The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-12-14
SOLDIERS AT HOME
THEY TELL SOME INTERESTING
ANECDOTES OF THE WAR.
How the Boys Of Both Armies Whfled
Away Life In Camp-Foraging Ex-
periencee, Tireeome Marches-Thril.
ling Scenes ON the Battlefield.

Some months ago." said the Doc
tor, II saw In a Nebraska paper an
nouncement of the death Of Colonel
Robert w. Furnas. This recalled to
my mind an almost forgotten chapter
ir the history of the Civil Var on the
border. In 1862 our regiment was a
part of the Indian expedition or Of the
command organized to march into In
dian territory. The indians, like the
whites Of southern Missouri, divided
on the question of secession. Two
regiments Of cavalry were organized
In Indian territory for the Confederate
service. and they made it very un-
comfortable for the Greeks, Seminoles,
C~herokees, and others who stood by
the Union.
1.-The old Creek chief, Hopocithleyo-
hOla, organized the Union Indians and
defied the Confederates. He fought
several engagements against the Con-
federates, white and Indian, but was
compelled to retreat north toward
Kansas In the winter Of 1862. He
took with him all his tribe and all the
property he could transport. His peo-
pie suffered many hardships. but were
Joined by many Cherokees. When our
expedition came within range Of these
Indian refugees they were eager to
join us, and Colonel Furnas proceeded
to organize three Indian regiments.
"Furnas became Colonel Of the first
Indian regiment, John Richie Of the
second, and William A. Phillips Colo
mel of the third. In the first there
were many Creeks, the third was all
Cheokees, and the second vas made
up of Cherokees and members of other
tribes. Colonel Furnas was very much
in earnest, but his Indian brigade Che
soon came to the command OF the
three regiments) served the purpose of
a circus to the white regiments. When
uniforms were issued the Indians had
no sense Of fitness or proportion.
They made monkeys Of themselves,
tall fellows getting into short blouses
and trousers, short fellows into long
suits, and all wore over their long hair
the high-crowned. stuff wool hats is
sued to the volunteers of that day.
"The most Of them were large men,
but all rode small Indian ponies, with
their feet almost touching the ground,
and when they fell in for a march
they were, with their war paint and
war whoops, funnier than any roaring
burlesque l ever saw on the stage.
But, great Scot, they were in earnest
and they went into the territory and
through 1t after the scampering Con-
federates like a tornado. They didn't
care for clothes. They were erradc in
the matter Of discipline, but they
fought like veterans and won In every
fight.
"Our expedition drove the Confed-
crates out of the territory and then re-
turned northward, taking old Chief
John Ross Of the Cherokees with us
But Colonel Furnas and his Indian
brigade elected to stay in the terri
tory, and we left with them one Sec
ton Of Captain Aliens First Kansas
battery. They kept up their activity
against the rebels, and in several en-
gagements made fine records. They
were employed In the later years Of
the war In extended operations, and
became famous in the campaigns on
the border.
"They would have been. In the be-
rfnyfp~ n f-fo1 70 NM @+,4- &L--
Colonel Furnas. / remember on one
occasion a whole battalion went off on
a buffalo hunt Of several days, and it
was surmised they had deserted. But
In due time they Joined the column as
good as new, and impervious to criti-
cism. On another occasion a regiment |
was sent out to engage a regiment of
Indians. Some of us, who
were watching operations, were
amazed to see only one company ride
to attack, and then retsAat
with a great deal Of war-whoOping
md shooting. The Confederate Indians
followed recklessly, sure of capturing
the small force of Uni0nists, when the
other companies of our Indian regi-
ment dashed In on the enemy's tanks
and rear and completely routed the
.onfederates. Our Indians never
slrned a hair when they were compli-
for their strategy. That was
heir way OF fighting, and Furnas
managed them to the credit of the
army until be returned to Nebaska.
II was in Washington In Mach.
1881, to see Garfield inaugurated. One
lay I went to Mount Vernon on the
,oat with one of Furnas' old captains.
he was Of Indian blood, possibly, but
10 carried himself like a white man,
was accepted as one. On the
Quincy down some one went to the
and played with unusual express
ion some popular air. | heard the
sitting at my side give a con-
emptuous snort, and l thought he
lidn't like the music. But pointing
the musician. he said: What IS he
loing here? That's Elias Boudinot. the
enegade, who commanded one Of the
ebel Indian regiments. Why should
be In Washington / reminded
that Wade Hampton and a score
+ other Confederate officers were in
Ugh places In Washington, and why
lot Boudinot? But he glowered at
soudinot until he left the piano and
vent forward to greet some ladies,
rho treated him as a society favorite.
"Boudinot, before the war, during
be war, and for a decade after the