The National tribune., 1904-05-26

were members of Co. d, 37th Ky. Ter,
rell and Thompson were privates i'll that
regiment. When they came TO it, at Glas-
gov, KY, they said they were deserters
from the rebel army, and wanted to join
the 31th Ky. They found old friends and
schoolmates in that regiment. They We're
enrolled as recruits, Oct. Z, 1863. and as
with the regiment.
Their homes were near Lebanon, Ky.
They returned to their homes after their
discharge. Then they heard of Quantriil
and his band infesting the country about
Lebanon, and the country between that
town and Louisville. Terrell and Thomp-
son were restless and brave men. They
loved war, and to be where the fray was
hottest.
There being no call for more military
organizations to be recruited in Kentucky
for the United States Army, Terrell de-
termined on scheme of his own He
went to see Gen. John NJ. Palmer, then
Military Governor of the State of Ken
lucky, who agreed to furnish Terrell and
a company of his followers with arms and
ammunition. Terrell was to furnish his
own horses, or mount his men on horses
he might capture from the enemy
LII Terrell was the man mentioned by
Lieut.. RidOn as coming from Kansas.
who knew Quantrill there, know nothing
of it. | don't believe that Terrell was
ever in the State of Kansas Some of his
followers Eiay have been; but | speak of
Terrell as the leader of this band who
were to drive Quantrill and his men from
Kentucky
Terrell collected less than so men. and
went on his hunt for Quantrill He said
to me, in letter. after shooting and cap
turing Quantrill, that lit was on rainy
day, near Smileytown, in Spencer Co,
Ia md he Co.. 6
held. l met negro man i'm the road;
asked him if he knew of or had seen any
soldiers that day. The negro told me that
he had just opened large gate and let a
band through it into Robert Wakefield's
wood lot, and they went TO large to-
bacco barn, shielded all round. near the
road. 10 shelter from the rain. / arranged
things for fight: We saw the tracks of
horses III the mud. We entered the gate
and charged the party in the barn, who
saw MS coming. Some of Quantrilrs mel
mounted their horses ard some ran on
foot. l knew Quantrill from the descrip
tion i had of him. | and one of my men
ran after Quantrill. who was afoot.
shot him in the shoulder as he ran: IN,
man shot one of QuantriI's fingers off
tie fell, and we captured him and killed
one of his men (HockersmitlD. and
wounded another one. l put Quantrill in
cart. carried him TO the railroad. then IL
Louisville. and turned him over to Gen
Palmer, and Quantrill died in Louisville
KY"
In 1868 l was in Lawrence, Kan. and
gave TerrelFs letter TO the editor of 4
newspaper, who published it and sent me
copy. ! have this letter as published in
that paper. but have misplaced it. II
Terrell and his men were enrolled and
paid as soldiers in the capacity mentione,
by Lieut.. Rldlon / never heard of il be
fore. But if so, i am glad Of it; they de
served the pay. They rid that part of the
country OF the worst band of guerrilla cut
Threats and freebooters that ever infested
the Chaplin Hills in Kentucky.
Terrell WAS not one of Gen +. III. Hob
sons men. | knew Gen. Hobson we'll He
was my personal friend before, during and
after the war. lie was my commander
and superior officer, frequently. | low.
and revere his memory write tbes,
facts TO place this subject right before tb,
public. l lament Terrelrs tragic fate.
do not know if Harry Thompson is alive
would like 10 hear from him. or any of m,
Old comrades. i hold them all as m,
friends and comrades.-S. MARTIN
Major, 3Ith Ky. MID Inf. Neosho. Mo