The National tribune., 1895-10-31
band;t off his horse beiSrs he had loosed

ii. and shot him and took his horse and
brace of revolvers from him.
While his company was stationed at
Neosho Capt. Kelso was kept busy scout
inc. sometimes taking with him all the
available men from that post, and some
times only his own company, or details
from il, ranging from cne-half Of it down
TO dozen men. He had some adven-
furious spirits like himself in his COM
panv. who generally volunteered to ac-
company him when it was known that
he was going to take with him only a
few men on a particular scout
If he proposed to take with him only
half a dozen men or thereabouts, it was
understood that he had information of
small SQUAD of bandits in some partlcu-
lar locality, and that he proposed to
hunt them down.
When out with bis company, after
going into camp or after haltng to feed
and rest, he would frequently strike out
alone to reconnoiter in the neighborhood,
in disguise or in his uniform, as best suit
ed bis purpose.
The ravages of the war had nearly
depopulated the Counties Of southwest
Missouri, but by leaving bis command
and scouting alone in disguise he was
sometimes enabled to obtain from the
few remaining families in the County,
who were generally Southern sympa-
thizers, information about the enemy
that he could not have obtained while
riding at the head of his company.
While thus scouting in the western
part of Mcdonald County he heard of
SMALL squad Of Confederate bandits,
who had gathered up and had possession
Of qgdte herd of cattle. He
DISGUISED HIMSELF
In an old Confederate uniform, and APP
preached the three men whQ were herd
inc the cattle, and introducing himself
as a Confederate soldier Of a certain
command. soon had their confidence.
His conversation with the men drifted
along on different subjects until it came
to their arms, and then in such manner
that they put their guns into bis hands
TO examine.
The moment they were disarmed he
opened fire on them, and shot them
down. and then mounted bis horse and
drove the herd of so cattle to camp,
from whence they were se1t under escort
TO Springfield, and turned over to the
Commissary Department Of the district
and disposed of as captured property.
There were Federal officers operating
In that section who turned captured
property Of that kind into channels Of
private gain, but to his credit such con-
duct was never charged against Capt
Kelso. He would despoil slaughtered
foe of bis arms, or Of anything that he
valued as a trophy, but be was never
known to commit any acts of plunder
for personal gain.
A small party Of halfdozen or so
Of Confederate bandits, with their head
quarters in the almost inaccessible re-
gions of the hills and mountains of
southern Missouri and northern Arkan-
sas, could, by making one or two nights
march, at daybreak strike the picket
of some post, as at Ozark, Galena, Cass-
vile, or Neosho, and by killing such
men as the opportunity afforded, capt
ure and get away with some booty.
Hpursued vigorously the bandits scat
tered and took different paths and being
generally mounted on the aeeteSt horses
in the country, were rarely overtaken
and captured or killed, but soon re-
gained their rendezvous, to prepare for
another raid. No Federal outpost or
escort to trains felt secure from the
SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED ATTACKS
Of these desperate bandits Was there
not some way by which these desperate
men might be made insecure In then
installed hiding places? Capt. Keiso
believed there was. lie took his COM
pany out on a scout from Ozark, and
while scouting in the White River hills,
in Taney County, near the Arkansas
line, encamped for the night.
After supper he started out afoot to
reconnoiter for information as to whether
there were any Confederate bandits in
the neighborhood. He returned to camp
about dark and told his men that he had
found where the rebels were camped, and
that he intended TO visit them that night.
He offered to let any Of his men accom-
pany him who desired, but the night was
dark, and they knew that some desperate
plot was in his mind, and no one volun.
teered. He started out alone, prepared
for bloody work, and returned next
morning with six horses, saddled and
bridled.
Kelso's account Of his nights adj
venture, as he related it TO his men
was thrilling in the extreme. 1t il
not necessary TO follow him through
each devious step after be left bis camp
but the adventure itself shows hin
moving along cautiously over the din
path through the darkness to the imme
diate vicinity of the bandits camp, care
fully scanning every object in front, Will
revolver in hand, and ears alert to TIN
slightest noise in any direction.
After he gets up near TO the bandits
r. 4 4 !