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

our camp on luaG uaTCH.
remember one evening, on going into camp
after days march, the events of which were
| not altogether pleasant. It seemed for time
| that psndemonium had broken loose. Three
cheers for Jim Lane! Three groans for Gen.
Sturgis! These were the orders given by the
men, and executed by the mon with spirit
that left no doubt as to how they were regarded.
first met Gen. Lane in camp near Osceola.
1 went to his headquarters on business, found
him alone in his tent. lying on cot He
raised his head when / entered his tent, po-
litely motoned me to stool, and said: Give
me chew of tobacco" l gave him the to.
bacco, he took bite and began to talk. I
stated my business; the matter was discussed
in most informal manner, and so disposed OF.
l spent some 20 or 80 minutes in his tent, when
a woman. not his wife, came into the tent,
picked up the Generals feet turned them out
to one side of the cot, and sat down by the
side of him in a very familiar manner. then
retired.
AFTER THE DEMONSTRATIONS
before referred to our command was divided,
Lane taking different road from ours. At
Greenfield, on the 31st day of October, we
were reviewed by Gen. Sturgis and next day
marched to Springfield, where we Joined Fre-
monts grand army of $4,000 or 100000 men.
Our camping ground was assigned next where
Fremont's Body-guard made its famous charge
a short time before, and we had to remove the
GeQQ horses ana mules from Gn6 RTOunu ueIOEo
we could pitch our tents.
Here we remained five or six days in q state
of fevered excitement. Rumors were rife.
One day Prices army is at Wilson Creek; the
next at Cassville; one day it is marching on
US with overwhelming forces; the next it is
coming in to surrender.
One day "boots and saddles" was sounded
and we were formed in line and stood there
about four hours, while we were told that
Prices army was only few miles away. The
next report was that Fremont had been super
ceded by Hunter, and then began the retro
grade movement of that magnificent army. 1t
marched up the hill and then marched down
again.
While at Springfield, from some cause, we
were refused rations, and it began to look as il
we would have to starve or make raid on
the commissary, but the matter was adjusted
after few yards of red tape had been measured
Off
Upon the retirement of the army from
Springfield we were assigned to Lanes Bril-
gade, which moved by way of Lamar to Fort
Scott.
Upon leaving Springfield we were thrown
upon our own resources for subsistence for both
man and beast. We made raid on small
grist-mill one night, where we got several sacks
of flour ground but not boted. This was our
supply of breadstuff until we reached Fort
Scott This unbolted -four, beef and mutton,
without salt, was what we had TO live on until
we reached Fort Scott.
On our march we reached Lamar about an
hour before sunset, where we went into camp
We got our suppers and were thinking of
nights rest, after hard days march, when we
were ordered to prepare for a march. About
600 of us, with two pieces of artillery, about
dark took up our line of march for Bowers
Mills some 20 miles distant. On we went until
we were within about two miles of the mills,
MI, balf ad nd aff nh ~
turned right-about, and away we
WENT AT GOOD SPEED
for body of men who had marched 40 or so
miles with scarcely An hours rest.
We got back to Lamar about or o'clock
in the morning to find our camp deserted, our
baggage, provisions and everything gone Hero
we were, tired, hungry and mad. The word
mad hardly expresses the true inwardness of
these men that morning
If these men had been given full vent to
their feelings, and the whole Southern Confed-
eracy had been there, there would not have
been enough of it left to tell the story of the
rebellion.
Well there was nothing else for US to do but
mount our tired horses and follow the COM
mand hungry and tired we were. About
o'clock we came up with them where they
had gone into camp. We were soon filled up
with our bran bread and unsalted beef, and
spread our tired limbs upon the ground for
nights sleep. But how abont that Bowers
Mills trip? Well. I'll tell you now, but VIC
never cared to talk about it before. Well, as /
stated before. we took about 600 men and two
pieces of artillery and approached the mill,
where 100 or 250 rebels were grinding supply
of -four for the rebel army. We expected to
take them in, also the -four. We halted mile
or SO from the mill and sent our scouts to
roconnoter, who returned in short time and
reported that the rebels had much larger
force there than we had and were prepared to
receive us. This report caused our hasty re-
treat, as before described The reason we never
wished to talk about it was that we learned
day or two afterward that the report of the
scouts was false that there was only a small
force of rebels there and that they heard of
our approach and gathered up what they could
carry away,
BLOCKADED THE FORD OF THE RIVER
by Telling trees in it, and then retired as rapidly
as we did. Thus was exhibited the spectacle
of two opposing forces getting away from each
other III a most unccrom0niOuS manner.
We continued our march without further
incident of i'm portance until We reached Fort
Scott, where we rested one day, when our regi-
ment alone proceeded to Paoa, going by way
Of Butler Mo. Near the Marias des Cygnes
River We came upon small band OF rebels who
were trying to get away with a lot Of dry goods
household and other plunder, gathered by them
somewhere IN the country. his property was
very acceptable to our command and was ap-
propriated as far as the necessities Of tho case
required Your humble servant drew a white
shirt the first lie had seen for two or three
months and Adj't Carver drew pair of boots
which would not fit him, and he turned them
over to me. You may think that such sudden
acquisition Of clothing would make one vain
but if the boys noticed any such effect they
made DO remarks about it. We spent day on
the Marss des Cygues chasing some small bands
of bush whackers, and then proceeded to Butler.
Before We reached Butler Col. Nugent said to
me: Captain, don't know just what We will
do with the town when VIC get there; but /
will place the Jail entirely at your disposal, in
consideration Of the attachment you may have
for the place aud it's associations"
Upon our arrival at Butler visited my old
quarters, and found them very much in the
same condition in which ] left them about four
months before. Its memories were sweet and
awful, but had no terrors for me now, and l
left il as ! found it; though, doubtless, it was
expected that ] would like to reduce the struct-
ure TO ashes.
incident to Paola, Kan, where we remained
stand at West Point, as we supposed, for the
Winter
The weather was now getting cold, and we
took possession of the vacant houses remain
iDg-for the town had
LONG SINCE BEEN DESERTED
and many houses burned-and fixed up in as
comfortable manner as possible for Winter
rtapS HarQ wa ray MIR Nv of