The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-04-21
mat Pine BLUM SOY.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / viii
| reply and as far as can respond to thu
request Of a correspondent, made some
time ago. about spy at Pine Bluff. Ark
First, | will relate how our regiment came
to be there.
The regiment took part in the battle
Of Helena, Ark, July 4, 1863 The
Union forces that day were $500 mer
with - pieces Of artillery and one gun
boat. The lowest estimate Of the Con
federate forces given by the prisoners
captured that day was 1900 men and Is
pieces of artillery. jeff Davis is said tc
have called the result Zone of the great
calamities of the Southern Confederacy'
The regiment was at the capture of Lit
tie Rock. Ark. Sept. 10. 1868. Gen
Powell Clayton was then Colonel of the
9th Kan. Cav. and was ordered to go t.
Pine Bluff with two regiments of cavalry
the 9th Kan. and the LIST Ind. The place
is 60 miles by land, below Little Rock. or
| the Arkansas River and was important
as, il the Confederates took the place they
| could go to Devall's Bluff. on the White
River, and cut off our supplies. which
came up that river and were shipped t,
Little Rock by rail.
The rebs thought they could take the
place, and came one Sunday morning t.
try it. They demanded a surrender hui
Clayton asked for two hours to consider
it. and i'll that time got ready for the fight
then told them that he would not surren
der. BY bluff and hard fighting he held
the place. and was made a General in re
ward. After the fight Clayton asked Gen
Steele at Little Rock to let him have the
best regiment Of infantry in his command
Steele told him to take his choice. Clay
ton said: "Send me the 2Stl Wis" TIL,
regiment arrived the first week of Novem
Der, 1863, and helped to fortify the place
and remained for year.
Now. about the spy. There was a
young man by the name OF William Hicks
who thought that he could do smart
thing. and he looked the place over. drew
a plan Of all the Notifications, located al
the batteries, had a list of the troops
there. He kept watch near Gen. Clay
tons headquarters. and one day saw q
cavalry Captain hitch his horse and "a
inside. Hicks united the horse. mounted
and rode away, and when he came to the
chain guard outside of town showed a
forged pass and passed out
The cavalry Captain soon came ont, and
discovered that his horse was gone. He
tracked it in the dust to the chain guard
and learned that fellow with pass had
his regiment q think it was the 18th ILL.,
Cav.). and got Il good horse and squad
of his men on fast horses and they gave
chase About 10 miles out they came up
with their man and had Il lively chase.
but captured and brought him back They
found the papers upon him.
He was tried and convicted as a spy
and sentenced to he hung. and the sen
tencc was approved by Gen. Steele. COM
handing the department. On Sept. %.
1864, at 10 O'clock a. m. Hicks was eX-
ecuted. The 2Sth Wis. formed a hollow
square about the ga.lows.
Now. | wish to say that there may be
some Of his captors still living. who can
get the story down Il little finer than
have. and if SO | would like to hear from
them. l know how easy it rs to be mis-
taken: but i have a good memory and
was not kid when | went Ia the war
and / have Il diary of every day of my
service: SO | don't guess at everything.
/ am often amused to see how tile dear
old boys will dispute and spar at each
other. SO now. dear comrades. fire away:
it won't hurt me any. if it entertains you.
have lots of incidents to relate and
stories and fun with the boys when meet
thcm.-LAUREN BARKER. Orderly Ser
seant. Co. \. 2Sth Wis. Brookfe,d, Wis