The National tribune., 1897-01-28

this visitor said she was the little girl, and
thanked me for her safe deliverance to An
aunt of hers.
In October, 1861, we were sent to Mexico,
Mo-, where we remained in camp q week !;
were then sent to Macon City to join Gen.
Harney's forces to battle with Gen. Greene's
rebel army, but, as usual they had fed, and
our battalion was ordered back to Mexico,
where we arrived next day at IL m. Imagine
the feelings of the boys when they saw the
Stars and Stripes which they had planted a
week before torn down and hung on the
fence, soiled and disgraced. OF course,
rebelism was at big discount then, for the
ire Of the soldiers became so bitter that who
ever showed himself was made a target of.
Quite number of citizens were shot in the
streets. But for Col. Krekel the city would
have been reduced to ashes.
The flag was raised again amid the cheers
of the boys, where it has ever waved since.
This little disturbance was the means of
ailaying the bad feelings of the other side,
and after this no further trouble occurred.
In the evening our battalion was transferred
to Warrenton. Fears were entertained that
we would be fired upon when passing
dense woods, but Engineer James HeHern,
who saw the danger, assured us that Inc
train would run faster than bnllet eouid
catch u.s. He kept his word for 1t was the
fastest trip ever made in my lie.
When at Warrenton that night Lieut..
Smith. of Co. A, was shot by one OF the
guards. We remained at Warrenton during
the Winter, when, on the 10th OF January,
1862. our battalion was mustered out OF
service at st. Charles, Mo.
On the same day in January, 1862, Col.
Krekel organized a cavalry battalion known
as the 1st battalion, Mo. S. M. Cav, COM
posed of four companies-Co. A, commanded
by Capt Windmueller Co. B, by Capt.
Hu smiih; Co. c, by Capt. Heyn. and Go. d,
by Capt Mueller. This battalion did q
great deal of scouting in these upper
Counties, frequently becoming engaged in
bushwhackers' fights. But for KrekeFs
Dutch, as we were called, life and property
would not have been safe, but at the mercy
of these guerrillas whose sole aim was to
run out the Germans
On Nov. %, 1862, Cos. A, and d were
mustered ont Of service at Fulton, Mo-, by
Gen. Ogden Guitar, and Co. B was dis
tribnted among the 1st regiment, Mo. S. M.
where we served out our full term when we
were discharged at st. Louis, Mo-, on Jan.
25, 1865.
There were a great number of home
guards and militia organized under Bailey,
Weinreben. and Krekel, who were always
ready as minute-men to serve their country,
and who rendered valuable services in
guarding bridges and scouting after BUSH
| whackers whenever in our lines. These
men, or the survivors of the organization,
can write their own history. Our Colonel
and all our Captains have joined the Grand
| Army above: some of the Lieutenants are
still alive.
Some - years ago the old veterans organ
lied Grand Army Post at ST.. Peters in
honor of COL Krekel, of which F. w. Grab
enhorst is Commander, and about three
years ago Ga,zweil.r Post, 554, GA r.,
was organized at St. Charles, No., by Louis
Fl. Broker, Com mander. Both of these
Posts are in flourlshing condition, and are
fast increasing in numbers.
Since then other ORGANIZATIONS have been
mustered: Gen. Perry Post (colored), GAR,
30 veterans Fauc-tt, Commander; Gen.
Siegel Camp. S. of ", so, Louis Ringe, jr.,
Captain; Woman's Relief Corps, so men,
| bers, Mrs. NJ. Buschman, President; Wom-
ans Relief Corps (colored), 25 members,
Mrs. II. Faucet, President.
These associations are all doing well and
working faithfully and necessarily for the
welfare of the old veterans.-LoUIs III.
BREKER, Commander of Gatzweiler Post,
$50, ST. Charles, Mo.