The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-02-27
Witness fo Battle Ia Which
keokuk Man Fought, Speaks

anyone or to tell who was dead or
wounded we went back to the house
and then the battle ragged worse than
ever. The bullets were falling all
In the yard and were Kidding the
pillars OF the porch and roof OF the
house.
And SO the day wore on to q close
and the fighting had not abated any
and on through the terrible night we
waited and hoped to get some news
or 20 get word who was dead or
woHnded. We could not hear any
thing and SO It was when day dawn
I'd on Sunday, June IL, all through
the day Sunday the fighting continued
and by night or late Sunday evening,
the raiders had taken all Of our
cattle, hogs and poultry and was ut
seemed) intent on destroying every
thing Of value. On Sunday night
when 1t was getting rather late and
we again were keeping g silent
.nightwatch eve had heard such
varied reports during the day that
we knew not what to think). expect
ing most anything to happen any
time. everything Quieted down and
we were SO worn out from loss OF
sleep, must have dropped to sleep
while still sitting up. Then roused
up all 1T once and was trying to think
what reused me when I heard the
clatter OF the retreat. and then l
knew that the battle was at last
over. Early the next morning .
northern soldier came to our house
who told US that he was . surgeon
and spoke OF the pitiful condition OF
the wounded soldiers Of both sides.
SO we eagerly inquired the details
from him and then we threw open
our house (which was large one)
and threw all OF our beds and bed
ding out under the shade trees for
the comfort OF the dying and wound
ed and went and told several OF
the ladies from nearby houses that
our house was turned into hospital
and also told them that the services
o. some brave-hearted women was
badly needed and they all eagerly
came back with me to do WHIST they
could. When we got back we found
them bringing in the wounded OF
both sides and this surgeon was still
commanding the wounded where they
should be laid and 80. forth. and at
tending to them. II never learned
this mans name. as everything was
in such hustle and hurry, but since
you mention Surgeon Rae's name IN
your letter / have no doubt but what
this man was he'd
Care for Wounded.
So we nursed and cared for the
wounded and dying and after first
tearing up all OF the bed and table
linen and even our underclothes and
some Of our clothing for bandages,
later after the wounded had all been
cared for to the satisfaction OF this
surgeon-the dead, as much or many
OF them as was possible. were buried
temporarily al around rs. then this
surgeon came back and attended to
the matter for the wounded and ne
again left and In short while after
wards all of the wounded wero re-
moved and lost sight OF them all
and also OF this surgeon.
In about three weeks after the
battle party called 1.-THE resurrec-
ton party came around to take up
the dead northerners and showed
them all around and all OF the graves.
You spoke OF one Of your comrades
being killed in charge on the Con.
feds who were lying in the deep cut OF
a railroad track. Well, that cut 10
lust about 300 feet from the station
door (where the station now I'D.
Trevilian has now grown into 9
small village which consists OF ten
dwellings, express Office, postoMce.
telegraph Office and one store.
hope this account Of V memories
Of the battle, as best can recall 1t.
may prove of interest 10 you. and
trusting to again hear from you. /
am, sincerely your friend,
MARTHA A. HARPER