The Natchitoches enterprise., 1916-08-24

QdrK ana IL was our 0FSG 6Xp6r-
fence with a false alarm or sham
battle.
told the bows to keep quiet,
that they knew where we were and
if they needed US they could send
for US. Capt. John. S. Hawkins,
who was a member of our COM
pany, and who had served one
campaign with Walker in Nicara-
qua, soon gave US to understand
what it all meant. Soon every
thing was all quiet and the boys
were all asleep again.
Next morning we were escorted
into camp by the DAVIS Blues"
by Capt. Joe Neal from Nashville,
Howard county.
In due time the regiment was
organized with Tom p. Dockery,
colonel, and Joe Neal, lieutenant
colonel. We were soon on the
march to join Price and McCul-
Tough in Southwest Missouri.
Before we reached the seat of
war we had quite disturbance in
our regiment. Dockery, who was
quite a Martinette in the army
ordered a soldier to do something
about the camp, but as he did not
move as cheertully and willingly
as Dockery thought he ought to,
he picked up a musket and stuck
the bayonet into the boy. The re-
suit was the whole regiment re-
belled. All the captains of com,
panies waited on General Pierce
who was in command of the brig
ade, and told him that unless he
suspended Dockery and put Colo
mel Neal in command of the regi-
ment he would have tC go on with
out us, as we positively refused
to 90 into battle with Dockerv in
command. The indications were
that battle was near at hand.
Pierce finally agreed to our pro
position. Colonel Neal was placed
in command and our march was
continued towards Springfield Mo.
Between the first and tenth of
August our entire army was
encamped along the banks of Will
sons Creek. The army consisted
of the Missouri troops, under
command of General Sterling
Price; Arkansas troops consisting
of Gratiot's, Walkers and Neal's
regiment of infantry; Woodruff
aud Reeds batteries and Greer's
regiment of Texas cavalry, and
the Third Louisiana infantry, Col.
Herbert; all under command of
General Nc 'ullough.
There may have been some other
Arkansas troops with US that / do
not now remember. after fifty
wears. and if they are omitted
here it is not intentional.
There had been some little Skin
mish and picket fighting up to
this time.
We secured orders on the even
ing of the ninth to be ready II
march on Springfield that nigh
at dark, distant about fifteen miles.
About the time we were ready to
march a severe thunder storm
came up. After the storm was
over the order to march IVES
countermanded, so we lay down|
upon the ground and slept till
daylight.
No movement was made until
wa had got some breakfast, When
canonading began upon our right
and left. Then we began to get
busy. Our regiment, with Walk
er's regiment, were moved to =
position supporting Reeds Bat
terry. Woodruff's battery took 4
position on the right, directly OPP
posite to Totten's battery on the
right, across the creek. It is well
to mention here that the Totten
commanding this Federal battery
had formerly been stationed at
Little Rock, and was personally !
acquainted with many members OF |
Woodruf's battery. When Tot
ten went into position he is said
to have remarked that there were
4 lot of Little Rock boys with
that battery across the creek, and
that be thought few shells would
soon make believers out of them
So the battle opened with an ar
,illery duel between these batter
les, which meyer stopped for an
Instant until General Lyons was
titled and his army was routed,
horse foot and draroon