USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county, Vol. I > Part 26
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
"Prisoner, you must now ride for your life! Boys, we all must !"
And away, away, following the lead of their companions, over the prai- rie dashed the little squad, Anderson leading the advance by some ten or fif- teen paces, on, on, twice during the next hour, avoiding only by the eagle glances and acute perception of their leader, several detachments of federal
273
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
cavalry in our route. It was a most exciting ride and ever and anon the sharp rattle of distant musketry proclaimed that some of the guerrillas were not so fortunate as we in avoiding an encounter with the foe. For hours, without drawing rein or in any way checking the speed of our horses, we rode in retreat. Once about noon Anderson detached himself from the com- mand, with orders for us to pursue as far as practicable our direction in a given course, and wheeling his horse suddenly to the left rode toward a grove or thicket situated some two miles away. I noted a significant glance pass between the men as he rode away but it was not made a subject of re- mark and I was left in total ignorance as to his purpose. At last the guer- rilla who now acted as leader ordered us to draw rein and give our horses the benefit of a partial rest from their exertions of the past few hours. We had made a wide circuit and were not approaching the grove toward which Anderson had ridden about an hour before but were about to enter a similar piece of brush and timber, nearly one mile south of the former. Suddenly our leader halted and with a quick gesture called our attention to Anderson, who was approaching us at a rapid gait from the grove last mentioned. He was soon by our side and told us a federal vidette or outpost was estab- lished beyond this timber, and his sudden appearance was all that saved us from riding squarely into it. I noticed our leader and Anderson conversing in low tones together, shortly after, and changing our course we turned and rode in a northern direction. About half past four o'clock we entered a heavy piece of timber and after riding some twenty-five minutes, we came upon a camp in which we found some twenty of the guerrillas, who had parted from us that morning. They were some of Todd's men who had a brush with some of the federal cavalry, in which one or two of the men were badly wounded. One by one, squad after squad reached this point and I was somewhat surprised to observe many of them drunk. Todd was drunk as a lord and evidently in a bad humor. From the evidences to be noticed around, this spot had served them as a camp or general rendezvous for some time past and rough shelters had been constructed of poles, bark and boughs, presenting a rude but very fitting and perfect attribute of their ways of life. They seemed to possess some sort of a depository or commis- sary establishment here and both "grub and whisky" were dispensed with a very liberal hand. The consequence might easily be foreseen. By night nearly the whole command, Anderson and Todd included, were drunk even to madness. God help me, I never witnessed so much profanity in the same space of time before nor since and it is my earnest desire, I never may again. They whooped, ran, jumped and yelled like so many savages. Once Anderson, leaping on a horse, rode wildly through the crowd, firing his revolvers indiscriminately and yelling like one possessed. I trembled for my own safety. I felt that no man was safe when reason had succumbed to madness and all the brutal passions of fiends ran riot. My guards, how- ever, were true as steel to their trust and as far as possible preserved me from demonstrations of violence. At last, worn out with revelry, one by one the guerrillas sank upon the ground and were soon buried in the stupor of a drunken sleep. During the night it rained tremendously. I had lost my
274
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
hat during the day, had neither coat, blanket nor vest, and with but an apology for shirt and breeches, I sat and endured it all. How very perverse is fortune! Here, with nearly all my captors buried in a drunken sleep, from which it would require a blast of Gabriel's trumpet to awaken them, I needs must have two guards who "never drank" to stand between me and this golden opportunity of escape. Teetotalers were below par in my esti- mation just then.
Upon leaving the camp in the wood, those of the guerrillas who had been wounded in the skirmish of the federals and Todd's men, together with the arms captured at Johnson's defeat, were left at this point. I witnessed here a specimen of "guerrilla surgery" as practiced by them. One fellow had a very bad gunshot wound in the hand who, neglecting to properly care for the same, found to his sorrow that it would require some severer treatment than he had administered to effect a cure. In fact, his hand was in an awful condition, swollen dreadfully, while all the parts adjacent to the wound seemed a living mass of putrefaction, overrun with maggots. The only remedy I ever knew applied was pouring oil of turpentine upon the inflamed mass, and greatly to the surprise of the operator as well as myself, it cured the patient.
