The Red Cloud chief., 1893-12-01
"Reminiscences of Army Life.
(BY A PRIvATE)
NUMBER IX.

(DY A pRIvATE)
NuMBER IL.
The march from Clarendon on the
White river in central Arkansas to
Helena on the Mississippi river was to
the southwest analogous to Sh,rman's
great march from ".Atlanta to the sea-"
Although on a smaller scale as to
numbers and extent Of country gone
over, it was attended with many Of
the difficulties and dangers. Being
cut off from our base Of supplies in the
rear by way Of Springfield, Rolla and
St. Louis, we had moved as rapidly as
was practicable through the hiliy and
mountainous country Of northwestern
Arkansas and southern Missouri by
way Of the towns Of Forsyth, Bates
vile, Augusta and ~Jacksonport, to
Clarendon where we were to meet a
steamboat loaded with supplies, which
We were very much in need Of. When
our advance guard reached the town
they learned that the boat had arrived
and not finding any Of our forces there
had departed only about al hour be.
fore.
This was a great disappointment to
US, not only on account of the failure to
get the expected supplies, but there
were many sick at that time, some Of
them dangerously i'll, whom it was in.
tended should be placed on the boat.
and sent to some place where they
might lave the necessary care and rest
from the unavoidable jol.ipg of ambu'
lances and in some cases baggage
wagons. This was a bitter disappoint'
ment for most the sick ones; but there
was n poor fellow who if he was
aware Of the lost opportunity at the
time, was soon too far gone to realize
his condition.
For many days he had in his moments
Of Consciousness call d for his wife OF
his mother to minister to his wants as
non but a wife or mother "a -ant
now in mid summer under q semi
tropical sun in the swamps Of eastern
Arkansas, where it was often impos
siblc to get even a drink of good watel
to relieve his feverish thirst, in his
deli ilm he continued to call for them.
dying with the name Of his wife
"Mary Apn"-on his lips.
1t was a beautiful but very warm
, Sunday as he lay in an Ambulance
With none but the driver Sumns,
Written on his seat, and the writer
on horseback, who kept as near al
possible to hear his last words, that q
good souldier and a devoted husband
passed beyond reach Of the ear,hl,
roll.call to a land where there are M
wars, and where in the fulness Of tim
he may meet his "Mary Ann" who
trust was not unworthy Of his devo
ton.
We left his remains at the Grst plan
tation we came to, where We procured
a few rough boards with which t
make a cCfiu and detailed three or fou
Of our comrades to perform the buria
service as well as they could under tn
sad circumstances while We moved for
ward without fear Of joltipg u com
rade who had been our constant car
for many days but was now being lai
in his grave-a grave over which IN
soldier discharged a farewell shot,
nor raised q stone, but placed a roug
board on which was carved in rud
,Nllt'
MORRIS BEAL
Co. |. 3D, Iowa CAVALRY.
Died July 18th, 1862.
to mark his last resting place. Beiu
cut off from supplies in the rear an
failing to open communication in frol
by way of the White river, the arm
Of the southwest was indeed in q p
culiarly trying situation. This vi
the beginning Of = new era in the hi