The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-10-13

| KIND treatment by Sheriff and deputy was moi
unappreciatcd by this man, as We shall see
hereafter.
Soon after this the war began, and one day
| Ed Mats again appeared on our streets OF War
rensburg and report was current that high
| official OF our County had induced Gov Cialb
| jackson to release Mats with the understands
ing that he would join the rebel State Guards.
| He remained only few days and disappeared,
and his whereabouts were not known until my
| brothers return from his Butler trip, and he
| told them how Ed Mats had saved his life on
| the prairie between Butler aud Harrisonville.
| Mats instead of Joining the rebel State Guards,
| had found his way to Kansas and joined him.
self to that band of bold "outrders" known
| as "Jennison's Jayhawkers," or kansas Red
| legs" He was one of Jennison's boldest Lieu
! tenants. His graceful and daring horseman-
| ship won for him the title of
THE PHANTOM HoRsEMAN OF THE PRAIRIE"
This band became the terror of the border
| Counties of Missouri, and was not always gov
erned by the finest determinations between
| the loyal and disloyal; and, as matter of
| self-preservation few men who fell into their
hands were ever known to tell any tales
In October, 1861, Mats was arrested by the
military authorities at Kansas City, aud was
confined in the guard house. My regiment
was then on duty there and detail was made
from my company for guard duty. The boys
told me that cleveland :" was in the guard
house. l then told them the story of my
brothers trip to Butler, and how Cleveland :"
had saved his life, had his horse, etc. returned
to him, offered him money, or any assistance
he could render him in his return home, and
| wound up by saying to the boys You must do
your duty as soldiers, and if Cleveland should
make break for liberty, and you have to shoot
at him, shoot high; don't shoot the poor fellow
in the legs"
Just as expected, Cleveland" got away that
night. Whether my actions had anything to
do with his escape / know not nor care not
/ owed him debt of gratitude.
To resume my story. Alter resting few
days not being able to get to my command, l
determined to go to Warrensburg, where Col
holding the country. DR.. J. II. Warren and
myself made our way with much difficulty to
Warrensburg, where remained until after the
Wilson Creek fight, when the rebels returned
TO this part of the State in great force. COL
Grover with his command struck out for JEFF
ferson City, and determined to try to make my
way TO Kansas, and if possible
REJoIN MY COMMAND.
Gen. Cockrell had returned to Warrensburg
with a large rebel force and sent very polite
note to myself aud other Union men i'll the
country inviting US to come to town, as they
did not wish to harm any one, but to make
friends. This kind invitation we declined.
We spent that day and night in the woods,
sleeping that night in dense thicket of un-
derbrush near the road, where we could watch
the movements of the rebe: forces. In the
morning we went to the house and got our
breakfast, and Capt. w. L. Houts and myself
went out into the rear of the cornfield to await
further Developments In the meantime Gen.
Cockrell decided to send more urgent invita-
tioB TO US to come to town. We had been away
from the house but short time when it was
surrounded by company of armed rebeis.
Some of the younger boys of the neighborhood
were in the house, and seeing the men ap-
preaching from the front, sprang out at the
back door only to find bayonets there to re-
ceve them. They were surprised and the
rebels were disappointed; fer they did not find
the ones there that they were particularly
anxious 10 see.
The boys were held a short time while the
rebels searched the house for arms and amma-
milton. Not finding any, and the boys having
done nothing that rendered them especially
obnoxious, they were left TO their own refiec-
tions.
As soon as The rebels were gone Capt. W. L.
Houts aud myself were notified of what had
inst happened and we determined TO make a
break for Kansas the next day. We lay IN the
brush that day and night, and next morning
about sunrise, having eaten our breakfast aud
taking noon lunch with US. mounted our
through it was necessary to keep off the public
roads.
WE PASSED NEAR ROSE HILL,
followed the creek between Pleasant Hill and
Harrisonville until We struck the dividing
ridge between the Blue and Grand Rivers. then
taking as straight course as possible for Aubry,
in Kansas. We took our MONDAY lunch in q
little clump OF trees on the branch between
Harrisonvilie and Pleasant Hill, and after rest
ing our horses few minutes we resumed our
journey without stopping until we had crossed
the line into Kansas, near Aubry, having
Travelled nearly 20 miles. 1t WAS about IL
O'Clock in the night when we dismounted in
the prairie, tied our horses to a sumac bush,
lay down on the grass, and Sept uuti! daylight.
The difficulties under which we iabored will
be more fully understood when you learn that
for about two months there had been carried on
along the State line most deadly conflict be-
tween the Missouri and Kansas men. Almost
every day raids were made across the line by
one party or the other in which blood was
split and property taken. Camps were estab-
lshed Oh either side and sort OF patrol service
kept up for mutual protection. Think, then.
of two strangers, armed, attempting to pass
this line from the Missouri side. and that too
on the very next day after an attack upon the
town Of Aubry by band of Missouri ruffians,
and you may have faint idea of the situation
In which we were placed.
Well. when daylight came quietly rode
into Aubry and requested something to eat. We
were
REGARDED WITH SO MUCH SUSPICION
that no ole seemed disposed TO entertain us.
After some time, by telling "not-o'ertr true
story" and surrendering our arms, we were
taken in aud given our break fast and our horses
were fed. After feeding our horses and wait
ing for our breakfast, our landlord came to us
again and said 3" / have taken yoa men in at
great risk, and now want you to tell me the
plain truth. Are you not Missourans?" We
then told him the truth, giving him our recent
history. He seemed satisfied that we had told
the truth, and said that young man was going
down to the Union camp on the border, east of
Paola, and that he would escort US down there,
provided we would allow him 10 keep our arms
until we found some one to vouch for Us. This
we agreed to, and after ride of about 90 miles
were again among our friends.
Some two weeks were spent in Paola and the
camp On the border, sometimes quite exciting
| and sometimes rather monotonous. Reports
were frequently made that an armed force WAS
| coming from Missouri to attack the town, when
every man and boy large enough to carry
gun would be called out, and we would stand
guard over the town all night, to find in the
morning sometimes that someone had seen
drove OF cattle or horses down on the border,
that their fears and imagination had wrought
intos
GREAT ARMY OF BORDER RuFFIANs.
After nearly two months absence / was per-
Initted to Tejon my command, and was
warmly greeted by my comrades, who had little
expected to see me again. About the time OF