USA > Iowa > Johnson County > Iowa City > Reunion of the Second Iowa Cavalry Veteran Association, 1891 > Part 5
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As soon as daylight came we elosed up, formed fours, front into line, drew sa- bers and went forward at a trot through open timber and into the village of Booneville, Miss., on the Mobile & Ohio railroad The Second Michigan was on our left. The village was a small one, and at first only a few straggling honses were passed, but when we halted we were in line with and facing therail- road, and in the midst of the town. As we passed through the suburbs, we be- gan to find numbers of Confederate soldiers, who started up from sleep under the trees, in the fence corners, yards and porches of the houses. They did not fire on us, and we very quickly understood we had made a complete surprise.
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We halted in line for a few moments, and then different details were made. Some were set to collecting the prisoners, and we soon had from 2,000 to 2, 500 of them Others set about destroying their atms, and soon every tree had a ring of broken muskets around it. The easiest and most effective way to destroy small arms is to break them against a tree. The bartels are thus forever ruined, and it takes but a short time to destroy thous ine's.
Another detail was sent to set fire to the railroad depot and a long train of cars that stood on the track, and to cut the telegraph wires, while many went to destroy the railroad track. This was not as easily done as expected, as we found the rails fastened with fish-plates. We had never seen fisk-plates before, and [ will here explain that the first u ed in this country were imported and used in the construction of the Mobile & Ohio railroad, which was completed the same year the war began The only way we could destroy the track was turn a long sec- tion of it over at one time, and then, by burning the ties with fence rails or any wood we could get, spoil the rails so they could not again be put down and used We did not destroy any great length of track, but enough for the purpose, as all cars and locomotives of the enemy that had not sheedy passed south of that point had to be destroyed or abandoned and allowed to fall into our hands.
One squad of eight of us was detailed to proceed up the track and burn a bridge supposed to be less than half a mile from the depot. The information as to the location of the bridge came from some of our prisoners. We never found the bridge, but four of the squad found thentseives in Libby prison inside of a week. Charley Hilton was shot through the body and left by the side of the road; Jim Kennedy escaped immediately after c: pture, and, though wounded, rejoined us a few miles away, and the other two luckily got away at the first attack. I did not go as far up the track as the others, and Orderly Sergeant Budd was mounted and brought back a captured flag.
By this time the depot and cars had begun to get well on fire, and the guns and ammunition with which they were filled began to go off The enemy's cav- alry begin to show themselves in considerable numbers, and our commander, having done all he could, gave orders to mount, form and retreat. A very pretty little show of fight was m .de by a party of the enemy's cavalry, who charged up to within about a hundred yards with their shotguns ready, but could not fire on us for fear of killing their own men, whom we held as prisoners, in large num- bers. Our colonel ordered a saber charge on them, which they did not wait for, but wheeled about and went back as fist as they came.
When we started on the retreat we made no attempt to take onr prisoners along, except a few officers, but simply rode away and left them where we found them, but unarmed. The burning cars were loaded with in kets, artillery, and artillery ammunition, and we could hear the explosions of the latter for miles. The cars and contents were entirely consumed, as none of the rebels would ven- ture near to pat out the fire. Some of the artillery in the cars was loaded, and one shell, discharged from a heated gun, overtook us on the retreat and exploded entirely too near Company F of our regiment for comfort
I will now explain the situ tion as reg irds Beauregard's army and what we had accom li hed, as well as the lucky way in which it was done
After the battle of Shiloh, or Pittsburg Landing, h.d been fought and General Halleck had taken comm. nd, the army pushed slowly on toward Corinth, closing upon that pl. ce until it was in a state of siege. He had Grant's original army, Bueil's, which had joined it the second day's battle at Shiloh, and Pope's, which had afterward come up the river from Island No. to and New Madrid, number- ing in all about roo, con men. Beauregard, entrenched at Corinth, hed about one-third as many. His works were strong in our front, but not in his rear to the northwest, and I believe that at any time within three weeks of the evacua- tion of Corinth either one of the three armies; mentioned could have swung around, either to the right or left, and could have taken the place by assault, bagging all or a great part of Beauregard's army.
