WE START FOR THE RAILROAD--ARRIVE AT
CENTERVILLE--ARRIVAL OF A COURIER FROM STURGIS--MARCH
TO PLATTSBURG--ORDERS FROM STURGIS--TURN TOWARDS
KANSAS CITY--NIGHT AT SMITHVILLE--MARCH RESUMED
TOWARDS LIBERTY--STURGIS RETREATS THREE DAYS FROM AN
ENEMY WHO DOES NOT PURSUE--WE THINK HIS PURSUERS TURN
AGAINST US, AND TURN TO THE WEST TO ELUDE THEM--STRIKE
THE MISSOURI AT PARKVILLE, AND PREPARE TO CROSS ON A
RICKETY FLATBOAT--A STEAMBOAT ARRIVES AND CONVEYS US TO
LEAVENWORTH--WE RETURN NEXT DAY TO WYANDOTT--OUR STAY
AT WYANDOTT--MOVE TO KANSAS CITY--ARRIVAL OF LANE'S
BRIGADE--COMPARISON BETWEEN LANE AND STURGIS--THEY
QUARREL ABOUT PRECEDENCE IN RANK--LANE MOVES OUT OF
TOWN--HOSPITALITY OF THE CITIZENS.
On the morning of the 18th, Colonel Scott sent Lieut. Call, with
most of his command to Cameron as an escort to about fifty wounded
and sick conveyed in wagons. The following day, having succeeded
in impressing an additional number of conveyances, he took up the
march for the same place at 6 P. M., in pursuance of Colonel Smith's
orders, leaving the rest of the wounded, those who were unable to
ride in wagons, to be conveyed by steamboat to Fort Leavenworth, with
Lieutenant Crosley in charge, and Sergeant Moe acting as hospital
steward.
A cool evening march brought us to Centerville, where we halted for
the night. It rained heavily during the forepart of the night;
but most of us found shelter in buildings and rested well. Colonel
Scott's orders from Smith were to take Plattsburg in his route to
Cameron; but as the Colonel wished to send his sick and wounded to
the railroad with as little delay as possible, he chose to come
out of his way with them as far as Centerville; and from this
point in the morning; he sent them forward under a small escort of
convalescents.
While he was preparing to do this, a courier arrived from Sturgis,
with a dispatch for Colonel Smith whom he had expected to find at
Liberty. Not finding him there, he had followed, and mistaking his
route, had overtaken Colonel Scott. His representations induced the
latter to open the dispatch. In it, Sturgis represented himself as
being pressed by overwhelming numbers and without artillery, and
ordered Smith to come to his support. Scott forwarded the dispatch
to Smith who was then flying in all haste to St. Joseph. Not knowing
where to find Sturgis, or what the result would be, he did not feel
authorized to turn back with his small force, now less than four
hundred men. He accordingly sent a dispatch to Sturgis that he would
proceed to Plattsburg, and there await orders from him.
Meanwhile, vague rumors of the arrival and character of this dispatch
spread among the men. Here there was but one voice: "Let us march to
join Sturgis; let us not hesitate while our comrades are in peril."
If any felt otherwise they cloaked their feelings in silence. We
imagined that being under Smith's command, such an order should
govern us as though it came from him. We thought that it should have
been enough to be satisfied that had Sturgis known our situation, a
similar order would have been sent to us, and that to move on the
strength of this dispatch would meet his approbation. We thought we
should not take into consideration our own danger, when it was our
duty to relieve our comrades. Nor could we believe there was much
danger in such a movement. We thought we could march south upon
Sturgis' line of retreat, and join him without interruption from
the enemy. But we did not understand the situation as Colonel Scott
understood it, and knew nothing of the nature of the dispatch; and
for these reasons were unable to appreciate the considerations which
induced the Colonel to continue his march to Plattsburg. But we
know now that his conduct throughout met the approbation of General
Sturgis, and that there always existed between them the kindest
relations.
