Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-12-07

Fighting The Johnnies
STORY OF AN EXCITING ENGAGEMENT BY AN o7ruNwA
MAN WHO PARTICIPATED.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

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the afternoon, Colonel Scott moved out
to make the attack. A mounted
scouting party, commanded by Lieu
tenant Call Of our regiment, struck
the rear guard, or an outpost. of the
confederates, in the thick timber
about two miles from town, and was
fired on from a thicket, and four men
instantly killed, and several wounded.
This occurred about noon, and when
our advance reached the spot, the
bodies of the dead were laid on their
backs, side by side at the edge of the
road in plain view as we marched
past. Major William M. Stone, of
our regiment, afterward governor of
Iowa, stormed around in an excited
manner. and tried to prevent the boys
from looking at these bodies. 1t was
a CHASTITY sight, and calculated to I'M
nerve us.
We were nearly all boys Of from IS
to 20 years. But little attention was
paid to the major, who was probably
the most excited man in the command
The youngsters nerves were all
right and steady. Major Stones theory
was correct, but he had too little con
fidence in his men. Colonel John
Scott, as brave and gallant an officer
as ever lived, rode quietly past. Our
road led through the heavy timber
and dense underground of the Mis-
souri, river bottoms.
One company was deployed a
platoon on either side = in advance,
as (skirmishers, to discover and de-
vclop the enemy The scout and
skirmisher usually discovers the ene-
my when the enemy fires on him
from place of concealment. Owing to
the tangle of vines and brush, the
skirmishers made slow progress, and
the head of our column, marching by
the flank in the road, kept abreast of
the skirmish line. The result was,
the column, with our six FOUNDER gun
at the head. found the enemy as soon
as the skirmish line did, and became
at once engaged.
A Hot Engagement.
When the confederate commander
received word of our movement from
town. he at once began bringing back
the men who had crossed the river,
and by the time the fight opened. had
most of his force on our sside.
We struck cresant line concealed
in dry run, and received their fire
in front and on both TANKS. at short
range, and our first intimation of the
near presence of the enemy was this
opening volley.
We instantly took to the woods on
each side of the road and fought Indian
fashion from behind logs and trees.
Company D of which was corporal,
took the right hand side of the road,
Just abreast the field piece, which un-
limbered and went into action in the
road. Only one shot was fired from
the gun, when it was disabled from
loss of men and horses shot down, and
the gun was retired by hand, the linn
Der, with the ammunition chest being
left entangled in trees by the road
side.
A moment after firing began, the
near wheel horse of the gun was shot
and fell The sergeant in charge called
for help to clear the horse
was standing near, and turned and
stopped down to help strip the, harness,
when the horse sprang to his feet. AS
l raised up heavy ball, glancing from
a tree, struck me on my right shoulder,
sharp, singing blow.
Thinking it came through, pulled
open my blouse. to see where it came
out. Finding nothing, turned
to Captain Willett, who was near, and
pulling my shoulder around. asked him
If he saw any blood on it.
While he was looking a ball went
through his leg at the knee, disabling
him and making him cripple for life.
A Deliberate Retreat.
Finding that l had been struck a
glancing blow by partially spent ball,
and not seriously hurt, l stepped into
the woods at the side Of the road, and
began firing at the red shirts that
showed in front through the brush
and smoke. Getting no reinforce
ments and finding strong force push
ing past cur right and threa tening to
cut us off, Colonel Scott after an
hours hot fight, during which we held
our ground where the battle began,
gave orders to fall back which was done
deliberately and with 40 pursuit to
mention
Out of about 500 men we lost, in
killed and wounded. 120 in one hour
Of fighting very heavy loss.
Colonel Scott, on little roam horse
was in that deadly lane of road the
whole time, perfectly cool, riding UP
and down encouraging the boys. His
horse was struck by eleven bull
lets, and his clothes riddled, but no
blood drawn on him-an escape sim.
ply miraculous.
Captain Willett of our company was
severely wounded, and Lieutenant Ole
Anderson shot in the temple and left
for dead on the field William B. Mil.
Ter was killed and many wounded
Major Stone was slightly wounded. 1t
was q gallant fight against heavy odds
and at a great disadvantage.
Miller, who was killed, was stout
heavy man, about "a, and 5 feet s
inches high, weighing probably 1SC
pounds.
The Retreat of Pat.