The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1899-02-11

effective Was the work OF TINS battery
and so many qualifications for leader
ship did Captain bledsoe display, that
be was made colonel OF the irst MIS-
souri, regiment. The guiding minds
Of the Confederacy came to know the
worth OF Colonel Bledsos, and he was
moved to the division east Of the Miss
issIppi river, and made colonel Of
artillery under General Joe Johnston.
He also served under Geseral Hood
aud was given the rank Of brlgadier
general.
Colonel Bledsoe was wounded ave
times during the war, bot none Of bis
injuries we're Of . serious nature. At
Pea Ridge a solid shot killed the horse
which he was riding and wounded him,
but he was soon al the head Of his
regiment again. 1t was while be was
leading one Of the daring charges Of
that battle that bis horse was killed.
1t Was At the battle Of Springfield
that Bledsoe's battery, in two hours Of
hard firing, dismounted every gun in
Sigel's battery and carried the day.
"HI" IN a DANGEROUS POSITION.
The most dangerous position in
which Colonel Bledsoe vas eve placed
was after the battle Of franklin, Tenn.
General Hood had charged the breast
works in which the federal army was
intrenched, and the charge had proved
q most disastrous one, the confederate
forces being simply shot to pieces.
Five brigsdier generals were killed and
General Hood himself was wounded.
Nearly all the principal officers had
been killed, and there was nothing for
the confederate forces 10 do but retreat,
which was no easy matter. Colonel
Bledsoc took charge st once, and for
three days he held his battery in place
and covered the retreat OF the south.
erners During this time be resisted
charge after charge, with bat little
hope Of being able TO keep back the
opposing army. Colonel Bledsoe used
to say that the loss was so great among
the confederate forces during this
engagement, that when he finally
reioined The main body he found
scarcely q mar whom he knew still
living.
Bledsoe's battery gained such q name
for itself that whenever it was known
70 Re In the neighborhood the federal
forces made an especial attempt to
capture It. Captain Manard tells that
be once made an attack on It down on
the Tallahassee river. The hour Of
midnight was chosen for assault, and
with 800 men Captain Mahard fell upon
Bledsoe'S camp. The result was.
according TO Captain Msnsrd, that he
got n Of the warmest receptions be
ever received, aud he lost fifty men in
the attempt TO surprise the battery.
l-aES HARRISON FOUGHT BIEDsoE.
General Benjamin Harrison once had
the same experience as Capt, Manard,
and his endeavor to capture the Bledsoe
battery ended less disasirously, but no
more successfully.
When the war closed Colonel Bledsot
returned 10 Lexington once more, and
several years later be moved to Pleasant
Hill, where he resided up to the time
Of bis death.
When the United States government
! decided to make q national park oul
! Of the battlefield Of Chickamauga,
Colonel Bledsoe was chosen commits
sioner from Missouri, and he assisted
In locating the positions Of the different
army corps during the battle. Among
. the monuments will be found severa
, which indicate the location Of Bledsoe'
battery. While this battery wa
originally composed Of but four guns
. 1t was frequently increased TO suit tn,
needs Of the occasion.
Colonel Bledsoe's father died il
Lexington in 1875, and the only mem
bers Of the family who survive him arr
his brother, Robert d. Bledsoe, who
: lives at 1924 Troost avenue, and biz
sister, Mrs. +. A. Eddy, whose resi-
dence Is At 1928 Indiana avenue. Col
J Bledsoe's wife, who was q Mss Harri
son, has been dead about two years
There were no children Of the marriage
The thIrd Of the brothers was Capt
Joe Blsdsoe, whose Texas battery wal
In General 10 Shelby'S command
After the war be went back to Sher,
man, Texas, where he resumed thu
/, practice Of law, and where be served
: on the circuit bench for sixteen years.
Colonel Bledsoe was Just about to start
to Texas on . visit TO his brother three
months ago, when be received q tele.
gram announcing bis death.
TRIEuTE TO COLONEL BLEDsoE's MEMOIR,
J PROM UNION GENERAL.
That the late Colonel Hiram Bled.
soe's fighting qualities and persona
worth were appreciated by union mer
as well as confederate comrades II
testified in 9 telegram received Tues
day by d. W. Rider, Of the Kansas
City Belt railway, from General Johr
MeNulta, Of Chicago. The dispatch
reads AZ follows:
D. W. Rider. Superintendent of Belt Lice
Kansas City.
Chicago, ILL.,, February 7.-CoIone
Hiram Bledsoe's funeral from his bom,
near Pleasant Hill, under the auspices
Of the United Confederate Veterans
takes place today. he was 3 friend o.
mine. He was 3 gallant soldier, on,
Of the best OF the best type producet
by the civil war, as generous anc
chiValrous as he was brave, q splendid
fighter when the fight was on, a kind
ana generous host TO his defeated foe,
when the battle was v With my
little command for three days I was il
tront Of bis guns, a. short range, Al
Lexington, where, With others, [ wal