Nevertheless when we turned our faces toward the northwest, and our
officers assured us that it was the design to reinforce Sturgis, we
could not understand the manner of accomplishing this by marching
directly away from them; and murmurs arose in the ranks which nothing
less than the great confidence we had in our colonel could have
quieted. The day was cloudy and cool, and the roads free from dust on
account of the previous night's rain. The balking of the artillery
horses caused two or three short halts. Otherwise there were no
delays. The columns moved rapidly and steadily. Colonel Scott knew
how to march men. He never got them out of breath. About 9 P. M., we
arrived at Plattsburg, and took quarters in a large college building.
About sunrise next morning Scott received orders from Sturgis to
march to join him at Kansas City, and, at eight o'clock, the column
took up the march southward toward Liberty. Murmurs again rose in
the ranks. To the enlisted men, who knew nothing of the orders under
which Colonel Scott acted, it looked as though he was vacillating or
pursuing unsteady counsels. The sun shone clear, and the roads grew
dusty; but the march was not slackened. When men became too lame or
foot-sore to march, wagons were impressed to haul them. Usually these
impressments were made for a day or for the trip, the owner commonly
sending a driver, who would return with the team when we were through
with it. We halted for dinner on a small stream, and in an hour
resumed the march.
About eight o'clock in the evening we crossed Platte river and
took quarters for the night in the little town of Smithville. Here
Colonel Smith had bivouacked on the night of the 15th, the rebels
he was pursuing having done so the night before. It was less than
twenty-five miles to Liberty. What excuse, then, can he make for
consuming two days in this march? We found an unfinished letter which
represented the rebel force as numbering five thousand, and stating
that Smith's soldiers behaved very badly, outraging the citizens in
many ways. We quartered in houses, and, it is to be regretted that
there was some plundering done, notwithstanding Colonel Scott's
efforts to prevent it. Citizens, however, had little reason to
complain of our presence.
At an early hour the march was resumed in the direction of Liberty,
and pushed at a rapid pace. Toward noon rumor placed us in the
vicinity of a large rebel force.
Here let us pause and look at the situation. While the events
narrated in the two last chapters were transpiring, Price had driven
Mulligan from Warrensburg and besieged him at Lexington. Sturgis,
with his column of fifteen companies, arrived before that place to
find the enemy in possession of the boats on which he had expected to
cross to the relief of the garrison. Price immediately sent Parsons
across the river with a strong force to drive off Sturgis and cover
the siege. The latter retreated precipitately toward Liberty, where
he expected to join Smith, abandoning to the enemy his tents and a
part of his baggage to facilitate his flight. Parsons did not pursue
far with his main force, but kept up such a demonstration as led
Sturgis to believe he was close upon him. After securing the property
Sturgis had thrown away, Parsons was almost immediately recalled. But
the former continued to retreat in haste, camping the first night
at Camden, and reaching Liberty at four o'clock of the next. Here
he dispatched a messenger to Kansas City for a boat, and when this
arrived the following forenoon, so little had his sense of the danger
abated, that he consumed only an hour in moving from the town four
miles to the landing, and in getting his men and baggage aboard. He
moved twelve miles up the river, and landed his troops at Kansas City
on the opposite side.
He was thus embarking this morning, while we, thinking him in
great peril, were hurrying forward to reinforce him. And now, very
reliable information came to Colonel Scott, that the force which
had pursued Sturgis had arrived, and camped in the fair grounds at
Liberty. Thus he supposed his way blocked, and the road, on which he
expected to reach the landing where he would embark for Kansas City,
in possession of the enemy. There was left him but one alternative,
either to retreat or turn to the right and evade them. He boldly
chose the latter; and when about ten miles from Liberty, we turned
to the west, and at 3 P. M., reached the town of Parkville on the
Missouri river, having accomplished since starting nineteen miles.
Here the Colonel expected to find two flatboats on which to cross;
but he found only one, the other having been moved to a point up the
river. He caused the artillery to be planted on a ridge commanding
the approaches to the town, and left Companies F and H to support it,
while, with the remainder of his command, he proceeded to the river,
and prepared to cross on this. The rearguard in the meantime quietly
commenced cooking their dinners. We had thus waited about half an
hour, expecting every moment the enemy, hardly hoping for friends,
when to our great joy, a steamboat hove in sight, rounded the point
and landed. It was the _Majors_, bound for Fort Leavenworth, and had
on board General Sturgis. We were soon aboard, and the boat resumed
its course up the river.
