Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 188, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 August 1913 — AROUND THE CAMP FIRE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AROUND THE CAMP FIRE

33D ILLINOIS’ FIRST FIGHT; Attacked by General Jeff Thompson* the Noted Guerrilla, and On* j Whole Company Captured. In September, 1861, the Thirty-thirdl Illinois left Camp Butler, near Spring* field, 111., for the front. On arriving ati Pilot Knob, Mo., wherjf Colonel Thayer of the First Nebraska was in command three companies of the Thirtythird Illinois Were stationed on the Iron Mountain railroad: Company K (Captain Lippincott), with 90 men, at Lawson’s Station; Company E (Captain Elliott), at Big River bridge, about ten miles north of Lawson’s Station, and Company B at Victoria, 30 miles from St. Louis. In additipn to the regular government ratiAp, abundance of fresh milk, butter; eggs, .chickens, etc., were obtained from the country folk, and the boys got fat, writes William H. Edgar of Chicago, in the National Tribune. Labe in October, one morning, while the company was at breakfast, two soldiers came running into camp, and reported to Captain Lippincott that Company E, at Big River bridge, had been attacked by Gen. Jeff Thompson, the noted guerrilla, with 700 men, and needed Immediate help. The captain called for 50 volunteers to go to the relief of Captain Elliott. As we proceeded up the track occasional shots were heard in the timber from Thompson’s pickets, and soon after, following a big curve in the track, we came in sight of /Blackwell’B Station, about half a mile -distant, with a straight track in front, a cordfleld on the right full of corn shocks and a deep rocky cut extending the whole distance on the ieft of the track. A switch, with some cars, were standing on it, and some woodpiles * about the station, which afforded shelter. The company proceeded cautiously, when suddenly a fierce volley came from the cornfield, and it was apparent at once that the Johnnies had captured Company E, and were moving down on Company K, and were massed behind the cars, station and woodpiles, and were well secreted in the corn shocks on the right. The company at once deployed along the cornfield fence, a few feet distant from the track, and directed its fire upon the corn shocks, which seemed alive with Johnnies. And there for 20 minutes the boys with the old Fremont muskets in their handß learned about “hot shot” all they cared to know. When the captain saw that the enemy 4ras surrounding us he ordered a retreat. A number, including the first leutenant of the company, were prisoners, while those not taken began a hasty retreat down the track, encouraged greatly by the bullets of the pursuing Jqhnnies. About a dozen of the boys took refuge In a cave. Several squads of Johnnies passed and repassed the place, until finally the first lieutenant of the company, with several men who had been parolled, came along, and he ordered the men to come out This they did, and were passed into camp as prisoners of war. The Johnnies fearing reinforcements from the scftith did not pursue the company very far' and on arriving at camp tents were struck, and the company marched to Mineral Point, ten miles to the south, where 1,000 Union soldiers were encamped. Captain Elliot’s entire command was captured and at once paroled. On the day following th® writer, In charge of a squad, proceeded on a hand car to the cave, and secured the guns and equipments he had left there. It was a pleasure later for this company to participate In the battle at Frederickstown, .which put Jeff Thompson and his raiders to flight, and drove them out of the state.