The National tribune., 1893-08-17
NDON'T BUN USl"
A Hitherto Untold Exploit of q Squad of
Missouri CavaIrymen.

THERE is bit of history Of the Sd
Mo. Cav. which may be of interest
- to the readers of your most excel
lent and interesting soldier paper.
1t Is not of record in the official publica-
ton of the war of the rebellion, and not
now known except to the gallant few who
participated in that nights daring deeds
bit of history (for obvious reasons) not
allowed to stray very far outside OF
Charlie Frost's squad. Please consider me
| competent witness for l was in it, and
| my recolections of that night are yet very
vivid.
TWAS during our Winter at Palmyra, Mo-,
1861, when patriotism was at white heat the
zeal of Co. c knew no limit, and we were
contributing so nightly to the overthrow of
our wicked and deluded brethren in gray.
Co. C, under Capt. Black, was on an ex-
tended expedition; the precise locality l
cannot state. i think, however, we were
near Paris, Mo. Capt. Black concluded we
were too large as a company (the enemy
were afraid of us), SO by his orders we broke
up into squads of 10 or more under Sergeants,
and thus went abroad seeking whom we
might destroy.
Sergt Chas. Frost's squad was ordered to
make a midnight raid on the cabin of a
Confederate Lieutenant, who was described
by Capt. B. in his inimitable way as an
unusually daring and desperate fellow, with
few trusty men always near him, not to be
taken without the shedding of blood, etc.
Inasmuch as we had enlisted to wipe ont
just such fellows, to save the country or
perish at the post Of honor, we trotted off
on our perilous mission. BY the aid of a
pilot we got there in good shape, surrounded
that cabin in awful silence, and then, led by
our gallant Sergeant, few of US moved
closer TO reconnoiter.
There was a curtain at the window, and
very dim light along its edges. As we
neared the door we saw the curtain move
very slightly, as if someone expected us.
To be fully prepared we pushed our navies
ahead of us, gave a war whoop, and yelled,
Surrender! Surrender"
No answer.
"Open, or we will bust herio
Nary open.
The Sergeant cried, "My kingdom for a
rail" and moment later, with fence-rail
as battering-ram, we charged the door of
that desperate mans cabin. The speed and
fury with which we broke in would have
put to shame an olden-time catapult.
Much to our surprise land, I may say, re-
liet) up to this time we had not heard shot
on that crisp, midnight air. As we dashed
in over the wrecked door, few live Goals in
an old-fashioned fireplace dimIy outlined
the room, and showed US a pallet on the
floor. There were impressions of two bodies
on that pallet and putting our hands to the
places We found them warm.
BY this we knew, of course, there must be
at least two in the house. They had evil
IDENTIFY retreated TO the other room, where,
rrnhohlu fhara nf them Ina
then someone encouraged an investigation
by exclaiming:
Boys, lookout! Somebody is going to be
hurt herel"
Some genius, working for Uncle Sam for
about $l3 month, had found saucer Of
grease and a piece of rag, and turned on
Missouri electric light. A council of war
ensued, and during its session everyone care
fully disposed his body to avoid the door
and to ward off the minie-balls from the
next room. That war council had but one
question to settle: Shall we roast them out.
or give them good, square, stand-up fight
in a close, dark room? II was agreed to
fight first and, if need be, roast later.
Down went another door. Frost aud his
men were right into the thickest of the fray,
up to the very lannon's mouth, and amid
the muff1ed indoor shots and the hoarse
shouts of men on human blood intent.
Then came the silence of the grave. Men
could hear their hearts beat. They CROPPED
about the room, seeking 10 throttle the Con-
federacy. He was not there. Our electri-
clan came in presently with his Missouri
dip, and then we saw the enemy had gone
aloft. A ladder led to scuttle-hole in the
ceiling. The ladder was wet with the blood
of the retreating foe.
In all that little group of desperately
brave men, no one was hero enough TO
thrust his head up through that scuttle-
hole. So, of course, preparations were made
for a holocaust AT that last horrible mo-
ment, just before the torch was applied, be-
fore the heavens took on terrible glow and
the air grew sickening with its smell of
burning human flesh, the enemy surren-
dered. The enemy proved to be two inno-
cent darby wenches.
Let fancy paint the rolling of eye-balls
and the cha,tering Of teeth as those two
women crept to the scuttle-hole and begged
US FO' Gods sake don't bn'n US !"-JoHN
VESSELS, Co. C, Sd Mo- Cav, Quincy, Ill.