A council of war was held the morning following the night of the drunken revel and it was therein determined to divide the force into small squads, appointing at the same time a spot at which to reassemble for the purpose of crossing the Missouri river. They seemed to agree that the country was so thoroughly excited by their acts at Centralia and the subsequent fight that no efforts would be spared to procure their capture and it would prove very dangerous for so large a body to remain together. They had no artillery and could not expect to cope successfully with their pursuers in the field and they did not look for another opportunity to strike a blow until the federal troops were withdrawn. They therefore agreed to disband, with the previous understanding that on such a date all the living would reassemble to again commence their operations.
A few were ordered to remain in the immediate service of their chiefs, as guards, scouts, messengers and for such other purpose as he might require. Both Anderson and Todd now appeared and their detail also, appareled in federal uniform, taken probably from the dead bodies of the slaim soldiers at Centralia, and the field that witnessed the inhuman butchery of Johnson's men. The camp was left in no regular order as to time or numbers but as each squad got ready they struck out. Anderson, Todd,-with probably twenty men in all-including my guard, and I, left soon after the close of the council. We traveled hard all day until near sunset when a halt was made close beside an old church. My guards were ordered here to take me ahead, some distance ahead. I pondered upon this order for a long time and thought it boded no good to me but I am not aware at this moment that this halt and council related to me in any manner whatever. I am far more in- clined to the opinion that the old church marked some secret depository of the stealings of these free-booters and wholesale robbers. After a delay of probably half an hour Anderson and his men came up, and observing
NORTH IDE OF PUBLIC SQUARE, CLARINDA
450
SOUTH SIDE OF PUBLIC SQUARE, CLARINDA
277
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
shortly after this, some farm houses, we were directed to scatter and pro- cure something to eat. The house at which we stopped, fortunately for me, happened to contain a thorough Union advocate in the person of the hostess. Learning my position as a prisoner among the guerrillas and the only one left of all they had captured at Centralia, she opened her sympathetic heart and under one pretense and another, succeeded in detaining my guerrilla friends until she was satisfied I had eaten and drunk all that I prudently ought, considering I had been before nearly half starved."
We all encamped close by this neighborhood and obtained a good night's rest. I slept tolerably comfortable, as I had on Anderson's old coat which he gave me when he adopted the federal officer's uniform. In the morning, feeling very much refreshed, we once more mounted and pursued our. jour- ney. On that morning we passed a short distance from Rocheport and stopped at a house near the town. Two ladies came out to greet us and Anderson held a long conversation with them. They evidently imparted some intelligence unexpected, for he called Todd forward and after a moment's consultation Todd returned and sent a man to procure a fine look- ing mare that was feeding in a pasture belonging to the premises. This animal was saddled and bridled in lieu of Anderson's horse and the guerrilla chief rode away from the premises as though "all right, title and interest thereunto belonging" were vested in himself. We proceeded more leisurely this day, traveling but a very few miles before noon, when we again halted at a large farm house. The woman of the house and an old looking man came out to greet us at the gate. There was much shaking of hands and all seemed highly pleased to see Anderson and his men. Their reception of me was not so cordial when told who I was. We here met with a recruit- ing officer belonging to Price's army. Observing the dress of the inen, he had taken the guerillas for federals and hastily secreted himself in the house. The old man went back to the house and soon reappeared in company with this doughty knight of the Lone Star. He was a Texan and as we found afterward preferred the service of recruiting to active service in the field. He and Anderson held a long private interview, which resulted in his becon- ing one of our party. Anderson presented the two young ladies of this family with a handsome shawl each, which he took from a roll of "plunder" in his saddle bags. That night we lay encamped in the brush and so close to Rocheport, we could witness the burning of a part of the town, which had been fired by a detachment of federal cavalry who had been temporarily stationed here and had just returned from participating in the hunt for Anderson. They had orders to abandon the post and were making prepar- ations to do so by the light of the conflagration. We could distinctly hear their bugles sound the "troop" or "assembly," and watched them eagerly as they formed their column and marched away. This then accounted for the slow and cautious movements, confined to the cover of by-roads and un- frequented paths made by the guerrilla chieftain on that day, and I have no doubt he was informed of all the proceedings he witnessed as taking place from the lips of the ladies ( ?) at whose house he was so warmly welcomed, hours before he saw them transpire.
