The National tribune., 1894-04-05

of Southern soldiers, among whom were
| Capts. Carlin and Crow, as prisoners.
At this time there was an order from the
| Department, taxing communities where
| depredatiOns to railroads, etc, were made,
| all damages. So, while some of US were
| posted at every street entrance, others were
detailed to 90 from house to house to bring
| the men to assemble in the Courthouse yard.
| They had burned the Courthouse. Here
| Gen. Prentiss made them speech, and they
were assessed for whatever damage their
friends had done. 1t was selfish in us, but
we certainly did enjoy those Christmas tur-
keys; and even if some of the girls almost
spit in our faces, and sang Dixie" to spite
us, they became quite reconciled on closer
| acquaintance.
The next morning it was bitterly cold
when we started; but we reached Sturgeon
| that afternoon, where we delivered our IL
prisoners to Berge's Sharpshooters.
Capt. Crow was under my especial care
while on the way. He was young, lively,
and good company, but l was instructed TO
watch him carefully. The next day he
made things lively in the guardhouse, and
when he failed to heed the repeated warn
ings of the guard, the latter fired. The shot
plowed up his forehead, making terrible
wound. Capt. J. T. Rowland, with Co. A, was
sent out on a accommodating expedition, had
quite scrap" with body of rebs, was
wounded, surrounded, and taken prisoner
with some of his men.
At l o'clock the next morning we started,
with about 220 cavalry and Berge's Sharp
shooters to the same number. We marched
to where Co. A had had their encounter, and
soon found the enemy, ready for a fight.
THAR nj ofS tod n Lists m 40 from
their camp and two companies of us were sent
across the cornfeds to intercept them. The
way we ran our horses, jumped fences, and
scattered Uncle Sans blankets was a
caution. Some of the pickets were killed,
others captured. We formed in line within
a few hundred feet of Mt Zion Church, near
the edge of the timber, dismounted, left our
horses, and deployed as skirmishers.
The underbrush on our side of the road
prevented US from seeing our enemies, but
we had not gone very far before Maj. Car
rick, who was in command of our squad,
came running back, commanding us to re-
tire, and when we failed to respond at once,
with strong oath called on us to Retire !"
Then we scrambled for our horses but the
line was broken and some of them gone. 1t
is said that one of our older boys asked
comrade to help him to mount. Why, l
cannot tell. Was he scared?
Failing to find my horse / ran on afoot,
and was run down by two of our own men.
| was blind for a moment, but arose, and as
soon as / could see mounted horse stand
ing in a fence-corner. And none too soon,
for they were after me with their shotguns,
cutting me On the head and shoulders con-
siderably, and blowing the snow all around
my horses feet, while they were yelling like
demons. But the old gray horse carried
me out of danger only partially disabled.
On the left of the road our boys were in
an open field, more exposed, so that three of
our company were killed and quite num-
Der taken prisoners.
As soon as Col. Glover came up with the
balance of our regiment and Gen. Prentiss
with the infantry, they engaged the enemy,
drove them back and from the church, re-
captured most of the prisoners and repulsed
them at every point, until they became quite
demoralized.
They proved to be commanded by Col.
Dorsey, and were about 900 strong.
We returned to Sturgeon with % prison
ers, so horses and about two wagOn-loads of
shotguns and rifles Our loss was three
killed, IL wounded and 13 prisoners.
VESSELS, Co. G, Sd Mo. Cav, Quincy, Ill.