The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-06-14

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left them on the Cd; and on the 30tt
fix up quarters and clean and right uI
generally. On the 31st our teams come
in on the road from La Grange, the
troops are mustered for pay, and so closes
with the month of October, 1864, the
writer's three-years term of active service
as his term of enlistment has more than
expired, and, with many Others OF the
regiment, be now awaits only the pre-
liminaries of muster-out, to return to
home and friends from whom be has
never before known months separa-
ton. Yet, owing TO the absence of COM
pany officers with the company rolls,
many weary days vet elapse in camp
before the Ionged-for release.
And so the month of September, 1864,
drags its monotonous length in weary
days of camp life until the 29th, when
the writer, with about % members of
Co. Z, Sth Wis, embark and proceed
upon their way
UP THE GREAT RIVER,
rejoicing in the prospect of soon meeting
and reaching home and friends away up
in their loyal and happy Northland.
Returning again to the Live Eagle
Brigade, now veteranized, and the ranks
filled out with the new recruits, who, from
unbounded respect for those who had
been through the fire and force of ex-
ample, are now thoroughly recruited and
organized for the most efficient service.
On the I'd of September, 1864, they,
with the main body of a. j. Smiths
command, numbering nearly 10000,
embark at Memphis ON an expedition in
pursuit of their old enemy, Sterling Price,
who is organizing large force in Ar
kansas, Louisiana, and Texas for the pur-
pose of raiding st. Louis and other i'm
portant localities of the North, and
thereby to divert as much of the Ma
donal forces as possible from the import
ant operations being conducted by Gen.
Sherman in Georgia and Tennessee.
The expedition takes its way down
the Mississippi early on the morning of
Sept 3, and arriving at the mouth OF
White River about II o'clock that
night, start up that river at daylight on
the morning of the 4th, making slow
progress, on account of low water and
the numerous sandbars which impede
their progress, and arrive at st. Charles
on the 9th, where the 18th Wis. have
built earthworks and occupied the place
the past three weeks, but have now gone
up the river to Devalrs Bluffs.
Here the Sth Wis remains until Sept.
z, when Col Hubbard, of the 9th Mimi,
temporarily in command of the Second
Brigade, arrives with the balance of the
brigade. We start up the river at day
light on the morning of the Sth, and
arrive at Devall's Bluffs In the night,
where on the 9Th We march out about
mile, to the edge of the prairie, and
camp. The 14th Wis. has left by rail
for Brownsville, some 80 miles distant,
In the direction of Little Rock, Ark,
before the arrival of the Second Bri-
gade
On the 10th and 11th the Second
Brigade and other troops of Smiths
command advance by very tedious
march across the dry, hot prairie to
Brownsville and go into camp in
swamp, where they remain, awaiting the
movements of Price, until the 18th.
Having completed his organization, the
rebel General starts on his raid north
ward, with a mounted force of more
than twice that of Smith, but being
made up of only a few veteran regiments
and fragments of regiments, or bat
talions, for a nucleus, and built up to
Its imposing proportions with raw re-
cruits, mostly conscripts We immedi-
ately start in hot pursuit About 3
O'Clock in the afternoon Of the 18th, and
the race is on, with immense odds
IN Favor OF THE seUrHERNERs
in the racing line, as they are mounted,
while the Northerners have to trudge
along on foot Still, with all their ad-
vantage Of twice the numbers and six
times their number of " pounding pegs"
Smiths little army of veterans pursue
them.
Arriving at Indian Ford on the night
of Oct. /, Smith advances to Greenville,
No, on the I'd. Finding that Forrest
is at Pilot Knob. and there is no chance
of forcing him to battle, Smith turns his
head Of column in direction of Cape
Girardeau, on the Mississippi River. He
arrives with his nearly-exhausted troops.
on the 9Th, and awaiting for transporta-
tion up the river until the morning of
Oct. 8, when they embark on trans
ports, and to ST. Louis quickly ride,
where all is In commotion In fear of
rebel raid.
Price, now foiled in the attainment of
his ambition-the capture and levy of
rich tribute upon this enterprising
metropolis of the West, turns in the
direction of jefferson City. Smith trans
fers his troops to other boats, and starts
up the Missouri River for that capital
city Of Missouri and here again, we
having the advantage of water naviga-
ton, the Southern brigands are deprived
OF their prey, and, passing around the
city, continue their course in the direc-