278
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
Another day's weary traversing of timbered brakes and hollows, bypaths and old blind roads and totally devoid of incident worth recording, and again late in the dusky eve we reached a miserable log shanty, situated in the timber, whose sole inhabitant consisted of a most villainous looking, cad- averous specimen of the genus homo-a guerrilla, and the custodian and keeper of the surplus wealth of the band invested in horse flesh. There were a number of splendid horses said to be the personal property of their chieftain, while many others and good ones too, were public property. We camped here during the night. From the nature of the surface of the country over which we had passed that day I began to think we were approaching the Missouri river and ere long I was assured of the fact by hearing the steam whistle sounding in the distance. I was told it proceeded from the ferry- boat at Boonville on the river. This was welcome news to me, as I had fully determined to risk attempting an escape as soon as they undertook the passage of that river. The whistle was repeated several times and I ob- served its direction and tried hard to retain it, but a few hours rambling amid the brush and cross roads of the country on the following day com- pletely obliterated all idea of the location of Boonville. Another short but painful march and the guerrillas reached their camp or rendezvous near Maxwell's Mill.
Again mounting we started for "Harkers," the point before indicated as the spot of rendezvous for all who designed to cross the river and risk further service under the leadership of Anderson. When a short distance from the house, we suddenly met another party of guerrillas who mistaking us for "feds" fired a volley which fortunately harmed no one. We ar- rived at Harkers and remained there one day longer than was originally in- tended before attempting the passage of the Missouri, a very heavy and violent storm on the night of our arrival having interfered somewhat with the plans of their chief. At Harkers large numbers of the citizens of the country came into our camp and many and repeated were the congratulations extended between their friends and the guerrillas. Anderson came in for a large share of these attentions and I, too, was somewhat worthy of "note" as I was frequently pointed out as the "sole survivor" of all the enemies they had captured. This operated very singularly upon different individuals and it is so powerfully affected the "budding murder" in one youth's heart- a mere boy-he repeatedly begged and petitioned to be allowed to kill the "d-n Yankee."
On the evening of the tenth day of my imprisonment, or rather of my captivity. the guerrillas bade a final adieu to their old stamping ground and to their confederates at Harkers. Everything was hurry and confusion un- til the column was in motion, when by express orders, perfect silence was preserved. We rode some six or eight miles and struck the Missouri river at a point about one mile above Rocheport. For some reason the spot did not meet Anderson's approval and we turned back, passing through Roche- port and again came to the river some three miles below. The night was dark, with nothing but starlight to guide a search. I had made up my mind in the confusion likely to attend their embarkation, to accept all risks and at-
279
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
tempt my escape. I had everything to gain-only one thing to lose-my life! I thought of those I loved at home better than my life and I was will- ing to risk the sacrifice of that life, to reach them once more. You can well imagine then, how closely and how eagerly I watched every preparation that was being made. What a jealous eye I kept upon my guard to observe if possible if any additional restraint was to be applied to me. I eagerly listened for every word that fell within my hearing to learn the exact dis- position made concerning the manner of their crossing the stream. I soon learned they had but thirteen skiffs, holding say from five to eight men, ac- cording to size. The men only were to occupy these boats-leading and swimming the horses By a rough estimate I calculated that three trips made by the skiffs would transfer them all and I was now concerned lest I should fall among the first installment. I was thinking of Fayette and the federal soldiers there and had no desire to cross the "Rubicon" that would crush my hopes and defeat my plans. At last, chance informed me that my guards and I would be among the last to pass over the stream and I con- cluded to seize the moment of confusion attending their first trip as the golden opportunity for the trial I was about to make. I was soon to take a step attended with eminent peril-a failure insuring certain death! I was closely surrounded by many of the most heartless and desperate men the world ever knew. Yet, I had one, and only one chance in my favor. It was this: For a day or so back, since in fact, my conversation with the gentleman where the guerrillas had left me alone by the yard gate, I ob- served that I was granted more liberty of action and had frequently moved about among the men going from spot to spot, without my guards follow- ing me or exercising any apparent surveillance over me.
