she thought the
,ause wac right, except the secession
BART, and she thought the Union ought
lot be todibsolved, but she thought the
North ought not to interfere with
southern property. l.
He very readily agreed with her on
hat point, and many others, and
here at times seem to be no difference
in their opinions, but ut
'ther times they would get into
warm but friendly dispute In which
both parties would seem to get much