The National tribune., 1892-10-27
FOUGHT IN TIVE DARK
The Remarkable but True Story Of
the Battle Of Dunksburg.
~ r. Z LIsENBEE


johnson County had
organized several companies of Home Guards
for self protection, as the Confedcrates were
rapidly organizing and concentrating their
forces which they styled the State Guards"
In the vicinity of Brownsville. The loyal men
who titled the soil and had put in crops were
compelled to 60 heavily armed, and work their
land in squads Of from 10 10 Is, 30 as to guard
against bushwhsckers who were becoming
very troublesome, having recently killed sew
nsl farmers who had yentured out in their
Solids alone.
Capt Mcclure, Of %. c, 9th Mo. Home
Guards. with 20 men, was stationed At Dunks-
burg early in june and bearing that large
force Of rebels was concentrating ct Browns
Vile, under Gen. Joe Shelby. only seven miles
distant, he sent out copriers with dispatches
sxking for achievements sc he had little hope
sf being able with his handful Of men TO cope
With the superior numbers Of the enemy in
sse Of attack. Hs hoped, however. that before
Sen. Shelby got ready 70 move sufficient help
you'd arrive % make Is interesting for the
Jehnnies.
On the day following the dispatch Of the
ssrrien detachment of Co. E, 9th Me- Home
Guards, numbering 30 men, In command Of
Lieut. w. Z. Chester, arrived st Dunksburg
about dusk, and soon found their way TO the
shurch on the outskirts of the village, where
Capt. Mcguire End his men were quartered.
The shurch was q frame structure, capable Of
holding shout 300 men, but as place of defense
10 was useless. being simply sided up with half
inch pine boards and q minie-ball could easily
have gone through half dozen such walls but
% . shelter from the rain, which was falling
when Chester arrived. it served the purpose
sery well.
Capt. Mcguire did not anticipate an attack
before enough Of his regiment would be on hand
30 give the enemy something TO do But every
precaution was taken 70 guard against surprise;
pickets were posted on the different roads lead.
Ing into the town. and strong camp guard wss
placed around the church.
By ii o'clock the last candle was sxtipRuiahed
and soon the men were wrapped in slumber
gnd no sound save the slow tramp Of the sen
tries az they paced to aud fro upon their beats
and an occasional stomp" of . horse could b<
heard. a slow, drizzling rain continued to fal
With little prospect, apparently, of soon sbating
1t was about midnight when the sentine
whose beat lay across the road esst Of the quar-
tsre hesr6 approaching footsteps down ths road
end when IN hsiling dist&nes he lsvslsd hi
gan and sang out:
"Ealt! Who comes thersf"
"A friend" came tie answer.
Advance and give the countersign."
The newcomer who was Immediately turnes
ever to the Sergeant of the Guard, proved 10 b
q lad Of - years OF age. who said he wished Il
sse the commander immedistely, claiming b
have important news 10 communicate. Cap!
Mcclure was at once aroused, and the boy con
Quoted to his presence. He informed the off
Ger that HE mother, who lived near the village
had sent him TO tell the Union forces that he
brother, who was then with Gen. Shelby, ha
seid her that Col McCown with 500 Confed