The Portland daily press., 1895-12-07
A REUNION OFF TWO.
They are the Survivors of Party of Sol
diers Shot by Guerlllas.


Z Decatur, Ind. Nov :" 49, On the 9th
Of this month will occur a soldiers re-
union at Monmouth, small town in
this county, in which but two old vete-
arms will participate L. N. Grandstaff,
present postmaster at Monmouth. and e.
B. Grouse of Antwerp Ohio. There were
porbably no two men who took part in
the late war with as thrilling an expert
ence and who were permitted to return
home and tell the story, as were these
two soldiers. Each is covered with scars
of battle, while each has imbedded in his
body leaden balls planted there by the
rebel enemy.
Both these gentlemen were members of
the One-hundred- and-thirtieth Indiana
Infantry, Gen. Cooper's brigade, and
participated in Sherman's last campaign.
Their regiment left Resaca, Ga, the Sd
of November, 1864, to relieve Johnson
vile, on the Tennessee River, and left
Johnsonville On the morning of the 24th
Long marches, rough roads, and wet
weather were more than they could en-
dure, and, consequently, after four days
marching, they almost gave out On
the afternoon Of the 9th they sat down
by the roadside, almost exhausted, to
rest. near Centreville. After resting half
an hour, they started to rejoin their regi-
ment, when they saw eight mounted men
coming down the road. Thinking they
were rebel cavalary, they attempted to
fire their muskets, but the weather had
dampened the powder, and they would
not go off. They were soon captured by
the guerrillas. and marched ten miles,
and after wa1ing Pine River were taken
short distance up stream, where were
thirteen more prisoners from the same
company. in charge of twenty guerrillas.
After another short march the prisoners
were divided into four squads. The first
squad was marched behind small hill,
and stood in a row, when four guerrillas
stepped in front of them, and, with re-
yoIvers, shot them down, one at time.
The second squad, containing Grandstaff
and Grouse, was taken to the same place
likewise shot down, and then the fifteen
Union soldiers were shot down like dogs
After all were killed, as they supposed
the guerrillas robbed the dead men of
their clothing, mounted their horses, and
after firing volley at them, rode away
After the noise of the retreating horses
h ad died away, and at the same, Grand
staff and Grouse raised their heads and
then arose, to find they were the only men
alive out of the fifteen, and neither of
them seriously hurt. The two men, with
barely enough clothing to cover their
nakeness. started to regain their COM
mand. Night soon overlook them, but
after tramping twelve miles they reached
the picket lines. Thinking them rebels
the pickets fired ON them and Grouse and
Grandstaff were compelled to seek refuge
in hollow tree. where they remained
till the following morning, when they
were recognized and taken on the wagon
train. They remained with the company
till the close of the war.
At the time this occurred Grandstaff
was but IS years old, and Grouse but H.
Grandstaff enjoys good health now, and
is as spry as boy Of IS, while Grouse is
in poor health, caused by the bullet
wounds in his neck and head received at
that time. The two men hold a reunion
once year on the anniversary of the
above event, and always have much to be
thankful or.-Indianapolis Journal.