The National tribune., 1906-10-18
DARDANELLES. ARK.
Small Union Force Beat Of n Bri-
sndc of Cavalry.

siue D1 tiNHITs.
Editor National Tribune: I think
we were put on the boats Jan. IL.
1865 at Little Rock. Ark, as an escort
t. go up the river with supplies for
Fort Smith and Van Buren. There
were 500 troops all told. composed of
dismounted cavalry, IS colored infan-
try and two pieces of artillery. The
cavalry was composed of those who
had lost their horses from an epidemic
of CHAMBERS, which had a fearful run
among the horses at Little Rock.
There were some from the Sd q. ).
Cav, Sd Wis. Cav. Sd Mich. Cav. 4th
Iowa Cav. and 4th Ind. Cav. a small
detachment from each. Maj. Irwin,
from the 4th Iowa Cav, was in COM
mand. / doubt if drawer man ever
faced the enemy.
There We're four steamboats,. Maj.
Irwin was on the leading boat and had
given strict orders that no firing would
be allowed on the way. Shortly after
s a. m. the next morning a comrade
fired his carbine at some wild geese on
sandbar. He was speedily sum-
mOned to appear before Maj. Irwin. on
the leading boat, and as our regiment
was on the same boat 1 had a chance
to see what was the result of disobe-
dience Of orders. The Major asked
him what he wanted to shoot for? He
said that he wanted to try and see il
he could kill one of the wild geese.
Well" said the Major, did you hit
any of them" To which he replied
NO"
We'll" said the Major. "Tll teach
you something. You might have
drawn the fire of the rebels lurking in
the woods back from the river and
given us trouble"
He ordered him tied up by the
thumbs with his toes just touching the
deck for three hours in the hot sun
on the hurricane deck.
When We arrived at Dardanelles,
about 10 a. m, Jan. IA, 1865, our boat
was hailed by woman on the land
ing shouting to the commanding Off
Ger that there was a lot Of rebels out
some four or five miles in the woods on
the upper river road.
The Major gave orders for the boats
to land at the levee. AS soon we had
disembarked there We're strong pickets
thrown out. Some 80 men were left
IN each boat, so there remained with
the four boats 120 men.
/ was put on the up-river road with
q privates. two CorporalS and Ser
geant. under Lieut.. Brown, of Co. H.
Sd Wis. Cav. With the main force
were two 12-pound PARROT rifles and
20 artillery men. We were stationed
ftpcut Al iudi tcI VI u iiiiAt up Tic iiStI,
in a very nice. large house, that appir-
emily belonged to well-tO-dO people. as
there was a fine piano in the house.
About l p. M, as 1 was at the rear
door of the house. l saw some men rid
ing through the woods parallel to the
road that ran in front of the house.
About 80 or more of their advance
column had on uniforms. including
overcoats, but as looked back
thrnnUh the woods
were coming l observed that the men
had on butternut-colored clothing. /
called t. Lieut.. Brown and stated
what / fully believed to be a body of
rebels. The woman had stated that
there were some camped four or five
miles away, and as they We're riding
through the woods parallel to good
road it aroused my suspicion.
The Lieutenant said they were
mountain scouts serving the Union
But" said 1. ''see those back in the
rear with guns across their saddles
that have on butternut clothing"
Well said he st looks as you say;
YOU just watch while 1 have the men
fall in on the other side of the house.
When l give the order to quick march
you can follow along to the river bank
and we will make haste and notify
our forces SO that they will not be
taken altogether by surprise"
L was in the rear of our men, watch
ing the rebel movements. and as
came to the bank stumbled over a COM
ra5e, falling headlong down the bank.
AS l fell the rebels fired a voley which
plOwed and cut the sand just over me.
1t was a force of over 1900 men, un-
der Col. Brooks, of Did Sterling Prices
command. We followed the footpath
under the bank to the landing, where
we found them moving the artillery
from the landing up into position, the
last steamboat having just passed out
of sight around the bend. Then until
dark we kept up a steadv fire from our
carbines and the two 12-pound Parrot
guns kept Sending shell over in the
woods among them.
The rs colored men fought we'll. The
rebels had planned to take us by sur
prise with their advance guards hav-
ing IN our uniforms. and to annfhilate
our entire forces. They had one six
FOUNDER with them and q large wagon
train, as they anticipated capturing the
four steamboats, and gessing the sup
plies.
They surprised the next picket post.
as they were right up to Il when they
fired their first shots. whero they killed
one of them, wounded nine and took
three prisoners. We captured three
prisoners and they carried Oh over ESQ
dead and wounded in their train of
wagons. instead Of the army supplies,
aa thew had anticipated. NV Affection