Year: 1861

After the battle nearly all of our wounded were taken to Springfield; we had about 800 wounded men there the enemy had about ,000. The of Springfield, cant call them ladies, would visit the federal hospitals, and take with them all the delicacies the country would afford, and would administer to the wants of the sick and wounded Dutch Our men would be lying there suffering for the common necessities of life, men too, who had received their wounds in the holiest cause men were ever engaged in, that of defending our own sunny south from the footsteps of ruthless foe, l who would dare invade her sacred soil. There are some good people in Missouri, but as far as the state at large is concerned I do not want hern the Southern Confederacy, but am ready and willing to meet the enemy upon the soil of Missouri, and there battle for the rights of the Southern Confed- eracy We can defend Arkansas here, upon the soil of Missouri as well could upon her own soil, and thereby save the devastation of property which follows the footsteps of an advancing or re- treating army. Since my campaign in Missouri, have seen many green field of corn, wheat and oats destroyed in few days. If peace should be declared to morrow, it will be four years before Missouri will recover from the effects of this war. Springfield is black abolition hole and may just ly be called the 'Chicago" of Missouri. If the Arkansas boys ever get another chance at it they will not leave one stone upon another. The place, together with it's inhabitants, ought to be wiped from the face of the earth

 We remained at Pond Springs week or ten days, then took up our line of march for Mount Vernon, thirty five miles west of Springfield, we remained there four or five days, thence moved on to Sarcoxie, stayed one day there, then moved to the pleasa and ever to be remembered little town of Neosho, which, two months before we had entered in triumph and lowered the flag of our enemy and spread the confederate flag to the breeze and that sa,ne flag still floats in triumph there, and long may it wave," etc. While there the off, cers of our regiment gave grand military ball; an invitation and programme of the evening 1 en- close to you, the ladies honored us by their pres ence I must say that Neosho can boast of beduty which cannot be found any where else, Little Rock and picinhy excepted. I came very near losing my heart there, should have done so, but the fond recollection of friends and of home were too great

 Our camp is named in honor of the "belle of Neosho." By referring to our programme you

 

 are only intended to be danced at military balls, and take their names from the following crcum- stances:

 "Totten's Lament D is very slow scumn dis pirted sort of tune, and makes one feel like Tot ten felt for ever leaving Little Rock, ever com ing in contact with Woodruff's battery upon the battle field of Oak Hills. The next is " Seige's n; ad in of Sa0al next in command to Gen. Lyon, and is supposed to be played in very fast time, in about such time as Seigle made in his retreat from the battle field to Springfield. The next is named in honor of Col. Soloman, another one of the federal officers, who ingloriously fled from the battle field. The dance with which wound up the festivities of the evening is called the battle of Oak Hills, that also, is very lively tune, and when the two lines of battle were drawn up, face to face, in the ball room the soldiers in line and the fair ladies of Neosho in the other it made us think of the 10th of August, when we drawn up in line of bat tie, facing the enemy. On that day ,oe charged, the enemy broke and fed-surrendered On that night, Sept 3d) the adies charged and many of us surrendered, more taken prisoners, and l think some of our officers will be held as prisoners for life. 1 danced the reel, rather the battle of Oak Hills set-too, with the prettest young lady in Neosho, and promised her that if reg iment camped within 30 miles of Neosho I would return; will have to make my promise good, and will, probably visit N eosho in few days.

 We are now camped three miles over the line in the Cherokee nation; John Ross and his tribe with us, he has now at his command one regiment of Indians, and there companies raising in the nation almost every day, to take sides with the South The Cherokees, in regular convention, have seeded from the North and taken up arms in defence of the South. The Chickasaws, Creeks, Chocktaws, and many other tribes have shown their willingness to operate with the Southern Con- federacy. The North will have nice time conquer ing the South with such allies as these.

 have just discharged John R. Cregington young man who lives in Eagle township; he re- ceived wound at the battle of the Oak Hills which units him for military duty Tellhis friends that he is as brave ayoung man as ever shouldered musket, and that it is an honorable wound, re- ceived in hard fought battle, while fighting in defence of southern rights and southern honor.

 

 ton, we are suffering very much for want of tents, blankets, clothing, etc. l have only four tents in my company, most of the men having to lay out on the ground.

 A wagon arrived here yesterday, with box con- taining clothes for a few members of my company, they were glad of them I assure you. learn that the ladies of Little Rock and vicinity are making IL c.. Al the ladies. May God speed them, their time can not be employed in holy or patriotic cause. l hope the clothes will come to hand. We have not received cents pay yet.

 Your Brother,

 M. c. GALLOWAY.

 Military Ball.