The National tribune., 1904-06-23

United states IN 1871. In Marcn, lS.p-,
Al Hudson street. New York. he enlisted
in Co. +, I'd Dragons. Regular Army,
under Capt. Patrick Calhoun. His expec-
tation was to go to California, but instead
he soon landed at Indianola. spending three
years in chasing Indians on the plains OF
Texas. During these years he was at
Forts Graham, Mckavitt. Worth, Belknap
and Croghan, the latter now Gainesville
In 1854 his company, together with three
companies of Texas Rangers. went on a
hazardous expedition to the Wichita Noun
tans, and for this special service he re-
ceived land-warrant for 100 acres.
In October, 1855, his company arrived
at Fort Riley, coming by the way of COun-
Gil Grove. II. Z. Laurenson, III. Lichten-
han, T.. $. Mcfarland, and Patrick King,
afterward useful citizens of Geary County,
belonged to the same company. They
were quite lively in the Summer of 1866
with Col. Philip st. George Cooke, in
chasing Free-State and Pro-Slavery men,
On the Doth of June. 1856. Secretary Dan
iel Woodson wrote Col. st. George Cooke
at Fort Riley Ito take the field and
''Scour the country between Fort Riley and
the crossing opposite Topeka for the pur-
pose of repelling armed invasion of the Ter
ritory." They were in Camp Sackett, a
couple of miles south of Lecompton, when
James II. Lane besieged that city, Sept.
and :, and were in the march which
placed the troops between the town and
the Free-State forces. Sept. 13 march
was made after the Free-State men who
engaged in the Hickory Point fight. The
Free-State men were subject to arrest be-
cause they made this fight after Gov.
Geary had ordered all to disband, not hav-
ing heard of his proclamation. In the lat
ter part of September they were ordered
to the Nebraska line to intercept imml-
grants into the Territory.
In March, 1857, Henderson was dis
charged at Riley, and became citizen
of Kansas. He promptly settled in 1857
on quarter-section of Government land
south of the Smoky Hill, about two miles
from Junction City. Logan Grove, a re-
markable body of timber was his preemp-
ton claim. He entered this land at Og-
den in November. 1853. This has expanded
into IL farm of 40 acres. noted beyond the
borders of the County for its perfect de-
velopment and the hospitality and patriot
ism of the very pleasant family he has
gathered around him.
City. with the beginning of the town. as a
householder, retaining such occupancy of
his land and making such improvements as
were necessary TO hold his preemption
claim. He was by trade a wheelwrght.
His industry provided a comfortable home
in Junction City for his family by 1861,
the commencement of the civil war.
REMITTANCE INTO THE SERVICE.
Oct. 4, 1861. he enlisted in Co. F. 9th
Kans. Cav. and was made First Sergeant
Sept. 1J, 1862, he was made Second Lieu
1864, he was promoted First Lieutenant
and TO Captaincy Dee. 8. 1864. He was
mustered out May 10. 1865. He partici-
pated in the engagements at Newtonia,
Sept. 80 and Oct. 8. 1862, Coon Creek
Cane Hill. Prairie Grove, Fort Wayne
Prairie Dane, and Poison Springs; i'll the
latter suffering a severe wound. There
were no idle days for cavalry in the Army
of the Frontier. and Capt. Henderson was
as energetic and persistent in pursuing the
enemies of his country. bushwhackers oil
legitimate troops. as he has been IN all the
departments of civil life since.
In the Winter of 1863 '6f Capt. Hender
sons duty found him in Arkansas, engaged
in escOrting Government trains between
Fort Smith and Little Rock. There were
also in that neighborhood. besides his own
company (G), Cos. \, * and NJ of the
9th kans.
In January, 1864. the Commander-in.
Chief of the army decided upon definite
plans for an aggressive and early Spring
campaign for the control Of the Arkansas
River from the head of navigation to its
mouth For this purpose it was determined
to order the concentration of a large force
on Red River for the defense of northern
and western Louisiana. and for the pur
pose OF operating against Texas. The
troops under Gen. y. =. Banks, Gen. A. j
Smith and Gen. Frederick Steele were te
concentrate May l at Shreveport. The
Red River campaign was the most disas
trous to the [ MON cause of any in the
West. These three columns were to start
from points as distant from each other as
New Orleans. Fieksburg and Little Rock
through hostile territory. and with many
obstacles intervening. March %. Gen
Steele's Division left Little Rock with
24.d7 men. including the 1st Kans. Col.
Col James N. Williams; 2d Kans. (CoI
ored), Col. Samuel j. Crawford; 12ti
Kans.. Lieut.-Col. Josiah T. Hayes. in tn,
division commanded by Gen. John NJ
Thayer: the I'd. tith and 1ith Kans. Cav.
commanded by Lieut. Col. Owen A. Bas
sett land I'D companies of the 9TH Kans., un
much skirmishing and hard marching, Gen
Steele's Division entered Camden Apri
1G. 1t was Gen. Sterling Prices army
that Gen. Steele manuvered out of its in
treflfhHentS al IralrIe Dane and out O
it's strong fortitications at Camden with
out a general battle.
On the morning of the 18th of April
Henderson was ordered ont with a forag
ing party of G95 men. 1913 wagons, ant
four pieces of artillery, under command OF
Col. j. NJ. Williams, of the ist Kans. (Col
ored). This squad was made up of u
men of Co. G. 10 men of the I'd kans, un
der command of Lieut.. Mitchell, and sev
eral companies of the 18th Iowa, and al
Indiana battery. Steele's entire army
were short rations, and it had beer
learned that. in consequence of the de
mands of the armies. the people had plantet
an Increased acreage of corn and A decreased
acreage of cotton, and that a large amoun
of corn had been secreted throughout til,
country. Upwards of 100 wagon-loads o
corn were brought in at the end of tn,
first day, and in consequence empty wagons
were sent the second day to forage OF
plantations on either flank. e-mornin,
of the 18th, with 1S wagons and 80 cav
airy, Henderson ordered to visit th
plantation of a Capt. Purfoy, of the Con
federate army. He found large quantitie
OF bacon. number of great cans of lard
several barrels of salt, general assort
ment of provisions used on plantations
covered with cottonseed and some wheat
While the men were emptying the house
Henderson was experimenting affairs OIL
the outside, securing ths capture of eigh