_Beginning of the War._
Shortly after the beginning of the war, Elijah Gates organized a
company of southern boys, and most of my neighbors enlisted for six
months. They wanted me to join them, but I said "no." I had been in
camp for ten years and had some idea of the hardship of a soldier's
life. I knew my place there on the farm would give me a far better
opportunity to take the rest I felt to be so needful after my years of
activity on the plains and in camp, and I could not be easily induced
to leave it. Besides, I could not believe that a terrible war was upon
us, and for a long time I had great faith that wise counsel would
prevail and some reasonable adjustment be made of the differences
between the North and the South.
Gates' company and the regiment to which it had been assigned left
home with a great flying of colors, but notwithstanding my expressed
sympathy with the South, this did not tempt me and I remained at home
with my crop. I took no part in the wild talk that could be heard on
every hand and paid close attention to my own business, but I soon
found that I would not be permitted to live in peace. The Southern
boys had no sooner left for the front than the opposition began to
pour in around me. My sentiments were well known--in fact I had never
tried to conceal them, believing that a man in this country had a
right to his opinions, but no man could point to a hostile word
uttered by me. Notwithstanding this, those who were not willing to
allow me to hold my opinions in peace began to harass and threaten
me. I endured it until about the first of August, when I saddled
my horse, buckled my navies around me and started alone to join the
Southern army. I rode to Liberty where I expected to fall in with a
company that I had heard was being organized, but it had gone. I met
a man from St. Joseph by the name of Walter Scott, who was likewise
disappointed at arriving too late for the company, and he and I set
out together to join Price in Arkansas. We rode slowly along, stopping
at night at farm houses and talked little to anyone about our plans.
When within about ten miles of Springfield we stopped for the night
with a man who told us that Lyon's army was at Springfield and that
Price was camped at Wilson's Creek, about ten miles southwest of
Springfield.
I knew there was going to be a fight, and I slept little that night.
It came sooner than I expected, for about sun up next morning we heard
cannon off to the southwest. We sprang out of bed, and without waiting
for breakfast, saddled our horses and galloped away. I knew Gates'
company and my neighbors were in the fight and I wanted to help all
I could. We had no trouble finding the way as the cannon and muskets
were roaring like loud thunder and the smoke was boiling up out of the
valley like a black cloud. We guessed right that Lyon had advanced out
of Springfield and was between us and Price's army, but we hurried on
expecting to take care of that situation after getting closer to the
battle. When within a few miles of the battle ground the firing ceased
and shortly afterwards we saw Federal soldiers coming toward us. We
galloped away from the road and hid behind a cliff of rock and watched
them go by. They were completely disorganized. Every man was pulling
for Springfield in his own way, from five to fifty in a bunch, the
bunches from one to three hundred yards apart. Some had guns, some
had none. Some had hats, some were bare-headed. Every battery horse
carried two and some carried three--all hurrying on. We finally grew
tired, and at the first opportunity dashed across the road between
squads and made our way along a by-path toward the battlefield. We had
not gone far until we met wounded men trying also to make their way
back to Springfield. Some would walk a short distance and get sick
and lie down by the roadside and beg for water. Some would hobble on
in great misery, stopping now and then to rest. Others, and the more
fortunate it seemed to me, had crawled off in the brush and died.
In advancing we found it would be necessary to cross the main
battlefield in order to reach Price's camp which was located down on
the farther side of Wilson's Creek. Here we found the dead lying so
thick that we had to pick our way and then often had difficulty in
going forward without riding over a dead body.
We reached the camp and asked to be shown to Gates' company. All were
glad to see us and made many inquiries about home and families and
friends. They were just cooking breakfast. William Maupin apologized
for their late breakfast by saying that "Pap" Price had called upon
them very early to do a little piece of work and they had just
finished it and that had delayed their breakfast. I told them what I
had seen on the road down and up upon the battlefield, and asked how
their company had fared. They told me that one man, George Shultz, was
shot through the head the first round and that was the only loss their
company had sustained. This was the tenth day of August, 1861.
Next day I helped bury the dead Federal soldiers, and when this was
done Price moved his army up to Springfield, as the Union army had
in the meantime gone back to St. Louis. We remained there some two
or three weeks. During my stay, Mrs. Phelps, the wife of Colonel
Phelps, who commanded a regiment in Lyon's army at Wilson's Creek,
and who had gone with the army to St. Louis, called on General Price
for protection. She lived about two miles east of Springfield, and by
the way, if I remember correctly, General Lyon was buried out at her
place. Price sent Gates with his company, and as I had joined that
company, I went along. We remained there as long as Price was camped
in Springfield and took good care of her premises.
Price decided to go north and this greatly pleased the boys. He had
no army--just a lot of boys who furnished their own horses, guns,
ammunition and blankets and most of the time their own provisions. He
had little, or at least he didn't attempt to have much, discipline. We
elected our own lieutenant, captain and colonel by vote, and General
Price seemed entirely satisfied so long as we were all on hands when
there was any fighting to be done.
