The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-12-28
THE FIELD OFBATTLE
INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES OF
THE WAR.

The Veterans Of the Rebellion Tell Of
whistIinz Bullets, Bright Bayonets,
Bursting Bonbs, Bloody Battles,
Camp Fire, Festive Bugs, ETC., Etc.
It was on . bright May morning In
1863 that John Childe-s, an English
man, living on q farm, ran into Paoli
and told the people that a squad OF
United States cavalry had traded
horses with him and had given him
couple of wind-broken plugs In ex-
change for two fine roadsters. Chill
ders was SO angry he went to the
river bridge and gather up a pile Of
stones. with which he proposed to
assault the soldiers when they came,
mers that John A. Morgan, the Con-
federate cavalryman. was about 20 in
wade Indiana, and the report that Chill
ders made frightened the t0wnspeople
because they were not sure the men
who had traded horses with Childers
were Unionists. And there were In
this vicinity a great many members
Of the Knights Of the Golden Circle, a
reasonable organization that was ex-
pected to assist Morgan when he
came. So the people began to assem-
BILE about the old public square and
talked Of an armed resistance, for
there were brave men In those days
One Of the famous military organ
izations of antebellum days was the
Orange Blues, and this company had
stored its muskets in the basement
OF the court house. There was a rush
to the court house basement and the
muskets were brought out, polished
and loaded. The Orange Blues We're
not assembled, but a company Of home
guards was organized, with Judge g.
n. Campbell In charge.
Thomas N. Braxton. ]. G. Albert and
John Foster were detailed as scouts to
20 out and ascertain IL the approach
ing soldiers were really Union men or
If they were part Of Morgan's COM
mand. The scouts rode out some dis
lance and suddenly came on squad
of about sixty men, who were water
ing their horses 1t was a motley
crowd. Some had on Federal uni
forms, others were dressed like farm
ers and few were in the gray Of the
Confederates.
Braxton, Albert and Foster were
given a cordial greeting, and when the
troop started of they went along with
them. They were suspicious that the
soldiers were Confederates, but they
did not ask any questions. They rode
along for some distance before the
lieutenant came back and told them
that the captain wanted to talk with
them They trotted up to the front OF
the cavaIcade and the captain intro
duced himself as a United States OFF,
Ger from indianapolis, whose mission
was to look for deserter,. He was q
very pleasant talking man and ex.
pressed great regret at the treatment
Childers had been given by his men
and promised to send back voucher
In payment for his horses. The cap
tain asked a great many questions
about the country, the different roads
and places to camp. He also talked
about the town Of Paoli, and Mr.
Braxton informed him of the prepare.
ton the townspeople were making tC
repel any Of Morgan's men. The cap
he
people Of Paoli on their loyalty. FL
nally Mr.. Braxton remarked: "Well
captain, l guess we have gone fal
enough We will go back now and
tell the people who you are"
"Sxcuse me Mr.. an-er, really
did not catch your name"
"Braxton, SIR"
Excuse me. Mr.. ah-er, I really
are such splendid company that really
do not wish you to go yet" and the
captain placed his hand on the bride
of Braxton's horse, at the same time
shifting the heavy revolvers In his
belt That was enough. Braxtor
understood 1t all then, and without
COnARIaiht (OAlhuCo On LIS JOuklCy
with the raiders, who afterwar6
proved to be a detachment from Nor
gan's company under command OF
Captain Hines.
When the troop was some distance
from Paoli Braxton trotted back
home. As he rode into town he found
all was excitiment Captain Campbell
and his company Of home guards were
parading the streets, going through
the manual Of arms. Drums were roll
ing and bugles were sending out 9
call to arms. Every one was In ter
TOR. The women and children were
taken to places Of supposed safety
and there were some men who looked
as II they wished to find q hidins
place. But the Confederates did no
appear and later gave battle to th<
Union troops near Leavenworth
where a number Of them were killed
Hines and some Of his officers escaped
by swimming the Ohio River.-Ameri
can Tribune.
A Fragment Of War History.
Those who belonged to the left win,
of the Sixteenth Army Corps In 1856:
and 1868. commanded by Gen. G. NJ