The Washington herald., 1913-11-03

with his cavalry. His regiments were un
der arms early, expecting attack Nons
being delivered up to noon, they stacked
arms Two paymasters were In camp
paying the troops, and in the Twenty
third Wisconsin Regiment the men weri
voting for State officers.
Suddenly the long roll sounded. An at
tack had been. delivered on the right OF
the position. near the road.
Gen. BurbFidge at once posted the Sew.
enty-sixth Indiana Regiment and pari
Of his cavalry to protect his left, as .
heavy force Of cavalry could be Seer
approaching 1t across the open prairie.
The, Sixtieth Indiana and Ninety-sixth
Ohio Regiments were posted to guard 9
ravine, by which II was now seen that
Confederate infantry was approaching
the right OF the position. The Twenty
third wisconsin was assigned to guard
ing the camp. The Eighty-third Ohio
was out on foraging expedition.
Loss of Al Per Cent.
In a few minutes after the firing be-
gan IL was apparent that an overwhelm-
ing force had fallen on the camp. The
trains were at once started for the rear,
and a courier was hurried on TO Car
rion Crow Bayou FOR help.
While the Confederate infantry fought
for the ravine, their cavalry began TO
outfiank the two Federal regiments op'
posing them, while the troopers on the
prairie advanced in a cloud against the
seventy-sixth Indiana and Twenty-third
Wisconsin Regiments
Although the Federal gunnerS piled
their pieces until the Texas horsemen
were at the muzzles of their guns II
was soon apparent that the command
would be cut 10 pieces.
The Seventy-sixth Indiana Regiment
was surrounded by cavalry and surren-
dered. The Twenty-third Wisconsin was
ridden down, and out OF 226 officers and
men only ninety-eight escaped.
The Eighty-third Ohio returned from
foraging as the height OF the fight was
reached. 1t was formed in the rear, ana
about Il the other commands rallied and
with the guns made a stand until the
trains escaped and reinforcements came
up. These. consisting OF the third di-
vision, Thirteenth Corps, under Gen.
Robert A. Cameron Of the First Brigade
arrived at the double-quick.
Gen. Burbridge's loss was twenty-six
killed. I94 wounded. and Sos missing, to-
taI>of 7l6 men. or ~ per cent OF his force.
Most Of the missing were prisoners.
The Confederates, well satisfied with
their success, fell back through opelou-
sas toward Alexandria, on the Red River.
The second day after the tirst Gen.
Taylor, riding past the column Of prts-
oners. noted one, limping along with a.
bandaged leg, who wore the uniform
of a colonel 1t was Col. J. J. Guppey
of the Twenty-third Wisconsin Regiment.
The Confederate general invited the
wounded Federal officer TO ride in his
Col Guppey declined, saying
the men of his regiment were his neigh
bors and friends at home. and he wished
to remain with them. Gen. Taylor told
him they could ride slowly beside the
column, and Col Guppey reluctantly
climbed into the ambulance with his cap
tor
For some miles he was silent, but Gen.
Taylor tactfully put him at his ease. The
colonel said he feared for the
effect Of the news Of his disaster upon
his wife. who was in delicate state Of
health, whereupon Gen. Taylor said:
You shall start for the river tonight, and
go TO her."
He was as good as his word Col
Guppey was released on his parole, and
allowed 70 proceed out OF the Confeder-
ate lines.
Tomorrow; Henry Ward Beecher's
patriotic lectures I'm England.
(CopyTiaht lelID