The Jones County news., 1913-02-27
SKIRMISH NEAR
ELLISVILLE.
How a Squad of Federal
Cavalry Was Ambushed
and Captured at Rocky
Creek in Jones County.


the office of our friend Mr..
Fridge, and noticed cabinet
filled with relics of different
kinds. In answer to our in
quiry, Mr.. Fridge replied that il
was his museum, and unlocking
the door showed his collection.
He had number of relics picked
up on the battlefield of Chicka-
mauga and other scenes of con-
flict, az also from the Spanish
American war, Including the
flag that was fioated in Ellisvlle
from the commencement If hostll-
ties until peace was signed. We
also noticed large army pistol,
and Mr.. Fridge said that it was
found at the scene of a skirmlsh
that took place in Jones county,
on Rocky Creek, about two mil es
from Ellisville, during the war
between the States. This was the
first intimation we had of a fight
in our county, and of course
asked for Information. Mr.. Fridge
said it was in 1868, he thinks,
when a company of Federal
cavalry passed through this sec
ton, with dispatches, for the
army ut Mobile A few Con
federate soldiers who were then
at home on furloughs, hearing
that the enemy We're in their
midst, decided TO give them a
warm welcome. These got to-
gether and collected some boys in
the neighborhoud, the entire
party numbering only nineteea
in all. They hid in the woods
near the roadside, placing . half
crazy fellow on guard at the
creek. Soon the Yanks appeared,
forty in number, all mounted
on fine horses and armed to the
teeth. The guard al the ford, as
soon as he saw the enemy ap-
proach, fired his gun into them
It was midday, and at kn!at time ne
this county was a great cattle
range. There chanced to be
large drove Of cattle sleeping in
the shade near the creek, and
becoming alarmed by the gun
shot sprang up and began a stam-
pede through the bushes making
a terrible racket. The Fedrals
thought they were Johnny Rebs,
and an entire army vas upon
them. Without further ado they
threw up their arms and their
leader begged to surrender. A
squad was sent out to disarm the
troopers, which was done without
tronble, when the rest of the little
band approached. One can
imageine the surprise of these
soldiers when they found that
they had yielded to nineteen inva.
did soldiers and boys, armed
with old fashioned ahot-guns and
rifles. One Fedral got away, but
being afraid that he might be
killed in an enemy's country,
returned next day and voluntari-
ly surrendered. The little band
got their arms and fine horses.
The two dead men were buried in
one grave between pine trees,
and the shot marked. The !
prisoners We're brought into Ellis
vile and given dinner in the
house where Mrs. Anderson now
resides, and which at that timv
was the only house in the new
town OH that side of the railroad
Some years ago Mr.. Fridge |
was driving through the country
and noticing grave on the
roadside, asked about it, and on
hearing the story of the skirmish,
thought it a shame on the part of
rhe Government not to have the
remains moved to a National |
cemetery. Some time after an ex-
Union soldier visited EIIisville.
and Mr.. Fridge told him about
the skirmish and the grave. This
party took the matter up with the
War Department, and a wagon
and two men were sent here, who
disinterred the remains of the
dead soldiers and they were bur.
ried in New Orleans.