Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 253, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1910 — STORIE of CAMP AND WAR [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STORIE of CAMP AND WAR

CAPTURE SMALL GRIST MILL Detachment of Missouri Cavalry Make Raid and Bag Lot of Rebels and Horses. Our \h?ee years’ service expired Aug. 9, 1864, and on the 17th Lieut. Groves, in command of 14 men of Co. A and 12 of Co. B, 7th Mo. Cav., left Pine Blaffs, Ark., at daylight on a secret march of 32 miles south to a grist mill, which Gen. Clayton was anxious to know whether the rebels were operating. We were guided by Columbus Marr, who lived in the neighorhood of the mill. He was loyal and brave. About noon we stopped back of a field, where the guide’s mother, a widow, lived, and about three miles from the mill. As soon as our horses were rested we started for the mill through the timber. We had not gone far until we could hear the throbbing of the engine, writes W. H. Craven, sergeant Co. A, 7th Mo. Cav., of Milton, lowa, in National Tribune. We went within 80 rods of the mill, when the lieutenant concealed the command in *a thicket and gave us orders to remain quiet until his return. He and the guide left. In about an hour they returned, having gone inside the rebel camp to a house which was not more than 200 yards from the mill, occupied by a. Union family. As our guide was personally acquainted with the family and knew he could trust them, he had one of the girls go to the mill under the ruse of having some milling done, and get all the information she could in regard to the location of their camp and the number of soldiers there, which Bhe did. The lieutenant called us around him and said: “Gen. Clayton sent me to find out whether or not the rebels were running the mill, which they are. There are 100 men running and guarding it; there are 70 now at the mill and 30 on a scout between here and Pine Bluffs, and have started since noon. Two miles south of she mill is their main camp, occupied by 4,000 Infantry and cavalry, with two sections of artillery. I have fulfilled my mission. It is up to you if we go any farther.” A tall, lank fellow by the name of Nichols straightened himself up, and said: “Lieutenant, we don’t want to use ourselves up like we did today without getting one shot” “All right,” said the lieutenant; "mount your •horses.” i '■ V &LCit L> V We were now about 80 rods northeast of the mill; And their camp was 300 southwesL We made a circuit until we were almost west of their camp and about 200 yards from It, when we halted, and the lieutenant told Sergt. Smith of Co. B, to take 12 men of his company and charge the camp, and he would take the 14 from Co. A and charge the mill, and gave me orders to take those left of Co. A and not come into the mill yard until all of the men were in. The rebels were' surprised, and did not discover our presence until Sergt.

Smith with Ids squad rode into their camp and. demanded their surrender and opened lire on them. Those that did not surrender took to the woods and left their horses, and those running the mill rushed out to see what the commotion was, only to find the mill yard in possession of Co. A. It was then about 5 o’clock in the evening, and a heavy rain storm was brewing, which I have always thought was our salvation. The lieutenant - called us together, and gave us orders to set fire to their camp, get all the horses ready, detail a guard for the prisoners and be ready to march b» the quickest time possible. I gathered up a firebrand out of their campfire, and started in the first tent in the line, and kicked up the straw and applied the torch. In a few moments we were on the march, and by this time the rain was ..... falling in torrents. The lieutenant, $ instead of starting towards the Bluffs, started on the road to the main rebel < camp, but only followed It until we were out oi sight «t the houses that surrounded the mill, and then took to ' the woods again. We got into Pine Bluffs ‘he next morning about 1 o’clock. / 1

Kicked Up the Straw and Applied the Torch.