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On the 27th of May, the day on which my narrative begins, we confronted the fortifications at Corinth, as near to them as was comfortable, and I may safely say much nearer for the most of us. On that day, while Beauregard was quietly arranging to slip out and leave Halleck to hold the bag, the first raid of the war to cut his raifroid communications and prevent the transfer of his artillery and stores, was ordered. At the time we cut loose from all communication with our army, no one on our side knew definitely of the contemplated move on the part of the Confederates, so that when we struck Booneville on the morning of the Both of May, and found ourselves right between two columns of their retreating army, with thousands of their straggler, and large quantities of their arms and stores in our possession, there was a surprise party on a large scale. We were surprised to find them there when we supposed them to be within their fortifica- tions at Corinth, and they were surprised to find us there when they supposed we were just outside of the sime.
We quickly obtained from our prisoners the solution of the problem as to how we came to find them, but as we were not so easily approached, nor so commu- nicative, they did not find out about us until we had destroyed aff we found in the way of arms and stores, had given them the slip, and were well back on our road to Corinth. The train of twenty-six cars and the railroad depot were com- pletely destroyed, and the shells and ammunition with which some of the cars were loaded continued to explode fora long time, and gave to each division of Beauregard's army the impression that, by some means, the other division had been intercepted by the Yankees, and that a heavy battle was raging, in which a great deal of artillery was taking part. Thus both divisions made histy prepi- rations for battle, and used every effort to approach and reinforce the other
In the meantime we were "making tracks," and no "grass was growing under our feet." Our horses were in no condition for fast travel, and if any consider- able body of cavalry, with fresh horses, had followed, it might have gone hard with us, as we should have had to fight them We could not have sustained a rapid retreat for any great dist ince. As it was, we came off with dignity and in good order, but not with as much haste as some of us desired. Onr entire loss on this raid was two wounded and four taken prisoners; (Kennedy escaped and Ihl- ton was left on the held), and it is rather amusing to read in the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion the following in the official report of the colonel who commanded the Confederate cavalry with whom we had the skirmish at Boone- ville. He says:
"Just after daylight the next morning my pickets reported that the enemy was marching into Booneville This I could not account for, as a portion of my forces was left there the previous night at eight o'clock. However I ordered Lieutenant-Colonel McNairy to mount his men. Placing myself at their head, I proceeded at once to Booneville. . Before reaching there, I encountered the enemy (a portion of them), who were in charge of a large number of our sick soldiers, marching them in the direction of Iuka, whom I dispersed Some ran Mto an old fell to my left, and the rest to the railroad. Following those that went in the direction of the railroad, I discovered about three hundred of the enemy in fine of battle, with sabers drawn; on my left a company of skirmishers and in their rear about one thousand mounted men in line of battle. Under these circumstances it was deemed prudent to fall back, and it was accordingly done, forming a new line of battle two hundred yards to the rear, awaiting the approach of the enemy, who were advancing slowly. When within one hundred yards I ordered a fire upon them, killing two and wonnding five They returned the fire, killing one of Captain Parish's men and wounding three, also disabling three horses. After the firing ceased, the enemy retired to the old field. At this time I was informed that a det ichment of the enemy was coming up to Boone- ville from a depot house one mile below with some of our sick soldiers as prison . ers. Thereupon I moved the command near the road, dismounted, and formed near the track in ambush When the enemy approached I fired upon them
1989658
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wounding two, and, advancing, captured six prisoners. The others made their escape through a swamp on the opposite side of the railroad Remounting, my command moved up to Booneville, and found the enemy had withdrawn in great haste, leaving a few of their men guarding a large number of our sick. They were taken prisoners, making eleven prisoners captured by my command on the occasion
He also says his entire command was seventy-six enlisted men. f wonder why he did not annihilate our entire command-in his mind.