The moment for the trial I had resolved to make, came at last. The men of the command were busily engaged in removing saddles and bridles from their horses and preparing their lead halters. The first lot who were to cross were by the boats-the skiff being first occupied by the men and many of the horses in the water, or about to enter it. All immediately near the river bank were in a state of bustle and much excitement prevailed. Some of the horses proved restive and the attempt to force them into the water momentarily increased the confusion. At this juncture one of my guards said, "You watch the prisoner, I want to go and see the start." and as he spoke he moved away toward the boats. A moment after, some sud- den and increased excitement by the riverside attracted the attention of my remaining guard and he moved about a rod in that direction. I seized the opportunity and walked rapidly away from the spot and directly into the crowd of men and horses near me. I passed carelessly through the crowd and emerged near to a dense mass of bushes and brush wood on the river side. I hastily entered this thicket and walked as rapidly as I could some two hundred yards and stopped to listen if my absence had been noted. My breath came fast and my heart beat so rapidly it almost made me faint and sick. I was very much excited. I listened with every nerve of my being strung to its utmost tension, expecting every sound to hear the shout of the fiends in hot pursuit. Ten seconds seemed an hour-the time only. I prob-
280
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
ably paused to ascertain if I had been missed. Reassured, I hastened forward and was suddenly arrested in my course by distinctly hearing the tramp of horses' feet and evidently approaching in the direction of myself. I had but just reached an old road and I hastily drew back into the brush and secreted myself. Four mounted men passed by-guerrillas doubtless, on their way to join Anderson. Thank God, I thought! They were not in search of me! I now paused a few moments and sought out the North star as a guide on my course. I walked with all the speed and vigor I possessed and suddenly emerged from the brush in full view of a house, about the yard of which stood hitched, ready bridled and saddled, some six or seven horses. I was strongly tempted to turn guerrilla for the nonce and appropriate one to my especial use but l reflected that comfort and ease in this case might not be the best method of insuring safety, so I made a wide detour and passed this spot without meeting any one from whom I might have obtained some information as to my locality. My earnest desire was to reach Fayette but I was in absolute ignorance as to the proper direction for me to pursue. It was the only military post I had any knowledge of in the country and I knew that much depended on how near I was to it, in considering my chances of success in my escape from the guerrillas. Again, I had every rea- son to believe that Anderson meditated active operations soon and why not he direct his force against Fayette? I was then anxious to reach the post and at least place its commander on his guard. I felt very much exhausted. Physically, the excitement had proven too much for me and with slow and wearied step I wandered through the woods until about daybreak, when I entered a road whose beaten way indicated considerable travel upon it. Here was a sign post and clambering up to the board at the top I read by the un- certain light of the early morn the inscription thereon. I had only traveled, so it informed me, eight miles from the point where I left the river and yet, doubtless twenty more would not make up the distance traversed by me on that night, so devious and uncertain had been my course. I was very weak and tired and feeling it would be very injudicious to travel by daylight, I sought me out a shelter wherein I might find rest. Looking about me I ob- served an old tobacco shed in a field and I made for it. I found it partly filled with hay and I crept into it, and making a snug nest I enjoyed this welcome retreat with all the unctions delight manifested by a grandee in his daily siesta.
