The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-03-24

substantiation / suppose what you want
is something short.
Their bones are scattered far and wide
by mount, by storm and sea-"
"My tale would rather impart TO sol
der than a priest, because 1t will then
sink into souls which can at least Sympa
thize, though they cannot absolve."
After trying my fortune with Fremont
during his hundred days in Missouri, and
after several other brief experiences.
finally took service with the 10th Ill. Cav.
as Second Lieutenant, Co. z, and Acting
Quartermaster, Sd Battalion of that regi-
ment The regiment was organized al
Camp Butler, H., September. 1861. and
mustered into the service Nov. %, 1861
under command of Col. James 4. Barrot
As the regiment was advertised, far and
near, as being raised for service on the
plains. many adventurous young spirits
were drawn to Ii. Among the number was
James Stuart, Scotchman by birth. and
thorough soldier. having served two ell
lstments in the I'd Dragons prior to the
war. To his soldiery qualifications shall
frequently have to revert as proceed with
my narrative. The material of the rank
and file was splendid and fairly well Off
cered, though some wedding had to he
done. prior to taking the field.
At Benton Barracks, st. Louis, it was
determined to send the regiment South,
creating considerable dissatisfaction, and
April /. 1862. the Sd Battalion. under COM
mand' of Maj. NJ. L. Stephenson, proceed
ed to Rolla, Mo-, thence to Springfield,
No.. being soon followed by the 1st and
I'd Battalions, commanded respectively by
Maj. L. =. Shaw and Job S. Smith.
This was our first experience in SOL
diering. and many ludicrous scenes We're
the result of trying to fit ourselves into
the places most suited to our country S
needs.
AT Springfield, Col Barrett was replaced
by Col. Dudley Wickersham, a thorough
ly good and valiant soldier The dscord-
ant element was also here removed. and
thereafter the name of 10th Ill. Cav. was
Synonymous with loyalty. bravery, gener-
osity TO fallen foes and chivalric bearing.
wherever coming in contact with gentle
or simple. in or out of the ranks. They
might have adopted the .-.Jtto of Chevalier
Bayard. Without fear and without re-
proach.'
Stuart had now been advanced from
rank of Adjutant to Captain and from
Captain to Lieutenant-COlonel. He had
drilled the regiment thoroughly as Adju-
tant, and now. when he was second in
command. we began to feel the full force
of his military capacity. The writer has
come in contact with many military men,
before, during and after the war, but never
has he met a man of James Stuart's deci-
sion, discretion and added bulldog courage
careful of his men, quick to perceive and
execute. and add lustre to the service he
loved. Wickersham and Shaw have gone
home. rs well as Chaplin, Bruce, Barrot
and others.
My regiment had been partially sup
piled with arms and equipments at Ben
ton Barracks and RoilOn, and on arrival
at Springfield a full supply of sabers and
revOlvers was obtained, together with six
two-pound hOwitzers, which little battery
shared with the band the affections Of the
regiment. About July 1 a few hundred
rifles were issued, but as these proved
worthless they were soon disposed of and
never reckoned in the armament of the
regiment.
The LIST Battalion, Cos. A, d. G, K,
under command of Maj. e. p. Shaw, left
Springfield, June Is, to join Gen. Curtis,
in Arkansas. The I'd and Sd Battalions
Springfield the same month, to Vera
Cruz, Aug. 10, and Marshfeld, Aug. 16.
where headquarters were established until
November following
After our arrival at Springfield, Mo-, we
were almost constantly on the move, scout
ing and intercepting roaming bands OF
gaerrillas and parties Of recruits making
their way towards Arkansas and the st
Francis, to swell the ranks of Price, Nc
Bride, Quantren, and other predatory Con
federate bands.
Expeditions were made to Yellville
Ark, and at Cane Hill. Ark, July Z, 1862
We engaged a superior force, taking many
prisoners. A few days later, near the line
of Indian Territory, the enemy were again
engaged. and number Of prisoners taken
From Marchfield detachments were sta
toned at Sand Springs, HartsvilIe and
Clark's Mills, while other parties were
constantly guarding the road between
Springfield and Lebanon, Mo-, scouting
the country, dispensing bands of guerrllas
protecting. as far as possible, the Union
people. and aiding in forming the Missouri
State Militia.
successful expedition was made by
Maj. Stephenson, 10 Carrollton, Ark; q
scouting party went to Forsythe Mo-; anL
other points were visited, until southwest
Missouri became almost as well known
u tie men Of the regiment as the prairie.
of Illinois.
On Oct. 20 Lieut. Col Stuart with 10:
men attacked camp of 800 rebels or
Niawquan Greek, killing four, woundnc
many and capturing one Captain with u
men, totally dispensing the remainder, sus
ed. The rebel Captain, think, was sub
sequently killed when trying to escape
from his guard. on the way to Springfield
On Nov. about 40 men of Cos. 4 and
NJ, with two howitzers, and few Mis-
souri, militia, under command of Capt
Mo-, were attacked by a force Of l,2O(
with two pieces of artillery, under Coils
Burbridge and Green. After a fight OF
several hours, with prospects of success
Capt. Barstow acceded to a demand fol
surrender, the officers and men being i'm
mediately paroled. Capt. Barstow wa,
subsequently dismissed from the service
Up TO this time We had been without
brigade afiliation, on detached service
Nov. IA We were made part Of the Army
Of the Frontier. and moved to Wilson
Creek, where Col. Wickersham assumed
command Of a Cavalry Brigade, composed
of LIST Iowa, I'd Wis, 9Th Mo. and 1Otl
Ill. Cav. In the latter part Of November
this brigade made a raid to Yellvile, Ark.
and returned to Wilson Greek, hayin:
marched go miles in FIVE days.
Dec. 4 this Cavalry Brigade, as part O.
the army commanded by Maj.-Gen. +. C
Heron. commenced the march to reinforc,
Gen. Blunt, in Arkansas. Dec 6 tn
brigade left the infantry column an,
making march Of over 80 miles. reporte,
10 Gen. B,ount. at Cane Hill, at 10 OclOcl
that night. 1t was terribly cold night
and the men suffered much, their blanket
generally being left behind with the wag
ons. Rations ran short and on TIL
rch wa suhaiSfad on rob oil oo,c H.