Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1909-09-09
HOW COLE. YOUNGER
SAVED SENATOR ELKINS
Young Union Soldier Tells of
Capture of Famous Guam
trell's Band.

xOuQ& union SOlOleT 4SllS VI
Capture of Famous Guam
trell's Band.
From the New York Herald.
Back in $780," said Senator stephen
B. Elkins, when my class graduated
from the University of Missouri, Gov
ernor Sterling Price addressed us on
graduation day and afterward urged us
to stand by the South in the approach
ing conflict. In the end Governor
Price became one of the leading gen
erals in the confederate army and all
but two of the class entered that serN-
ice. We were graduated almost under
the guns of the civil war and feeling
was very high in Missouri and the
border states. My father and the
brother next to me Joined the confed-
crate but l had read the Lincoln and
Douglas debates, and for some reason
"a boy of is does not always know
just why--I separated from the others
of my family and my classmates and
stood by the union. This made matters
Very warm in our family and my broth
er and L came very near lighting 1T
out even before we got into the blue
and gray uniforms.
Events moved very rapidly and be-
\
was enlisted, had Its uniforms and had
been sworn into the service of the
United States we found ourselves on
the outskirts of the battle of Lone
Jack, Mo, which proved Il very sam
culinary contest to the confederates.
Had matters arranged themselves just
q little differently l would have been
fighting against my brother and his
regiment in this battle.
when the battle was over I rode
over the field and found Il sight which
/ always remember with sadness. Hun
dreds of men had been killed. In some
places their bodies had been piled up
as breastworks and horses We're used
for the same purpose. The fighting was
crude In those early days of the war
and the feeling on the two sides in
that section ran very high. Some time
after this battle l saw my BROTHER and
we decided to make visit to a lady
whom we had known long before On
our way to see her we had to pass
some pickets
The Quantrell Band.
Everybody knew all about Guam
trells guerillas i'm those days. They
roamed over the country carrying few
supplies and living upon what they
could take from those whom they en-
countered in their quick marches, talk
ing no prisoners and killing nearly ev-
cry man they captured. They were a
desperate lot of 200 or more men,
section in Which they operated. 1t was
their custom when they captured a
man to shoot him, often from the back
toss his body into the bushes and ride
on. Many Il man was captured and told
to ride on. only 10 drop with a bullet
between his shoulders. His body would
be found by tho roadside with his oH-
prrO1f and hic riff cd
when l started to return to my
homo at Kansas City l had no thought
of encountering Quantrell's men. MY
heart was very light and l had other
things to think about than war and it's
grimness. Just about that time all
nature seemed to sing-you know that
time probably-but my head came
down out of the clouds with Jolt
when l saw before me a group of
men with their horses tcthered by the
roadside, which proved to be Guam
trell's pickcts. Three of them were
playing cards and the othcr two look
ing on. They saw me before / dis
covered them, and turning back was
out of tho qucftion. So | braced up
and rode on with as little concern as
WAS possible in the circumstances. |
knew i'm Il moment that | had ridden
into part of Quantrells band, and with
the reputation of the aggregation and
their method of warfare fresh In mind
was not overjoyed at the meeting.
When 1 came up to them they had
stopped playing, and as | came closer
one of them said to me, well, where
are you going?"
out looking for cattle and on some
business, l answered, with the best
front l could in the circumstances.
! Then they looked me over / had a
pair of cavalry boots which came high
~ nv hn am Il
SIT, which was small fortune in those
days. My overcoat was good one and
1 rode fine horse.
| Pretty fine pair of boots said one
of the men. They will do for me-
! The overcoat for mine said an
other and a third laid claim to my
! horse all of which fitted so we'll into
the program of procedure followed by
! the Quantrell band in those days when
4 a man was captured that my heart
WAS in q fair way to accompany the
cavalry boots to their new claimant.
He Meets Cole Younger.
"Ihey had my effects divided among
them to the satisfaction of the five and
II was waiting for the order to ride
ahead which preceded IL bullet in the
back when a sentry came to the tor
! for the party to come in This prob
ably saved my life. They told me To
accot pany them and ! rode with the
| five to the top of the hin on the roaG
whore the sentry had appeared anc
into the midst of Quantrell's camp
! The men were scattered about over the
grecnsward. some playing cards anf
/ others at work, their horses tied near
! by They sc, ned to re"ard me with
Il good deal of interest.
I Hardly had | landed I'm the mids
OF the party than / recognized Cole