At night I resumed my journey. I was compelled to travel but slowly because of physical exhaustion from want of food and frightful condition of my nervous system. Just about daylight I observed a negro passing near an old field. I hailed him and he awaited my approach. He told me I was but a mile from Fayette and not over three or four hundred yards from the federal pickets. He pointed out the location of the nearest sentinel to us and I, thanking him kindly, hastened forward again. This was good news for me-the goal was nearly won! Liberty ! Friends ! Home! No man but those who may have had such an experience as mine can form an ade- quate or just conception of the emotion then moving my soul. I cried- cried like a child. Strong man as I thought myself, I felt that in the hands
281
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
of Providence that had so far preserved and guided me, I was but as the merest babe !
I paused for a few moments to calm my feelings and collect my senses before I presented myself before the guard and when I again advanced such was my zeal to meet my friends and feel assured of safety I had almost for- gotten that my guerrilla dress would make me an object of suspicion even to them. I was soon assured of this, however, for at a sudden turn in the road, "Halt there !" greeted me and looking up I stood face to face about twenty paces removed from a cavalryman, dressed in the "bonnie blue" of my loved country's uniform. I instantly halted, awaiting his further chal- lenge. The formula of "the service" over, the sentinel was convinced I meant no harm and allowed me to approach sufficiently near him so as to hear my story, and when at last it was received by him, calling his corporal, the intelligence was instantly dispatched to post headquarters. In about half an hour I was conducted there in person and received very kindly by Captain Eaton of the Ninth Cavalry, commanding the post, who seemed to sympathize deeply with me in the relation of my sufferings and he at once dispatched intelligence of my escape to general headquarters at St. Louis. I also communicated what intelligence I possessed with regard to Ander- son's and Shelby's commands.
The command at the post belonged to the Ninth Missouri Cavalry. I feel greatly indebted to their generosity and kindness extended to me and I need no better assurance than their humane and Christian sympathy for the distress of a fellow-being to indite here they were honorable and brave boys in the field of action. I shall ever remember those boys with the kindliest of feelings and lasting gratitude. The little garrison was thrown into an unusual excitement the day following my arrival by the sudden advent of a scout with the information that Shelby and Anderson had united, crossed the river at Booneville and designed marching against Fayette. My account of the horrible affair at Centralia and of Johnson's unfortunate defeat tended perhaps to increase the excitement in anticipation of an attack from the perpetrators of such barbarities and for a while the report of the scout caused the command undue anxiety. There is one thing, however, that should be stated here perhaps, and that is, this mere handful of men, sixty all told, were to a man opposed to an evacuation of the post, as was proposed in case the scout's information should prove correct. It certainly would have been an inexcusable blunder or an event ending in horrible murder on the part of Captain Eaton to have abandoned his post on unreliable informa- tion or to have attempted its defense if assured beyond a doubt that it would be attacked by such an overwhelming force as would leave the "defenders defenseless," and but the victims to guerrilla hatred and outrage. He therefore dispatched a trusty Union man-a citizen-in quest of the desired information.
He returned to us in a very brief time, stating we had barely time to save ourselves, much less any of the few military supplies accumulated at the post. Shelby was said to be within eight hours' march and we were ordered to abandon the place as speedily as possible and march for Macon
282
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
City on the St. Joe & Hannibal Railroad. We accomplished this without much delay and at Macon I bade adieu to all my kind friends of the Ninth. I took the cars here for St. Joseph, at which city I gave the editor of one of the papers, a very brief statement of such facts as I have recorded in detail here. I reached my home in safety. Of what transpired there, I shall not write. You have many of you felt perhaps that such meetings as these are sacred to the participants and not to be held up for the scrutiny of the world.
To the Almighty Ruler of Heaven and Earth we owe our existence and the blessing of life today and though it is a seeming mystery to us why His beneficence should single me from the great number slain on that mem- orable occasion as a living example of the sacredness of His promise in the Word, yet in truth and honor of soul and spirit, to His name and His Prov- idence be all the honor and praise.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.