Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-07-14
Lirely scrlmmage.


ON December "a, 1861, part OF our
regiment, under direction of General
b. NJ Prentiss, who accompanied the
expedition. started in southeasterly
direction from Palmyra, Mo, our vim
ter quarters. Our destination was not
known, but from preparations made
we expected something more than an
ordinary scout.
Heretofore we had used houses and
barns for shelter, but this time we
pitched our Sibley tents the first night
near little town called Shrinkey.
How wei remember that an inch
or more of snow lay on the ground
next morning. After an early break
fast we resumed our march until
within few miles Of Paris, the coun-
ty seat Of Monroe county whena halt
was made, saddle girths were tight
ened, primings looked after, and, when
we mounted again, our company and
one other moved off on brisk trot;
which was very soon a gallop and
charge. So our passage across salt
river sounded like distant thunder.
We had the town surrounded before
the inhabitants realized what was go
ing on.
1t was Christmas day, and many of
the people had called in their friends.
who had enlisted to destroy the gov
eminent. and who CHANGED to be near,
recruiting or otherwise employed. to
come in to enjoy Christmas turkey
y,,;tb than W. baJ Z. ,.o,.,. iptar..
ing time for quite Il while. A chase
was kept up until we had a goodly
number of Southern soldiers among
whom We're Captains Carlin and Crow,
as prisoners.
At this time there was an order
from the department, taxing com
munities where depredations TO rail-
roads etc, were made. all damages
So. while some of us were posted at
every street entrance, others were
detailed to go from house to house to
bring the men to assemble in the
courthouse yard. They had burned
the courthouse. Here General Prentiss
made them speech, and they were
assessed for whatever damage their
AllGllAA1 AliAA AAilG- ~ " a. atAll0lA IA
us, but we certainly did enjoy those
Christmas turkeys; and even il some
of the girls almost spit in our faces.
and sang Dixie to spite US, they be-
came quite reconciled on closer ac-
quaintance.
The next morning it was bitterly
cold when we started; but we reached
hot uFF
delivered our eleven prisoners to
Berge's sharpshooters.
Captain Crow was under my especial
care while on the way. lie was
young. Lively, and good company, but
was instructed to watch him care
fully. The next day he made things
lively in the guardhouse, and when
he failed to heed the repeated warn
ing of the guard, the latter fireda The
shot plowed up his forehead mS.ing
terrible wound. Captain j. r. How
land, with Company 4, was sent out
on accommodating expedition. had
had quite scrap with body Of
rebs, was wounded surrounded and
taken prisoner with some Of his men.
At ! o'clock the next morning we
started, with about 22O cavalry and
Berge's sharpshootcrs to the same
number. We marched TO where Com.
pany A had had their encounter. and
soon found the enemy, ready for a
fight. Their pickets were posted some
distance from their camp, and two
companies of MS wers sent across the
corn fields to intercept them. The
way we ran our horses, jumped fences.
and scattered Uncle Sans horse
blankets was caution SON; of the
pickets were killed. others captured
We formed in line within a few hun.
dred feet of Mt. Zion church. near the
edge of the timber, dismounted. left
our horses, and deployed as sltirmsh
ers.
The underbrush on our side of the
road prevented US from sc ling our
enemies, but we had not gone very
far before Major Carrick. who was i'm
command of our squad, came running
back, commanding MS to retire. and
when we failed To respond at once.
with a strong oath called on MS TO
''Reti
Then we scrambled for our horses,
but the line was broken and some of
them gone II is said that one Of our
older boys asked comrade TO helm
him to mount. Why, 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 d mo-
ment, but arose, and as soon as I
could see mounted horse standing
in fence-corncr. And none too