When we awoke the following morning we found ourselves at Fort
Leavenworth. We marched to the barracks and rested till about
noon, sauntering about the grounds, looking at the artillery, and
talking with the regulars. This day, reports came that Mulligan
had surrendered. We took the matter very coolly; for it was what
we had been expecting. Still it was easy to see a gloom on every
countenance. The citizens of Leavenworth were thoroughly aroused, and
a thousand of them were drilling each day.
Toward evening, the _Majors_ again took us aboard and dropped down
to the town three miles below the Fort. After a short while, it
again moved down the river and landed us at Wyandott, Kansas, where
we bivouacked on the river bank for the night. The next day we took
quarters in vacant buildings. Three miles below us, Gen. Sturgis with
his previous force occupied Kansas City. There also was a hospital
containing some of our wounded comrades. A hospital was likewise
established at Wyandott, to which a number of men were removed. The
citizens of Liberty had manifested great kindness to our comrades
while in their hands. Their generosity was really chivalrous. Though
they bitterly hated us and our cause, they forgot for the time
that these were enemies and invaders, but looked upon us only as
unfortunate brave men, cast in a measure upon the hospitalities of
their city. I have the testimony of Sergeant Moe, that the ladies
nursed them night and day, and that they were fed entirely upon
delicacies brought by them to the hospital. Their conduct in this
respect merits our highest regard for them as a people, not less than
our warmest gratitude. The citizens of Wyandott, though friends, and
feeling that they could scarcely do enough, hardly succeeded in
doing more.
And now on the soil of a State made free by the blood of our
brethren; at rest and at peace after some months of watching and
disquietude; after some toilsome marches, retreats and pursuits;
and after a battle which, for the numbers engaged, was by no means
contemptible; breathing once more the air of freedom, and enjoying
the hospitalities of friends, we felt as though we had been
transported to another world.
The citizens of Liberty gave us great praise for our conduct at Blue
Mills, and especially for our modesty(!); since, sulky after our
defeat, we said little. We spent four or five days at Wyandott, doing
what soldiers expressively call, "lying around." But we experienced
no _ennui_. It was the season of ripe fruits, and we spent much time
in rambles through the woods and pleasant intercourse with citizens.
But we did not remain here long. Towards the evening of September
28th, news came that General Sturgis' pickets had been attacked
beyond Kansas City. We moved without delay to reinforce him, and
reached Kansas City at 8 o'clock in the evening. Finding that the
General had dismissed apprehensions of an attack, we took quarters in
vacant buildings.
We remained here about three weeks, without clothing and tents, and
with but a single blanket to the man; and as the season advanced, we
suffered some from cold. But in the midst of these discouragements,
we had much matter for contentment. We had nothing to do but to feed
ourselves and keep clean. The latter was the most difficult task.
In the former the hospitable citizens assisted us in a manner which
merits our warmest remembrance. We had but to carry our rations to
them, and they entertained us free of charge at the best their tables
afforded. We had not been here long, when Colonel Scott managed to
procure from a bank sufficient money to pay the enlisted men ten
dollars each. In the absence of our clothing this was most fortunate.
I need not speak of the feeling such acts of kindness created towards
him.
But the principal event of interest which took place during our stay
here was the arrival of Jim Lane and his celebrated brigade. His
coming was noised before him, and when he was expected to arrive,
all flocked to get a sight of the great "jayhawker," "the Father of
Kansas." At length he appeared at the head of a part of his troops.
The citizens said it was Lane, and we needed their assurance; for
he was the last man we would have taken for a general. He had on
citizen's pants, a soldier's blouse, and a dilapidated white hat. He
rolled under his dark brows a pair of piercing eyes, and between his
jaws a huge quid of tobacco. A general so unostentatious, so like his
men, and yet so terrible to the rebels; the boys were struck with
profound admiration of him.
His men seemed to partake of the character of their general. In such
small matters as dress, every one seemed to consult his own taste.
Few among them wore the prescribed uniform, and many were dressed
entirely in citizen's clothing, who did not ask them where or how
they obtained such articles of dress. But they entertained us with
enormous stories, which we were not displeased to hear, and sold us
rebel caps at ten cents apiece.
