Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-08-22
SOLDIERS AT HOME.
THEY TELL SOME INTERESTING
ANECDOTES OF THE WAR.
How the Boys of Both Armies whiied
Away Life In Camp-Foraging Ex-
periences, Tiresome Marches-ThriI.
ling Scenes on the Battlefield.

Tine death of Major Pond" said the
Captain, recalled to good many old
soldiers one of the strangest chapters
in the history of the Civil War The
engagement at Baxter Springs was
fought at a point remote from other
military operations, in the country of
the Cherokees. in Southeastern Kansas.
Most of the Cherokees, it will be re-
membered. went over TO the Confeder-
ates, and military post had been es-
tahlished at Baxter Springs. on the
road between Fort Scott and Fort
Smith and about fifty miles from the
former
At first the fort there was occupied
by company of the Fourteenth Kan
sas (coioreh mounted infantry, but
early in October, 1853, General ]. G.
Blunt. commanding at Fort Scott. or
dercd Lieutenant James B. Pond of
the Third Wisconsin Cavalry to Baxter
Springs with Company c of his regi-
ment. Lieutenant Pond at once began
the enlargement of the fort. and on
Oct. 6 sent the most of his cavalry on
foraging expedition. In the absence
of this force, and while his men were
at dinner outside the fort. the camp
was rushed by QuantrilIS men dressed
in Federal uniforms. The rebels were
in the fort as soon as Ponds men.
and there was confusing rough-and-
tumble fight.
Pond. however rallied his men.
drove the rebel advance out. and. see
ing that the main body of the enemy.
two or three hundred strong. was adj
vancing upon him. went outside his
breastworks to a howitzer. and with
out assistance turned this on the en-
envy, firing so effectively us to check
the charge. Meantime he heard firing
over the ridge not more than 400 yards
away. and supposed his foraging ex-
petition had been attacked At this
junrture he was surprised to see Ma
jor b. s. Henning of his regiment,
whom he had left at Fort Scott. break
through the enemy's line and come Mt
a gallop into the fort.
Henning explained that Major Gen
eral Blunt, moving his headquarters
from Fort Scott to Fort Smith. had
been surrounded and attacked not 400
yards away. that his escort had been
dispersed, his train captured. and he
asked Lieutenant Pond to send his cav
airy to the rescue, Pond could mus
ter only seven mounted men. and Hen
ming at the head of these. dashed out
of the fort and through the enemy's
lines to find General Blunt This left
Pond with only fifty men to beat of
Nthe enemy, hut, as he said to Henning,
he had the howitzer
blunt had rallied fifteen men and
was making fight when REINFORCED
by Henning. They together hung on
the tiank OF the enemy and saw Guam
trill move his whole force again on the
fort. A flag of truce was sent forward
and then the rebel force was with
drawn and marched southwark Find
ing Pond ready for hot work. Quantrll
decided not TO make an assault i'm the
face Of what he reported to General
Price as superior force. Going over
the field General Blunt found that Ma
jor Curtis. Lieutenant A. W. Farr.
Lieutenant Ralph Il. Cook. fourteen
members of the brigade band. all of
his orderlies and clerks. and forty-one
soldiers had been shot through the
head after they had surrendered and
that all his wagons had been burned.
Pond had sixteen men killed and as
many wounded, but he drove off the
enemy SO far as know. Major Pond
Of the later day never referred to this
fight. and yet he WAS specially men
toned in three reports and was re
specially referred to in Quantrill's re-
port. In this same report Quantril re
ported General Blunt Major Hcnning.
and other officers dead, az he could not
believe their dash through his lines
had been successful lin the report he
admitted that he didn't bring any pris-
oners away with him.
AT this time Quantril and his gang
We're not n part of the regular Coufcd-
crate army. Many of his men were
deserters from Confederate regiments.
and all had been outlawed by the
Union commanders They made no
nretense of being governed 10y the
rules Of war. and yet Quantrill claimed
to hold the commission of Colonel in
what he called the Army Of the South.
IT IL matter Of record that, IN let
ter written some time after this fight
at Baxter Springs, General Price urged
that some means be found to attach
Quantril and his regiment Of free
hooters to the Confederate army. Many
Gonfederatcs. however disapprovcd Of
any recognition Of the guerrilla leader.
who made war on the guerrilla plan.
TN this engagement at Baxter
Springs the unexpected happened 10 all
parties concerned. Qmntrill. accord
ing to the story told by his men who
were taken prisoners. did not know
there was n fort at Baxter Springs.
L.. a.