University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1913-02-16

At this time, forty-eight years aftt
the close of the war between tn
states, 1t is unusual to find among th
active business men a veteran of ths
war. Columbia has such a bushes
man in Colonel Eli Hodge. bookkeepe
at the Columbia Savings Bank. Al
though "A years of age, Colonel Hodg
is strong and hearty and six days /
the week he can be seen at his des
in the bank, where he has been TO
more than fourteen years.
He enlisted on the Southern sid
early in 1861 and his first experience
as a soldier was in what was terme'
at that time the Boonville races
The company Of which he was a mem
ber reached Boonville unarmed. II
the distribution of arms a very com
mon, muzzle-lOading squirrel rife
was drawn by young Hodge. Armed
with this weapon the private felt able
to cope with a whole regiment OF
Federals.
The Southern (then state) troops
were under command Of General John
S. Marmaduke and the Federals were
led by General Lyon. The battle re-
suited in a race for home on the part
of the Southern boys and the Feder-
ais occupied Boonville. Later in the
month of July he participated in a
skirmish near Fulton when a German
regiment from Jefferson City neared
that place, the result being another
race for home by the Southern boys
1t began to look as though the whole
struggle was to consist of running
from the Yankees, but after the hard
won battle by General Sterling Price
at Wilson Greek, where the gallant
Lyon fell, the Southern spirit
of the Missouri boys at home was
aroused and they eagerly entered the
recruiting camp established at Mar
shall, Mo. Young Hodge was one of
these.
The Fight at Lexington.
The little army of recruits, number
ing about 5000, reached General
Prices main command at Dry Wood,
near Fort Scott, shortly after the Will
'on Creek battle. General Price then
moved his entire command northward
o Lexington, Mo. He engaged the
Federal troops stationed there and
lfter a stubborn resistance they sur
endered.
An incident witnessed by Colonel
Hodge in this battle illustrates the
airing bravery of General Price.
)uring the hottest part of the fight,
rhile shot and shell were filling the
ir where Hodge and his company
'ere stationed, General Price appear
d in their midst mounted on his ia
lous horse. While he was riding
ack and forth giving orders to his
len the field glass which was sus-
ended at his side was struck by a
rape shot or fragment of shell and
mashed fiat. The general merely ,
rushed his hand over the place with
little concern as IL he had been {
away fly, and resumed his ]
ork. 1
From Lexington General Price went
to camp for a time on Sack River. q
Gorge M. Wright, now living near 7
was Colonel Hodges bunk I
ate. They had one blanket each. 9
ne of these was spread down to lie v
and the other was used in cover +
g. One night when they retired the ii
ound was soft from the heavy rains.
turned suddenly cold during the a
ght and the ground froze. Wright l,
Is the first to rise the next morning r
d called sharply to Hodge to get n
. Hodge sprang to a sitting pos d
re, leaving lock of his hair frozen c
the ground. Ii
One day while in this camp James -
Langston of Boone County and :
dge got permission to go hunting
procure some fresh meat. Orders
re very strict against killing hogs,
ckens or other private property.
te that evening the two hunters re-
ned to camp each carrying a half of
kinned bear" The head, hide and
ifs had been removed from the
ne for fear it should be pronounced
log. The hunters divided with the
imental and company headquarters
no arrests were made.
The Retreat Into Arkansas,
eneral Price went into winter