The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1904-10-27

the AnamOsa, tIowa,) Eureka.
which pepper prints II In the column
headed "Forty-one Years Ago."
Mr.. l.. Gee. OF the 9th Iowa, gives
an interesting letter with date Grand
Ecore. La, AyrIl ~. 1864. We take
the following extracts;
Since / wrote last from oatchi-
taches, four miles from this place, we
have been out 80 miles In the dlrec-
tion OF Shreveport after butternuts
and found morc than we We're able
to crack, on account OF the miser-
able management which prevailed
on the occasion. On the evening OF
the 9TH our cavalry were attacked
by a body OF rebs In ambush, two
miles beyond Pleasant Hnl. which
resulted in driving the rebs back.
Next morning we advanced, the cav
airy division In front, two divisions
OF the 18th Corps, numbering not
more than 1000 men, being much re
duced ON account Of absentees. OF
those present half of our regiment
and the 18th Wisconsin were detail
ed as train guard, leaving only four
regiments OF our division for duty In
the field. Soon after leaying camp
the cavalry began TO skirmish with
the enemy, who fell back, and a
division and the 4th were crowded
forward aud soon discovered that
the enemy had beeneamped In heavy
force along the road the previous
night, the route being through the
woods with only one road for troops
TO move forward on. SkHmishing
continued until the rebs reached n
position near the village Of Mans
field, which was well adapted TO
their purpose, being a large opening
In the timber with n gentle eleva-
ton In front for the formation of in
fantry, and with high ground be-
hind where artillery was planted In
order TO fire over the infantry. The
whole opening was surrounded with
heavy timber and thick underbrush
where troops could be handled by
their officers without observation.
When the cavalry came up with
the enemy they were dismounted
and sent forward, n brigade at a
time, and when they were about
used up another was sent In. and by
the time they were about done for
abe 4th division came up. only to be
treated in the same way, and next
came our turn. As we came up on
a double quick, after marching IS or
20 miles and laying owe three hours
say at about , o'clock p. m, we
were somewhat surprised TO sec the
wagon train OF the cavalry division
jam up to the line OF battle, the
teams In plain sight and still front
ing the enemy. We fled 20 the lcft
into the woods, formed Ia line and
advanced n distance and lay "A short
time In line of battle, with the shells
cracking over our heads and cannon
balls bowling around us as II all he'll
had turned out 70 play town ball.
At this time Col. Ransom, our bH'
gade commander. rode along th,
lines with his stan. As they passed
an open space a shower OF bullet'
saluted them and putting the Colo.
mel hors du combat. his horse being
killed under him. From that posi-
ton we soon advanced to PARTED
pate In the engagement, the only
fault OF u men being their haste
and the cool voice OF Major Wright
who commanded the battalion, WA
heard ehecKing up the boys with
"Steady, boys, back n little on th'
! left and not quite SO fast" as vi
! went Ia. Many were already talilnl
back exhausted. and some were ouI
OF cartridges. We held our position
for an hour or morc, doing the hc=I
we could when there was n lull II
the leaden storm and the rcbs werI
seen falling back over the bills. OnI
attention WA sOon attracted In an
r Other direction. On our left an,
front ohliquing out OF the brush an,
{ across the corner Of the Geld, thi
robs with their dirt-colond llBei
) were eecn close upon US, moving M
In heavy columns, their first moy'
being only "A lelnt The ist division
OF the 10th corps, our nearest cup
! port, being four or i've miles distant
and Smith with 1900 twenty miles
|, away, there was no alternative bal
20 retreat or be captured, aud W,
adopted the principle Of Hudibrai
{ that
"He who fights and runs away.
May live TO fight another day"
As the train stIll ehoked the road
IL WA impossible 20 fan back IN or
der through the brush on the side,