Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-08-15
THE BATTLE-FIELDS.
OLD SOLDIERS TALK OVER
ARMY EXPERIENCES.
The Blue and the Gray Review Incl
dents of the Late War, and In q
Graphic and Interesting Manner
Tell of Camp, March and Battle.

Tell of Camp, March and Battle.
1t is customary for the teacher OF
United States history 10 inform her
pupils that the first battle of the civil
war occurred at Bull Run. on the 21st
of July. 1861. and ii seems strange
mat in all these years no Missouri
voice has been raised In protest
against this false dictum.
At Fort Sumter. much good ammuni-
ton was shot away; but ii seems that
Maj Anderson finally surrendered be-
cause he was not fond of diet of
pork. At Monroe City, almost two
weeks before the battle of Bull Run.
there was bona fide battle which
lasted two whole days-and one man
was killed.
At the spring convention the Union
vote had outweighed the seccssionist.
and compromise on a so-called neu-
trality was effected; but there was no
neutrality in the heart of the gov
ernor; and the thorn in his side,
the menace TO his peace and to his
plans. was the Hannibal aud st.
been built with Boston capital and
was operated almost wholly by Ger
mans. all of whom were loyal 10 the
Union When word reached John w.
Brooks, the president Of the road, that
Claib Jackson was going to tear up
h. Nnv s...fl 10 l.N1 IN
President Lincoln for military protec-
ton. In response to this appeal the
President ordered Col II. f. Smith.
with the 10Th Illinois Infantry to cross
the river and do sentinel duty along the
railroad.
The strategic point for northern Mis-
souri, was an almost impregnable posi-
ton between the forks of Salt river.
and here Col. Tom Harris had been
mastering his recruits and his camp
was already about 600 strong. On the
18th of July Gen. Lyon ordered Col.
Smith TO march upon Harris and
break up the camp.
The plans of the campaign were
faultIess, with one exception. The
colonel neglected to order fair wealth
cr, and II rained. The soldiers did not
mind the booming of the cloud guns.
That seemed quite appropriate. 1t was
the drenchlng rain that rendered their
spanking new uniforms all soggy that
somehow took the romance out Of the
situation and made them wish, as they
crawled out of the box cars at Mon
roe. that they had remained at home.
Next morning the sun shOne out
clear and hot. and MS soon as break
fast was over the momentous march
was begun. As the soldiers We're max
ing their way through a narrow defile
In the Swinkey hills an unseen foe
opened fire on them at short range. A
few took down their muskets and
fired counter salute into the ambus
cade of thick timber and underbrush.
There was scurrying among the
bushes. and Capt Grigsby's force Of
fifty gucrrillas fed through the woods
like herd of frightened deer. for one
Of their number had been mortally
wounded!
This little adventure served. to warn
Col Smith that he was marching into
what he termed "yeritable death
trap" and he determined to get out
before more damage was done. 1t was
already most i o'clock. 50 1t was deem
cd best to go into camp for the night
Not until then did it dawn upon the
commander that he had left his train
load of supplies and ammunition AZ
Monroe, with not so much as a police
man to guard ii. And the cloud of
smoke that presently enyclopcd the
heavens made plain the fact that there
was something doing at Monroe. The
loss to the Federal cause through the
destruction of the station train and
supplies was about $4,000; but the
loss was really much greater than this.
loss that was not TO be estimated in
cold figures. the loss Of pride. prestige
and-dlnner. Col Smith had in him
the making Of successful com
mander. and It required just such an
experience as this to put him on his
mettle.
As soon rs the scene Of the recent
'coniiagration.' as he finally termed IT,
was reached. he sent his men to work
picking up bolt pins and nuts from
among the smoldering ruins Of the
train. This helped them to realize
that they had burned their fingers"
and the scraps Of metal could be used
instead Of orthodox artillery ammuui-
tion. Then he took possession of the
seminary building and put himself in
position 10 endure It siege.
Soon the news was carried over the
country that coo YankS were freed"
up at Monroe. ana every ablc-bodic,l
man and Child within a radius of a
dozen miles turned out to see the fun.
Col Harris. finding that Col. Smiths
little visit had been deferred. deter
mined that the proposed meeting
should take place even If he had 10
change his role from host to guest.
Accordingly he summoned all his men
and marched to Monroe, where he sat
down IN front Of the seminary and