Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1909-09-02
Report of Lieut.. James b. Pond.

OPOAS Va AACuts OoLlcb De EOuus
Baxter Springs, KS, Oct. Z, IS.
/ was attacked yesterday by Guam
trell with about $50 men. and after
one hours hard fighting am able
to report that ] still hold the post.
and the old flag floats over us as
proudly as ever. The attack was
made from the woods east Of the
camp. 1t was unexpected, as had
sent my cavalry out not an hour be-
fore to reconnoiter on the same road
the enemy came in on. MY men
we're at dinner when the attack was
Jade, and most Of them were oblig-
4 to break through the enemy's
mes to get to their arms, which
ere in camp. In doing this four of
ly men were shot down. / was IN
tent about 200 yards west Of the
amp when ] heard the firing. had
y tent here because re-enforce.
nents had just arrived and ! had
the men at work extending the line
OF defense up to my quarters. When
l looked out saw the camp sur
rounded by mounted men two ranks
deep. / called to what men / had
% get inside the camp II possible,
1t the same time ! ran through the
snemy's ranks and got safely inside,
where ! found the enemy about as
numerous as my own men. In q
loment every man was rallied and
We soon succeeded in getting the
,nemy outside Of camp. This done.
called for men to get the howitzer,
Which stood across the intrench-
nent on the north side. Whether
The men heard or not ] am unable
o say, as the volleys Of musk0Ery
and yells Of the enemy nearly 6rOwn>
ed every other noise; but, no one
came to my assistance. / got the
howitser at work myself, and after
three shots into their ranks succeed
ed in repulsing the main force.
which retreated In good order over
the hill north Of the camp. where
heard firing and supposed they had
attacked my cavalry, which was
still out, but then discovered Maj.
Henning of our regiment, who had
CALAMITY cut his way through the
enemy and rescued three Of my mon
who had been taken prisoners, and
brought them safely to camp. The
Major informed me that Gen. Blunt
was close by and that the enemy
was driving him and wanted my cav.
airy to go to the Generals relief.
This ! could not furnish him, a.
every effective man had been sent
out in the morning, and all / had
was about 25 Of my own company
and 20 Of company D, (none Of
which had serviceable horseal. and
so negroes. Shortly. afterwards z
discovered that Gen, Blunt's escort
and band had been massacTed. tia
wagons burned, and the bodies 0e
the dead stripped and burned. AZ
2 o'clock a nag of truce approached
The bearer, Geo. Todd, demanded
the surrended Of the camp. which
was refused. He stated that he de-
mandea. IN the name Of Col. QUAINT
rell Of the First Regiment First Bril-
gade, Army of the South, an ex=
change of prisoners. i stated that
l had taken no prisoners, bet had
wounded several Of his- men. which
/ had seen fall from their horses.
and would zee that they were cared
for, provided be would do the same
by eur men. He said he had Ia pFf--
Yates and the Adjt.-Ceneral. Maj.
Curtis. and the other prisoners.
This, ] think, IVES intended for n
blind to AAa cut what ] had done.
az they had already murdered MAI.
Curtis. as well as all the other prlS-
Oneys, In the evening Gen. Blunt
arrived. accompanied BY Capt. TuRt.
who with six or eight men had been
following ouantrsll on his retreat.
and reported he had crossed the Ne
Vcoptipusa m o.vev,hN