The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-08

front of me. soon saw that they, with their
superior force, were fast surrounding US
then l disobeyed orders and ordered re-
treat. We ran down hollow ravine and
took zig-zag course to the point at which
we had left our regiment As we passed
Pap" Houston, my wagonmaster, with
his ammunition-wagon, l ordered him to
head the other way, and as he was turning
his team one of the front mules was shot
down. pap" jumped off, unlocked the
strelchers and cut the lines and mounted
the saddle mule, but before he got his team
| headed in the right direction his Of-mule
was killed, and then he was forced to give
the It bells one load of ammunition, which
they needed. But on we went. Arriving at
| the point where we had left the balance of
the command, we found that Gen. Manson
had lett without my orders or giving me
orders TO abandon that skirmish-line. There
was not a man TO be seen.
We then started on the double-quick
through an open wood, and soon struck the
pike. Then, about two miles on our way,
we saw the flag of our regiment in the road.
| We advanced on the run, and on arriving at
| the regiment were ordered TO fall back half
| mile and form skirmish-line on the route
we had just passed over.
We duuble-quicked back, and just as the
line was formed the regiment retreated and
we were, as ARENAS Ward said, ordered to
do.
All went on double-quick to the grave
yard, where another stand was made. On ar
irving in line l was again ordered to fall back
about half mile and form another Skin
mish line. ] again informed the Major that
it WIS impossible, as the men were exhausted
apA flo oil Cos
A and were ordered, and about the time the
line was formed the rebels advanced in force
and the two companies fell back into line
The firing was now general and heavy.
Sam Gayman, of my company, advanced
about 10 PAGES in front, while John III. Moore
advanced a few steps and sat on stump In
the thickest of the fire. Gayman soon mad
his leg broken below the knee, which was
the next day amputated. / was also
wounded In the right breast by a musket-
ball.
A general retreat was ordered. Those of us
wounded here were taken to the Female
Seminary, which was used by our side Tor a
hospital. That night the rebels generously
permitted me to eat two crackers and piece
OF raw bacon, about as large as three fingers,
of the bacon and crackers furnished them by
us; the first had eaten for two days. Mean
time we had marched about Is miles, and
double-quicked and run about 90 No won
der / have never been able to do a days
work sincei
The next day was permitted to leave
the hospital anu go to that part of the regi-
ment captured. l found them corraled in
side the public square Our regiment had
gone into the fight with no Colonel; the
Colonel having never joined the regiment,
but resigned few days after his appoint
ment. Lieut-COl. Stout, good and brave
man, was wounded early in the day, from
which wound he afterward died. The COM
mand then devolved on Maj. Warehouse,
who was also dangerously wounded about
the time of the general surrender. He also
died some years after of his wounds.
The next thing was the parolIng of the
men; and, strange as it may seem, Gen.
Manson and staff were psroied soon after
the capture, and left for indianapolis, and
We had to get our paroles as best we could.
The second day after the battle, Capt Kerr,
of Co. K, and another Captain whose name
l have forgotten, and myself. went out, by
permission of the rebel Provost-Marshal,
and went over the battlefield.
To our surprise and indignation, we found
our dead just as they had fallen. We found
quite number of Kentucky planters and
also number of slaves, on the battlefield.
We asked them what they would take TO
bury our dead, and they would make no
charge; but we gave them all the money
We could spare. At this late day have no
idea of the amount, but if allowed to give
an impression l would say about $40
know l kept only So. So, and we returned to
the corral. Capt. Collins, of Co. !, was
wounded. Capt. Winget, of Co. G, was so
much exhausted, and suffered so much, that
he became perfectly blind; and Capt. Col
Inns, of Co. /, also died some years after,
never recovering from his wounds-DAvID
NATION, Captain, Co. B, 65th Ind, Medicine
Lodge, Kan.