The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1897-09-02

I Ths Ba,ns Of GumptIon HnL
e Only those living in the border state
Q during the great civil war can folly 3
4 preciate the state OF thugs there. Nj
| souri, was . skirmisbiog ground If not
2 battlefield. Often the farmer was con.pt
led to leave bis plow, the blacksmith bi
/ anvil. the merchant clors bis store to 7
pei an attack.
8 In the early autumn Of 1854 | was o.
3 undersiEed lad Just turned Is. | va
! strong and sotive, bu. gained my growtl
so slowly that when | tried to enter thu
volunteer cavalry service, | vas rejected
rs too small
: had heard the thunder OF three bsttle
witnessed halls dozen skirmishes and g
much military display that my soal wa
on FIRE too the field Of carnage.
The men seldom Travelled much in those
days. II there was 40 Grand to perform
at the town or the mill, a woman or boy
was usually sent. They were seldom nc
Tested. My father was farmer and own
ed large number OF cattle, which roam
ed on the great prairie east OF our farm,
Being eff the main road we were not 10 0
Tested like our neighbors, whose homes
| -
A large number OF our cattle having
strsyed from their regular range, one
morning early in September was sent by
my father TO fad them, sa1dled my
fsvorte steed, q small 3. ear old ID are cal
ed Kit.
A cloud OF dust along the road attracted
my attention and, boy like, | gslloped to
ward it. 1t proved to be part OF three
com psnies of soldiers, with some smmu
milton wagons and two pieces Of field artil
lery going from our county seat to town
in the next county below, at that time
threatened by Shelby's men. The sol
dieis we're under the command OF Major
Rodgers, an officer with whom / was
partially acquainted, as be had been at
my fathers house on two or three occs
sions.
l started Kit at gallop and dashed on
to overtske them. When within 300 or
400 pscis OF them there suddenly rang
out q sharp report from the bushes on my
left, accompanied by the whistle Of a ball
above or below my mares neck. Then
came 9 cracking, crashing sound Of fire.
arms along the line OF marching troops,
accompanied by the most terrific yells.
The soldiers were unprepSred for the
am busosde, and rstrested pei nell down
the bill on their right into an open field.
After the first shock Kit stood still for
the space OF three seconds, aud then flew
like the wind 10 the direction the ann
milton wagons and horses we're going, so
that | WAS in the midst OF 3 disorganized
troop before | was aware OF it. Thsy had
halted in sD old held under the hill, hall
. mile from the place OF attack.
Half al mile south OF the point Of sm bus
csde WAS an elevation known ss Gumption |
hill. and the Coniederstes, instead Of pur
suing the routed troops, retired TO the
top OF the hill u doubt TO await the srriy
al OF reinforcement
MAJ. Rodgers was a brave man, rnd ex
erted every effort to rally and reform his
routed troops. BY the time he had go.
them 10 line OF battle, howevs, the enemy
was seen retiring to Gumpton bill
The wagons were qaiokly unloaded and
their arms aud ammunition distributed.
A few mounted men gslloped away TO the
village bard by TO impress every man and
boy capable Of bearing arms TO assist in
recovering the artillery and dislodgirg
he enemy from Gumptiou hill.
The ior had 587 men and tEoers un
der bin. some OF wtom were enrolled
mili,is, and With whst he could impress
rom the village and surrounding country,
be hoped to be able to retske bis cannon
Al the ammunition Wagons
My mare bad scarcely stopped in the
Z idst Of the routed uo1ps ere was order
ID to dismouB,, snd making Kit last to
euee stake musket and socouttemeuts
q ere handed TO ne Esety Missouri lsd
,l my age al that line kpew how to han
he grn, aud had seen 30 much Of nin
sry Lille, lhst | wss 8 pretty fair soldier.
vas ss. isued 10 q company and placed
q the front rank 20 | might net soci
ieutly sboo. the mao before ne.
II was two O'Clock In the stternoon be
ore tbs nouDied men aud ,fiicers sent 10
he vii age TO impress endorsements re
a rued. They brought With them sbou,
iity meu sod boys, come Of whom we're
,aser TO take part 10 the coming fray.
some farmers from the suuoundibg ooun Z
~, Issrnlag that the troops hsd been al
scted, we're coming Of their own scsord
0 t.te par, IL the struggle.
TIE CoGisdsrsles we're evidently expect |
az rtiniorctmeuts, or they would not I
ave waited for ns 10 attack them. Some !