Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-01-17
Raiders Eoiled "' * ;$: :;5$?
'''''', .. 1866 At Springfield

to all the houses on the outskirts Of the
town as they retired to their last line
of barbados.
With the academy and stockade as a
point of vantage and Landis' gun
captured and working havoc on the
Federal line, Marmaduke threw his
men against fort No. at the head of
the street, the center Of the defensive
+ line. The Confederates fought through
fame and smoke, amid the crash of
falling timbers and showers of flaming
brands and glowing Goals, but they
forged ahead, and Collins at last rushed
his battery into the streets of the town.
With the fall of General Brown the
militia retreated still farther, and to
the garrison it seemed for the moment
that Springfield was lost.
In the heat Of the crisis at the front
the "Quinine brigade" which had been
stationed in some brick buildings at
the center Of the town, marched gal
lantly to the point of danger and
poured stunning fire upon the exult-
ant raiders. The militia also rallied,
and the triumph of Marmaduke's men
In the center was short lived. In nick
Of time, too, five companies of the
Eighteenth Iowa, which had been on
outpost duty some miles from the town,
marched in at double quick and
crashed like thunderbolt upon Shell
by's men Id the narrow streets and al
leys. These troopers had done the
hardest fighting Of the field, but they
recoiled before the Iowa bayonets and
were driven back to the stockade.
The fresh Iowa companies charged
the stockade, but Shelby's men fought
tenaciously and held it to the end. But
the gallant work Of the succoring band
gave courage to those who had strug-
gled against odds all day, and it soon
became plain to Marmaduke that
Springfield could not be carried by as
sault. -Four times his line had been
hurled back in front of fort No. T.
Shelby, after penetrating the town,
was hemmed in at the stockade. In
the capture Of that citadel and the
rifle pits around it he had lost some of
his bravest officers and men. But one
pass to Springfield had been tested.
There were three others that might
prove equally strong.
AS the day drew to close the fight
ing died away except for occasional
exchange Of shots by the artillery.
After dark small column Of militia
made dash for Collins battery, but
was struck by ambush. fire from two
companies Of Shelby's men. whom he
had dismounted and concealed midway
between the Federal barbados and
the battery. This charge cost the as
sailants heavily and was the last of the
battle, for Marmaduke moved his line
back mile to the eastward of Spring
field. When day dawned on Jan. 9,
the garrison looked hopefully for re-
newal of the attack, for they longed to
improve on their work Of the day be-
fore. The militia had never been under
fire before and after their baptism and
failures eagerly wished for another
chance. But Marmaduke and his gen.
erals were not inclined to risk second
attack. They believed that the garri-
son was stronger in men and guns than
had been originally reported. Besides,
the Federa]s had burned several of the
buildings in which food and rations
and other coveted military supplies
had been stored.
1t was for the prize of bread and
booty that Marmaduke risked the bat
tie. His column was returning south
ward after the fruitless battle fought
at Prairie Grove, Ark, two months
position at Springfield and its abundant
supplies. With the sole object of plum
der he had cut loose from the main
Confederate army on the south bank
of Arkansas river and crossed the Dor
der into Missouri. Springfield was his
Waterloo, and midwinter found him
again on the Arkansas, offering as an
his battle plans had miscarried. He
said that one brigade Of his command
had failed to come up at Springfield
and as result the attacking force was
too weak to carry the day.
AS is often the case in wild raids on
the border, charges of barbarity were
made against Marmaduke's men. 1t
was declared by the garrison that Cen
eral Brown owed his wound to bullet
fred from one Of the houses In the
town. The historian of Shelby's brf-
gade, however, claiming credit for dis
abling the Federal commander, states
that it was done in fair battle. His
statement is that Brown rode along
the entire front of Shelby's brigade I'M
der fire and clad in bright uniform.
Alone and ahead Of all others, he
seemed to be purposely drawing fire
| upon himself The historian adds that
his bravery so charmed the foe that
| the cry was raised on all sides, Don't
shoot that man; let him go; let him
I pOI' FINALLY a hnllet which NAV have