The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-08-25
SOLDIERS BUDGET.
The Battle Of Gumptlon Hill.

Only those living in the border states
during the great civil war can fully ap.
preciate the state OF things there. Mis-
souri, was a skirmishing ground if not q
battle field. Often the farmer was COM
PEELED to leave his plow, the blacksmith
his anvil, the merchant close his store
to repel an attack.
In the early autumn of 1854 1 was an
understood lad just turned 10. l was
strong and active, but gained my
growth 80 slowly that when l tried to
enter the volunteer cavalry service, |
was rejected as too small. If there is
anything narrowing TO the soul of q
boy of Is it is TO be called too small
| had heard the thunder of three bat
ties, witnessed half dozen skirmshes
and so much military display that my
soul was on fire for the field of carnage.
The men seldom travelled much in
those days. If there was an errand 10
perform at the town or the mill, wo-
man or boy was usually sent. They
were seldom molested. My father was
farmer, and owned large number of
cattle, which roamed on the great pra
RE east of our farm. Being off the
main road, we were not molested like
our neighbors, whose homes were on
the great thoroughfare.
A large number of our cattle having
strayed from their regular range, one
morning early in September l was sent
by my father to find them. saddled
my favorite steed, small 3-year-old
mare called Kit.
A cloud of dust along the road at
tracted my attention, and, boy like, l
galloped toward it. 1t proved to be a
part of three companies of soldiers,
with some ammunition wagons and two
pieces of field artillery going from our
county seat TO town in the next
county below, at that time threatened
by division of Shelby's men. The
soldiers were under the command of
Major Rodgers, an officer with whom l
was partially acquainted, as he had
been at my fathers house on to or three
occasions.
started Kit at gallop and dashed
on to overtake them. When within 300
or 400 PAGES of them there suddenly
rang out a sharp report from the bushes
on my left, accompanied by the whistle
of ball above or below my mares
neck. Then came a cracking, crash
marching troops, accompanied by the
most terrific yells.
The soldiers were unprepared for
the ambuscade, and retreated pell NELL
down the hill on their right into an
open plain.
After the first shock Kit stood still
for the space of three seconds, and
then flew like the wind in the direction
the ammunition wagons and horses
were going, so that was in the midst
of the disorganized troops before was
aware of it. They had halted in an
old field under the hill, half mile from
the place of attack.
Half mile south of the point of am
buscade was an elevation known as
Gumption hill, and the Confederates,
instead of pursuing the routed troops,
retired to the top of the hill, no doubt
TO await the arrival of reinforcements.
Mai. Rogers was brave man, and
exerted every effort to rally and reform
his routed troops. By the time he had
got them in line of battle, however, the
enemy were seen retiring to Gumption
hill.
The wagons were quickly unloaded
and their arms and ammunition dis
tributed. A few mounted men gal
Hoped away to the village hard by to
impress every man and boy capable of
bearing arms to assist in recovering the
artillery and dislodging the enemy from
Gumption hill.
The major had 287 men and officers
under him, some of whom were en-
rolled militia, and with what he could
impress from the village and surround
ing country, he hoped to be able to re-
take his cannon and the ammunition
wagons.
My mare had scarcely stopped in the
midst of the routed troops ere l was
ordered to dismount, and making Kit
fast TO fence stake, musket and &C
coutrements were handed to me.
Every Missouri lad of my age at that
time knew how to handle gun, and |
had seen 30 much of military life that /
was pretty fair soldier. was as
signed to company and placed in the
front rank 80 l might not accidentally
shoot the man before me.
1t was two O'Clock in the afternoon
before the mounted men and officers
sent to the village to impress reinforce
ments returned. They brought with
them about fifty men and boys, some of
whom were eager to take part in the
coming fray. Some farmers from the
surrounding country, learning that the
troops had been attacked, were coming
of their own accord to take part in the
struggle.
The Confederates were evidently ex-
pecting reinforcements, or they would
not have waited for us to attack them.
Some one who had been up in the
church steeple with powerful field
glass reported large body of men com
ing toward the village, but they were
too far away to determine whether they
were friends or enemies.
While we were waiting for the new
recruits to get their guns and load them
there came the boom of cannon from
the top of Gumption hill saw big
wreath of smoke curl from the hilltop,
and next instant a black speck went
soaring through the sky over our heads.
Boys" said the major, riding his
white horse down along the line, we
are going up that hill to get those guns.
want every one to bear in mind that