The Cape weekly tribune. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1914, 1914-09-11

he enlisted in Company A of the 7th
Missouri Cavalry, at Warsaw. H.
When about one half of a regiment
had been formed they crossed the
river to Alexandria. Mo. and consol-
idatcd with the other half that had
been organized on the Missouri side.
After the consolidation his re Il
ment marched TO Macon City. who're
they went in quarters at the old fair
grounds, from which a dc.@ahm"nt
was sent to Glasgow.
In relating his experiences with
"Onc Armed Swaney," a guerilla lead
or who was operating near Glasgow,
he gave an interesting account of :hO
manner in which they effected th7 CAP
ture Of the leadc'' ard his band
Swaney was unconscious Of tN'
presence of the Fedorals. some Of
whom had dressed in civilian clothes
and were standing on the b@r[ { th~
river when the bushwackers cane Ur
to the ford.
The ferry boat happonod to ~ on
the opposite side Of the stream but
came across when signalcd by Swa-
ney. The disguised fCderalS boarded
the boat with the rebels, and when the
capacity number wor" on. tho '"lrv
took them across to tho other side.
As soon as they landed and the
boat had start VI on - rnturr the dis
guiscd union men c?CtrISd the gucril-
las and escorted thnm to an old 90
bacco house a short distance away
| This method was practiced until the
last man had been brought across ard
made prisoner.
The forces of General Prentis.
were concealed in some timber direct
| " adjacent to the tobacco house, and
as fast as the prisoners were captured
they We're held in custody by Prentiss
soldiers.
He also told of his narrow escape
at Lone Jack where his regiment was
] surprised and surrounded by QUAINT,
rell's command, and other troops un.
der Generals Raines, Coffee anC
| Price.
He was mustered out of the service
in st. Louis in the year 1864.
He then returned to Iowa, where he
acquired extensive and valuable lane
holdings in Van Buren county.
Since the death of his wife in 1902
he has retired from farm life, and has
moved to Benton, the county seat Ot
Van Buren, county, where he had ;
cottage constructed in exact conform
ity with his wishes.
Mr.. Backus is visiting his grand
daughter, Mrs. J. M. Short, at l3!
South Spanish street, in this city, ant
is anxious to meet and get acquainted
with the veterans living in the Cape
and especially desirous of meeting an!
of the old soldiers of the Mexican
struggle if any are living in this vicin
ity.
The old gentleman is an cXcellen
violinist of the old type, and his rem
dition of Buffalo Girls" "Mockinl
Bird" "Cackling Hen" "Arkansa!
Traveller" and all of the old time pop
ular selections is delightfully."- enter
tanning.
He prizes his violin above almos
every thing else he posscS~Cs. and il
speaking of it he fondles and carcSse'
it as though it were possessed Of ami
nation. He takes il with MIN on al
his travels, and h. has owned il 10
more than forty years He has an
other violin that he captured durin;
the Mexican war, but it is in such ;
badly damaged condition that it is NJ
no longer serviceable,
The aged veteran proved q delight
full host and before he would perml
his visitor TO leave him, secured hi
promise to return later and spend tn
day in visiting.