Year: 1861

/ -
will answer to the roll call no more He died
like a hero, fighting till stricken down for
the country we all love so well. His name
is among the martyrs of liberty. .aa. ...


On the lst of September part Of our reg
imcnt, to the number Of six hundred, took
the cars westward. The cars hurried on at
a rapid rate. Starting the white swans from
the pools by the road side. We stopped at
Cameron one hundred and one miles west of
this place, where we found one piece Of ar
tillery from st. Louis, that had preceded us.


From this place we marched southwark to
Liberty, Clay county, Mo-, which we reached
on the morning of the 18th. The 10th H.
time, but chicken stealing hindcred them,
and they came in late in the night.


We had already marched 10 miles. 1t
was found that the rebels to the number of
four thousand strong, with three pieces of
artillery, were down at the river five miles
below, about crossing over.


So it was determined to attack them. Eat
ing our breakfast, we marched down upon
the Missouri bottom the distance of five miles,
making march in all of Is miles, when we
were led blindfoded, directly into an ambush,
where we found the enemy behind bitches
and breastworks to the number of perhaps
three thousand strong. Our artillery had
been so placed that they wele within buck
shot range, and in the first of the action of
the fifteen artillery men, four were kile'
and five wounded.


The expedition was led by Lieut. Co'orel
Scott, who had got us fairly into the fight,
and the next thing was to get out of it. No
orders were given, so each one pitched in on
| his own hook, but our situation was such
that but few could act at time.


! At one time we came very near losing our
artillery, but it was saved by the daring and
bravery Of Capt. Trumbull and his company,
who were in front. They sc'ze the piec.
and drew it away 10y hand. As it was we
3! lost our ca;sSon and most of the ammunition
Strange to say the caisson had found its way
at one time in front of the cannon. OF
course the horses were killed and we were
obliged to leave it on the field


After fighting in this way where the bull
lets came like hail for one hour and a half
We fell back, as the enemy was already out
! iianking us. OF the some six hundred of our
/ regiment and the Home Guards that were led
down to tho slaughter, our loss in killed
will not exceed twenty.


There must have been Providence that
| saved many bullet from piercing the heart
/ Of some one Of our little band. Many sold
icr came away unscathed with his garments
almost riddled with bullets. OF Company l.,
/ 25 left the field wounded. Twelve will cover
the loss of our regiment


The enemy did not see Git TO follow us up,
and we soon arranged our companies and
proceeded back to town in order Before we
reached the town we met the cavalry that
bad accompanied the 10th, coming to our
rescue, but the battle was over In the eve
ming the artillery of the 10th came in, and
late at night The 10Th.


That night the enemy all crossed the river.
/ Among the horrors OF an intcrnecinc war,
one incident occurred that illustrates too well
the feeling existing between tho contcnding
| parties. We found one Of the Home Guards
dead, with his beard and mustaches scalped
off. Among those who shot him down was
a broiher-in-law. However, some Of our
wounded whom they took prisoners were
well cared for, and we obtained them ALL


i would give list Of the killed and wound
ed, bat unfortunately have not the means
at hand to obtain it. ...-..


The day following we spent in preparing
for and burying the dead. At sunset, in a
little graveyard, south of the William Jewell
College, we buried eleven of our dead. There
side by side they will rest well, though far
from home. Many wall of sorrow will
come up from the hearthstone, and at night
the children of tho hero pecpins out from
the window pane amidst the mpgling storm,
will in vain call for "papa! as
Six commissioned officers Of the regiment
were wounded. OF Company X, one, Brown
ell, was wounded so that he died the follow
ing day, and Rose Davenport was shot in
the wrist. None other was seriously wound
ed. ,..---s ...ss...s... .zasaaa aaH.as r9rl s..
All the day following the 18th buzzards
were lowering over the battle field and over
camp and the hospital, seeking for their
share Of the prey of battle field. .Isaa
| On the 10Th the Illinois 10th took up its
march back to st. Joseph, and ours toward
Cameron We went 10 miles to Ccnterville,
and the next day after o'clock in the after
noon we marched 10 miles to Plattsburg-
In The morning we were notified that we
must march back to Liberty, distance of
% miles that day. In the meantime we
were living on fitch and -four, mixed up in
water, and fried in the fat of same. For my.
self begged to be excused from making any
such march, and returned to Cameron with