Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1894-05-31
A Lively Scrimmage.

On December "a, 1861. part of our
regiment, under direction of General
j. NJ PrentiSs, who accompanied the
expedition, started in a southeasterly
direction from Palmyra, Mo, our win
ter quarters. Our destination was not
known, but from preparations made
we expected omething 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 we'll l 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-
by seat of Monroe county, when halt
was made, saddle-girths were tight
euGd, primings looked after, and, when
we mounted again, our company and
one other moved off on a 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 inha bitants 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
with them. We had very interest
e., b A IL
was kept up until we had a goodly
number of Southern soldiers, among
whom were 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 We're posted at
every street entrance, others were
detailed to GO from house 10 house to
bring the men to assemble in the
courthouse yard. They had burned
the courthouse. Here General Prentiss
made them a speech, and they were
assessed for whatever damage their
friends had done. 1t was selfish in
us, but we certainly did enjoy those
Christmas turkeys; and even if 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
Sturgeon that afternoon, where we
delivered our eleven prisoners to
Berge's sharpshooters.
Captain Crow was under my especial
care while on the way. He 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 fired The
shot plowed up his forehead, making
a terrible wound. Captain J. T. How
land, with Company A, was sent out
on accommodating expedition, had
had quite a scrap with a 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 go cavalry and
Berge's sharpshooters to the same
npInber. We marched to where Com
rany A had had their encounter, and
soon found the enemy, ready for a
fight. Their pickets ware posted some
distance from their camp, and two
companies of us were sent across the
corn fields to intercept them. The
way we ran our horses, jumped fences,
and scattered Uncle Sans horse
blankets was a caution. Some of the
pickets were killed, others captured.
We formed in line within few hun
dred feet of Mt. Zion church, near the
edge of the timber, dismounted, left
our horses, and deployed as skirmish.
erS.
The underbrush or our side of the
road prevented us from seeing our
enemies, but we had not gone very
far before Major Carrick, who was in
command of our squad, came running
back, commanding us to retire, and
when we failed to respond at once,
with a strong oath called on us to
IRE tire"
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 a comrade to help
him to mount. Why, / cannot tell.
Was he scared?
Failing to find my horse I ran on
afoot, and was run down by two of
our own men. l was blind for a mo
ment, but arose, and as soon as l
could see mounted a horse standing
in fence corner. And none too