In personal appearance there was as much difference between Lane
and Sturgis, as between a wolf and a bear. Everybody knows how Jim
Lane looks; for everybody has seen either the man or his picture, or
some one that has seen him. The eye of an eagle and the visage of a
wolf, thin and lean; this tells it. Gen. Sturgis, in respect to his
_personnel_ was precisely his opposite. He was thick, heavy-set and
muscular. There are no angles in his face; it is broad and round. His
forehead arching and heavy at the brows, retreats in all directions,
and is covered with a mass of jet-black, wavy hair.
There was as much difference between the character of the men as
between their countenances. Sturgis followed the army regulations and
the doctrines of West Point. He kept the business of confiscation
out of the hands of his soldiers, and left it, where it ought to
be, in the hands of the Government. He protected all citizens,
loyal and disloyal. His only line of distinction was drawn between
those who were in arms and those who were not. While marching to
join Lyon in the summer, he ordered some Kansas soldiers tied to a
cannon and flogged for stealing chickens! He followed law and forgot
equity. His rules of warfare had this absurdity, that he treated
traitors in arms and traitorous citizens with the giving them aid
and comfort and plotting the assassination of his soldiers with the
same consideration he would have shown to a rightful enemy. Nothing
can be more ridiculous than to suppose that a nation fighting its
own citizens for its own existence, should pursue the same course of
policy toward them that it would pursue toward an enemy with whom
it was contending on a mere question of international policy. By
pursuing this course, he gave aid to traitors and protected spies.
Though he was doubtless honest in all this, it is no wonder that
his own soldiers denounced him as a secessionist and a friend of
the enemy. I am inclined to think, that his retreat from Lexington
deserves less censure than it may have received; and that it was
owing chiefly to a lack of proper information, and of a proper system
of scouts, and not to any lack of courage.
Lane, on the other hand, recognized military rules only so far
as they were adapted to the present situation. He recognized the
rebels as traitors, not as belligerents. He moreover failed to see
the difference between the traitor whom he met in battle, and the
one who gave him bread and powder, except that the former being the
braver man was entitled to the more consideration. He had no mercy
for bushwhackers, nor for men who to him were for the Government,
and to his back for the enemy. He knew no such thing as neutrality
on the part of citizens. All were for their country or against it.
Those who were for it must give and sacrifice for its support. There
was no such thing with him as enjoying the rights and privileges
of citizenship without supporting its obligations and facing its
liabilities. Those who were against it, must feel or shun his blows.
He did not halt before small obstacles; or delay for decisions from
Washington. When the West Point clique at Leavenworth refused him
supplies, the enemy had to furnish them. He would make the war
support itself. The traitors who were responsible for the contest
must pay for it. Every thing must be done which would paralyze the
enemy and strengthen the government. Whatever opposed the restoration
of our Union must fall, and those who did not like it must stand
from under. True to his friends, his country and Liberty; hating
bitterly and scourging without remorse, his friends', his country's
and Liberty's foes; such was Jim Lane. The doctrines he applied to
the present exigencies could be reduced to the simple maxim: Crush
the rebellion by the quickest method, and in so doing neglect not
to punish the rebels. Whatever may be said of these doctrines, the
soldiers of the army of the west believed in them with a faith
which was enthusiastic, and without reference to previous political
distinctions. Nor did they believe less in the man himself. They
idolized him, as soldiers will idolize only the general, who, they
believe, will surely lead them to success.
It is said that Lane and Sturgis could not agree as to which was
entitled to the command. Of course the soldiers knew little about
this. We only knew that, for a time, citizens going out of town
obtained passes from both Generals, and, that Lane, as soon as he
had drawn his supplies, moved away from the city like a man who is
getting away from the cholera.
Jemison's celebrated mounted infantry regiment, the 7th Kansas
(jayhawkers) was at this time here completing its organization. This
regiment was composed of splendid men, many of whom had come from
other States to join it. Lieut. Colonel Anthony was provost marshal
of the city. No one would have believed, looking into the youthful
countenance of Major Lee, as he sat about the Union Hotel, that a
little over a year would make him a general.