The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-10-09

SS'h>'J' W IhS SUI PRISE Oh ourselves,
our friends and foes; we were consid-
cred captured.
Our 18th Iowa lost so killed, wound
ed and missing; LIST Kansas colored
l25, not over 20 wounded Negroes
escaped to camp; the Rebs killed all
they found, and a Lieutenant surren-
dered, gave up his pistol and the next
instant was murdered. The Rebs reap
ed the fruit Of this at Saline river and
the I'd Kansas colored avenged their
brothers, their bayonets drinking
blood of all wounded and other Rebs
they could get hold of, and the darlies
complain that their officers compelled
them to save one prisoners life, the
only one they could be made to spare
on that day
On the 22d our return train for
stores was captured Ito us a serious
damage) The 36th Iowa, 18th Ohio,
43d Indiana, and four pieces of artil-
lery all captured. On the Goth we
evacuated Camden, and retreated for
Little Rock pursued by General Kirby
Smith, Price and Pagan. Near Saline
river the enemy attacked the rear,
Thayer's division in advance. The
rain commenced to fall heavy at the
same time; to cross our train that
night was impossible. The 18th did
| not advance one mile, owing to the
rain and darkness. In the morning
| Thayer'S division was across the river
with most of the train seeking dry
land; when April 80 the battle open
! ed, the enemy attacking the rear at
daylight, Gen, Rices division bearing
the brunt, cold, wet, hungry and tired,
stood like a wall of adamant, well
| knowing that to fail now would en-.
danger the whole command, for the
enemy far outnumbered us. You have
1 | presume the particulars of this fight
long before this. The 18th Iowa and
1 the Kansas colored was not directly
engaged, being placed in advance in
anticipation oil an attack on that side,
later in the day we were called back,
but the battle was won before they
\ got there. In this battle Mahaska has
1 lost many of her brave and true sons,
. though fallen in battle they bequeath
to their comrades a name worthy of
emulation. They have done their
duty, may we all do ours.
! After this chastisement the enemy
saw fit to leave US unmolested. We
arrived at Little Rock on May Sd, FIT.
Smith being threatened, our division
marched there in eight days, 100 miles,
arriving on the l5tn. Shelby avoided
us by going to Sardanelle, crossing the
river, and taking Clarkville and other
small posts.
| On the 25th we were ordered to
On the way five of our men were at
tackled by guerillas and two killed and
stripped, the rest escaped.
At present all is quiet except an oc-
casional firing on our boats by guer-
riuas, and some scouting for the
rascaIs. In this campaign we have
marched nearly 600 miles, lost most
of our traps and seen some active ser
vice
The following is list of killed,
wounded and missing: OF Co. X, 18th
Iowa, killed, VIM. Printz May 81, by
guerrilIas, near Rock Creek, Clark
Vile; wounded, Sergt. Homer C..
Gibbs, shoulder and breast, danger
ously; Corporal Chas. A. Mitchell, in
both legs, severely, both taken pris-
oners; Corporals Byron B. Martin, AL
bert Hale, slightly; missing, Levi H.
H. Taylor, Geo. Lee, Benjamin F.
Smith, and V. V. Parish, also VIM.
Billings, wounded and prisoner; died
Henry V. Smith.
Yours truly,
Stanley.