The Van Buren press., 1893-07-22
War sxEECH.
Advsntures Of Z Confederate Soldier In
The Vicinity Of Van Buren, Ark.


AAventures Of ! Confederate solder in
The Vicinity Of Van Buren, Ark.
rsyw. p BLACK
FROM MULDnow REGIsT1R -
BY request Of friends I have con.
cluded to give to the public an ad.
venture Of the late war, which took
place in the vicinity Of Ven Buren,,
Ark, in August 1854, which I shall
recite to the best of my recollec-
tons.
Our command, consisting OF
Wright's, Marlen's and Whitson's
companies, on Frog Bayou, Oraw.
ford County, Arksnsas, Captain
Wright in command. About 8
O'Clock one afternoon l called for
volunteers to 60 to Van Buren and
capture Col. Tom Bowen. who was
In command of the o. 8. forces at
that place. Ny object In capturing
Ool. Bowen was to hold him for
On exchange for John Norwood
and others who were at that time
under sentence of death at Fort
Smith, and thus save the lives Of
some good boys. Also to better
the condition, If possible. of the
Southern woman aud children In
that section of the country, who
were being robbed mistrested and
imprisoned upon misrepresenta-
tlon Of designing parties in order
to get . chance to steal what
they had.
Ten men volunteered to 60 with
me. I don't ct this time remem.
Der all their names. We set ont
late in the afternoon, going by the
way Of Oliver Springs then struck
south through the woods until We
reached q point just northeast of
Van Buren, and from one forth to
half q mile northeast Of DR.; Thurs
toms place, in some heavy timber
on the hillside. By this time it
was about ten O'clock at night.
Here We held . council of war. 1t
was decided to raid the town on
foot that night, and find ont what
we could. l called for volunteers
to guard the horses, but oil failed
to respond, so We all went to
town.
On reaching town we went to
some of our friende and learned
that Col. Bowen had went to Fort
Smith in answer to q summons
from Gen. Thayer, then in CON-
mand at that place. We did not
60 there to be beat, so we con-
cluded to see the sights. 1t was
90 interesting to us that we stayed
until the growing of the chickens
admoniahed ne that the bullet
fever, which ragged at times In that
place, might overtake us if We
tarried there too long. The Boys
found stray horses with U. 8. halt
ers on. The boys selected II Of
the best looking, also q supply of
pistols and mounting, retreated in
good order, reaching our place of
rendxvous at day break.
We then held another council
of war and decided to send our
surplus stock to the command and
await developments. I then de-
tailed three men to take the horses
to the command. We then par
took of . hearty meal of cold vic-
tuals given rs by our friends in
town. l then detailed . man to
60 to the highest point Of the
mountain northeast of town and
west Of our position, and watch
for Col Bowen, ~ this position
commanded . fair view Of the
ferry where Bowen must cross the
river, when he could be easily dis
tinguished, - he rode q black
horse.
/ then took one man and went
down on the roadside with brides
strapped on ~ shot-pouch fashion,
aud - Union soldiers would come
along would inquire for stray
horees, representing that We had
lost ours. Presently squads of o.
8. soldiers began to pass. Pres
entity two came along together,
and when We got them on their
guard held them up and took them
out to the other boys, then went
back to the road and held up four
more, and took them ont With the
rest Going back again to the
road the Arst man that came along
vss Esquire Stephenson of Fiat
Rock Creek. Cravford Co., Ark,
whom We escorted to the bush
and introduced to the boys, one Of
whom exchanged his slouch hat
for the Esquife's fine beaver,
which Stephenson kept Is .
memeut0.
When the Union forces took
p0eseedon Of ArkAnsAs . new
State constitution was framed,
when Esquire Stephenson was
elected to represent Crawford
County in the State legislature.
and was just from Little Rock ON
his way home when We gobbled
him He raa Eal1 troafad hv tho