The National tribune., 1907-02-14

he had CONS upon one of the enemy's
men. He brought his prisoner into
camp, where the latter's arms were
taken from him, search revealing up
on his person certain papers for deliv-
cry to the enemy. From that time the
rebel was turned over to the custody of
Reyburn, and between them sprang up
warm friendship friendship which
later induced Reyburn to obtain a
mount for his captive, when Prices men
made it necessary for the Kansans to
move quickly. The mount was mule
which stood alone in neighboring pas
ture and which Reyburn obtained at
his own risk, because the prisoner was
afraid he would be shot if he dared to
leave the side of his captor.
Met Captive at LincoIn's Funeral.
There is an incident in connection
with this capture which will bear tell
ing. In the course of time Reyburn re-
turned to Philadelphia. and during the
excitement incident to the obsequies of
Abraham Lincoln appeared with the
thousands of other mourners at Inde-
pendence Hall. Sorrowful and with
barred head. Reyburn stood amidst the
throng on Chestnut street, looking over
the sea of faces. Leading up to the
bier of the martyred President, in j
high place close by, was one man whose
face at once appealed to him.
That's my prisoner; that's Cunning
ham," he said, and forcing his way thru
the crowd exclaimed:
What are you doing here?'
you've got the best of me-" answer
ed Johnny reb
''Well. had that once before" said
Reyburn.
Explanations followed. Cunningham
declaring that he had been paroled and
that relative had brought him to Phil
adelphia, where he was now employed.
Stopping the skulkers.
One of the principal duties to which
Reyburn was assigned after the Kan
sans had been driven back by Price was
to stop skulkers who were endeavoring
by hook or crook to escape the service.
In one instance he drove two of these
disorganizers into fence corner. where
after an exchange of threats, he lined
them up, finding one of them attircd
very much as Jeff Davis is said to have
been during his memorable effort to
escape.
The Eastern country knows very lit
tie about the skirmishes in which the
Kansans engaged, altho in Kansas and
Missouri the work of the Leavenworth
companies in conjunction with those of
the State regiments is credited with
having been the saving point for Kan
sas City.
Gen. Price had force of 1900
Confederates. and he had been sweep
ing everything before him in Missouri
to the Kansas line. Gen. Curtis from
Fort Leavenworth, had engaged him
with 1000 men, assisted by the militia.
The overwhelming odds of the Confed-
crates up to the time the Kansans or
ganiZed caused great CONSERVATION, and
ii was not until Gen. Pleasanton arrived
with several thousand cavalry that
Price was turned southwark.
Never Sought Recognition.
Reyburn had gone from Philadelphia
to Kansas late in August. His military
services. including participation in the
battle of Westport. Oct. &c. 1864, car
ried him over until the close of the
kansan campaign. when he was mus
tered out. i asked Mr.. Reyburn wheth-
er he had become a member of the
Grand Army, and received this charac-
teristic reply:
"Why should I apply for member
ship? You could hardly call 1t a regu>
lar service. / was mustered in and I
was mustered out, but went to protect
the property of the State, and don't
know that ! should lay any claim to
military recognition"
When the company in which Rey-
burn was engaged returned to Leaven-
worth the warm greetings of the moth
er and sister who remained with the
elder Reyburn We're ample compensa-
tion for the privations endured in the
six weeks campaign, extending as it
did from Leavenworth tc 120 miles
south of Independence, Mo.
Pioneer Days on the Missouri.
At the close of the campaign his faith
er's interests on the Missouri attracted
the attention of the young soldier, and
he became what was then known Gs
mud clerk" on one of the two Mis-,
souri, River boats owned by his father
These boats. named the John Edgar and
the Ella, after Mr.. Reyburn and his
sister. had been taken over by the U. s.
Government to carry rails and other
for the Missouri Pacific Rail-