When we reached Little Osage River on our way north, Price went
into camp and next day sent Gates out on a scout. Gates went in the
direction of Fort Scott. We traveled about fifteen miles and came
within a short distance of the Fort where we found two soldiers
herding a drove of horses and mules on the grass. Lane was in Fort
Scott with a large force, but evidently he had no idea Price was
anywhere near for he had no pickets out. We made a run for the horses
and mules and took them and tried to get both men, but one of them
got away. We knew he would report and that would give us trouble.
If we could only have secured both men we could have had the entire
herd in our camp before Lane could have discovered that it was gone.
We determined to do our best and get away if possible. Each horse
and mule had a long rope attached to his neck which dragged along
behind and this gave us much trouble and prevented fast traveling, as
the horses stepped on the ropes and checked their speed. We got some
four or five miles away and when on top of a high hill we looked back
across the prairie and saw what appeared to be about two thousand
mounted soldiers coming in hot haste after us. Gates had but five
hundred men. The ground was hilly and Gates picked a few men and sent
them on with the horses. He then stopped half his men just over the
turn of the first hill, dismounted them and detailed every fourth man
to take the horses further down the slant and hold them. The remainder
lay flat down on the ground. The other half of his company he sent
over beyond the next hill with directions to follow the same course.
When our pursuers were a little more than half way up the hill coming
toward us, we arose and fired into them. Lane dismounted his men and
threw them in line of battle. By that time we were on our horses and
gone. They could not see that we were gone and approached the top of
the hill with great caution. This caused delay and that was what we
wanted. When they found we were gone they mounted and followed. When
about half way up the next hill the other half of our company gave
them another round and, as they feared we intended this time to make
a stand, they again dismounted and prepared to fight. They were again
disappointed. This was kept up for several miles. When we first saw
we were pursued a courier was sent to Price, but before Price could
rally his army and reach us Lane gave up the idea of recovering his
horses and went back to Fort Scott. We had one man wounded in the arm.
We all returned to camp on Little Osage and next morning broke camp
and started off as usual. I did not know the plan, but when Gates'
company was placed in front and led off over the same road we had
traveled the day before, I knew an attack on Fort Scott was in mind.
When about ten miles out we came to the top of a hill overlooking a
wooded valley with a small dry creek running through it. We could see
a long distance across the valley into the prairie hills beyond, but
could see no sign of soldiers. The whole force halted and Gates was
directed to go forward across the valley and through the timber, which
I judge was nearly a mile in width. We passed down the hill and went
very cautiously through the woods, but neither saw nor heard anything
to arouse suspicion. On reaching the farther side of the timber we
stopped and got off our horses to rest and allow them to graze. The
whole company was entirely off guard and the boys were talking and
laughing and having a good time, when suddenly cannon and muskets
began to roar behind us.
We soon saw what had happened. The Federal troops lay concealed in the
timber and on discovering that we were but an advance guard, allowed
us to pass, guessing aright that Price, after allowing us time to pass
through, would, if we were not molested, move his main force forward.
Price had followed us and the guns we heard were the beginning of the
attack upon him. In a moment every man was in the saddle. We dashed
back through the timber and found that Lane had advanced and attacked
Price in the open and while in the line of march. We could see some
confusion, and it took a good while to get the men up out of the line
of march and in a position to fight. Bledsoe's battery, however, was
in action and Lane's men charged and captured it, wounding Bledsoe.
Presently two regiments came up and recaptured the battery. By that
time a second battery had come up and opened fire. We were still in
the rear of Lane and in great danger from our own men. We picked a
time when everybody on both sides seemed to be engaged and started
around to the right of Lane and up the crest of a long ridge that led
to the top of the hill. When about half way to the top a company of
cavalry started up a little valley to our left to cut us off. We had
the best horses and a little the advantage in distance. Besides we
were going toward our own army and getting safer all the time, while
the company pursuing us was all the time getting closer to danger.
We hoped they would follow until a company of our men could cut in
between them and their main force, but they were too cautious for that
and abandoned the chase. We galloped around, reaching our forces just
as the fight was over.
When our whole force was brought up and placed in fighting line the
situation got too severe for an army with a good shelter behind it,
so Lane's men broke ranks and started for the timber. They made no
attempt to rally and come again, but went directly on to Fort Scott.
The road was dry and the dust fogged up through the timber like a
black cloud and made a good target for our batteries. Lane lost more
men and horses in the retreat through the timber than in the main
fight. Price crossed to the opposite side of the valley and camped
for the night. Next morning very early he sent a scouting party with
directions to ascertain as far as possible the probable strength
of the forces in Fort Scott. The party found the place completely
evacuated and so reported. Price made no attempt to follow, but
continued his journey to the north.