The National tribune., 1894-01-18
A KNIGHT ERRANT.
Some RecollectiOns of Col. William A.
lips, the Kansas Soldier, Statesman

| tnat prince and great man has fallen thlt
day in Israeli" Words pronounced 300 years
| ago over fallen chief were never more aPpli
cable or fittinely illustrated than on the 30lt
| day OF November last when the electric wires
| flashed over the country the sad news of the
death of Col. WIN. A. Phillips. Soldier, states
man aud scholar-his Ife- work is we'll done
and like Senator p. B. Plumb and Gov. john
| A. Martin, his name and fame is safe in the
| keeping of the people he served so well
Coming to Kansas in territorial days. he en-
tered the list of freedom like knight Grant
| aud hattled nobly for the right, and helped to
| lay broad and deep the foundation of the young
| State he loved so well, and of which he was so
| justly proud. Kansas can i'll spare him at this
| time. aud she needs more of such men. As q
soldier and statesman few men have had more
| loyal followers, aud the friendships once formed
| were rarely If ever broken.
| fist became acquainted with Col Phillips
| in March, 1863, when a battalion of the 9th
Kan. Cav. Cos. ID. E, q, and K were ordered TO
| report tn him for duly. He was then command
ing brigade of loyal Cherokee Indians en-
| camped on Flint Creek. southwest Missouri.
| The next morning | WAS ordered to report tc
him with detail of % men with six days
| rations.
Although 80 years have elapsed, distinctly
| remember the precise. rapidly delivered orders
| and my summary dismissal and the peculiar
| Impression he made on me. The boys had no
| maB," aud it was not increased on this occas-
| ion. Ny orders were to meet some wagons on
wire road " with medical stores aud escort
| them to camp. The second night out an old man
came 10 me aud reported that three young fell
lows stopped him OH the road. and learning that
he was leaving the country with all he possessed,
took possession of his team and wagon aud pro-
ceedeh to hang him; but while wrangling over
the spoil he male his escape.
/ determined to break I'D this nest of hedg.
ling bushwhackers aud restore to the old man
his property. Taking loyal citizen as guide
and half of my detail. surrounded the house
of one Of the trio and made him prisoner in
| spite of his protestations of innocence. l pro-
ceeded in the same manner to the home Of the
other Two, but one made his escape.
l informed the families where / made the
arrests that IL the property was returned
within four days would release the prisoners;
but II not, that they might pect the full c0nse-
quence of their crime. The next day / met the
train and escorted G TO camp. had serious
approximations about the whole proceedings, for
while making the arrest some of the boys fired
two OF the houses where the prisoners harbored,
aud did not know whether or not our new
commander would approve of so radical q
remedy for Outlawry.
The Boys of the Border" the loyal men of
Missouri, who were hunted like wild beasts. as
We're the Fountain boys, whose father despite his
midnight by bushwhackers. and never was
heard OF or seen again-their home laid in
ashes their aged mother made fugitive in
NidwinteT, for crime other than that they
loved the Union. can understand this mode of
retaliation. A number of these loyal men of
Missouri belonged to my com pany, and without
exception were good soldiers.
| reported the whole proceedings to COL
Phillips, who, If he did not approve it. found
no fault. Within the four days the mothers of
the prisoners drove the team and wagon into
camp and turned them over 10 the owner who
had staid with US all the time, and demanded
the release OF their sons as had promised, but
Col. Phillips Indignantly refused, aud, as / was
Oft OIL detached service, the poor mothers had
to return home with heavy hearts without their
sons.
Upon my return to camp, and learning what
had occurred, protested to the Colonel for this
breach of faith high words ensued, ending by
his saying he would keep the prisoners until
they enlisted, which they ultimately did-one
in my company; both made good soldiers. One
was killed ia a skirtnish February, 1865; the
other WAS permanently disabled in night raid
January, 1864.
Had my intercourse with Col. Phillips ended
here ! would have retained a very unfayOrable
opinion of him, but subsequent events proved
that he was right in this, for had these young
fellows been liberated, they would in all prob
ability have pursued the same course they
started out in, and which the half-brother of
one who escaped pursued until driven into the
rebel army.
He was one of the few men the longer known
the more admired. and it was not long before
he possessed, what is so essential in every com.
mander. the entire confidence and respect of
every man in his command. No better man conld
have feen selected to restore to the Union south
west Missouri and the Cherokee Nation That |
vast territory was devastated by rebel armies, |
overrun by gaerrillas, and the home of outlaws. |
To secure protection TO life and property under J
such conditions was no ordinary task.
With clouds of Indian light in his |
front, and few white troops as nucleus, he
proceeded by easy marches to Fort Gibson,
cleaning out rebels and outlaws and restoring |
loyal citizens to their homes. lie fortified Fort !
Gibson. changed the name to Fort Blunt, in |
honor of the gallant Gen. James g. Blunt. the |
most llustriOus soldier Kansas produced during
the war.
The fort became famous as an on tpost on the
advance Union lines, and under its flag, so
trageally raised, thousands of loyal refugees
found protection. 1t became base of supplies
for vast territory aud under its able and
vigilant commander Kansas enjoyed immunity
from rebel raids from that quarter.
Col. Phillips was an Independent commander, |
and did not limit his operations to keeping his
district clear of rebels, but raided far into the
eneiny's lines, as at Webber's Falls and Beggery
Depot, and finally, with a few additional troops,
under Gen. Blunt, gained complete victory
over Gen. Cooper Mt the battle OF Honey Spring,
clearing the whole country of rebels north OF
Red River.
How well he filed his mission is matter of
history. His command stood like wall of fire
)et ween Kansas and the knife of the assassin |
.nd the torch of the incendiary, and he's people
n grateful memory have named Phillips
County i'll Kansas after him.
A third OF a century has elapsed since those
days. The sparsely -settled territory
ie so ably commanded is now teeming with a
oval people knocking at the door of Congress
or admission to Statehood, and, a feeble
of his eminent SERVICE doubt not,
will. if they have not already, place his name
IN the map of the young State of Oklahoma. /
lope Kansas will give Us more such men. As
he years roll on and mighty issues come up,
he past, equal to every emergency, and the
lag so soon to pass into other and younger ,
lands shall be safely guarded. Sleep in
onor, " friend without peer" and as the warm
un of each returning Spring clothes the earth
new, loving hearts and willing hands will
ather the choicest flowers and shed them on
ny tomb.-ROBERT HENDERSON. CAPITA in, Co.
!, 9th Kan. Cav, junction City, Kan.
Cautious.
boston TrdVelleF1
Judge-Prisoper at the bar, have you any
,l,.xNl ,ec .tn,on Of Anah n