We traveled back by a slightly different route from the one we had come. After dark of the first night we halted for rest until daylight, without fires, and Company G went out on picket guard, with orders to keep one relief on post, one standing to horse, and allow one to sleep. This, as all old soldiers know, meant two hours of sleep with horse tied to wrist, and four hours of wakefulness-two as vidette and two ready to mount at the first shot or whispered command.
The next day, May ist, we traveled all day, with the exception of a halt long enough to feed horses, (we had nothing left to eat worth mentioning by this time) and at nine o'clock p. m. we were enthusiastically received by the "home guards" at our camp, from which we had started nearly four days previously, having traveled one hundred and eighty miles and accomplished what I have related. The "home guards" were those left behind in cump, either because they were too sick to go out, or were without horses. They were always so desig- nated.
The brigade rested one day and then went to the front in pursuit of the retreat- ing enemy, and was gone about a week before returning. Not all the boys went with it, as many were too exhausted to recover so quickly A good many went to the hospital and some of them never came back again, having as we used to say, "Got their plantation down South, two feet by six," with the dead march out to the grave in some quiet place, three volleys over the grave and the band playing quick time on the return, -- killed, not by bullets, but just as brave and manly in their deaths as if they had been pierced at the head of a charging column.
This was, I believe, the first raid of the War of the Rebellion. We were in many more before its close, but this will give a general idea of what they all were Many of them were much longer We went out from Germantown, Ten- nessee, in 1864 with six days' rations of sugar, coffee, and hard bread, and returned in twenty-one days; having been all that time in the enemy's country, without communication with any of our own forces, other than those on the raid, and engaged in fighting nearly one-half of the days we were out.
Those of you who were not with us can ponder on the amount of nerve neces- sary to keep awake and vigilant, of the long weary days in the saddle, and the many nights of alert picket duty, expecting an enemy each moment; of the little rest it was to come back to camp only to go on other duties or off on some other raid; and this lasting four years, in summer and winter, rain and hot sun, most of the time with not even a wedge tent to crawl into and feel that it was home nothing but the clothes we wore and one blanket -and make up your minds as to whether it was a summer picnic party, and if there is not some excuse even for a cavalryman feeling a trifle old in 1891.
After singing "John Brown's Body," Colonel Horton was called upon to respond to "The Soldier in Politics." He attempted to excuse himself, when President Rumple said.
PRESIDENT RUMPLE.
For the first time during the organization of the Regiment, I, for the first time, have had a certain comrade beg off from performing duty. He does it
1
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upon the theory that he talked a little last year, and hence says there are other comrades here who want to talk, and ought to talk. The question is, shall we hear Colonel Horton, or let him off. I leave the matter with you. [ Cries of "hear, hear," ot ]
COLONEL HORTON,
Coming forwird, said:
Mr. Chirmm and Comra.les.
I could have done thit well myself. [ Applause ] I was entirely in earnest in thit, comrade ;. There are about four hundred here that should be allowed to mike speeches. Now this is not -- well, I will go on and mike my speech and make no more excu-es.
From the close of the Revolutionary War to the present time, the ex-soldiers of our land have taken a prominent and active part in national politics, and with the exception of the period between the administrations of Washington and Jack- son the different political parties of this country have largely selected as their standard bearers soldiers who have distinguished themselves as soldiers in arms, and especially since the late war this has been true.
But I am to talk of
"THE DUTIES OF THE UNION SOLDIER IN POLITICS."
Now some of you will sty that that is dangerous ground to venture on, and no doubt it is; but I am to talk to comrades of our own country, the country for which you took your lives in your hands to save, and in which you still have an interest. And I believe you will not misunderstand me, nor misconstrue me but that you will give me credit for a patriotic and honest intention.
I believe it to be the duty of every American citizen, as well as soldier, to be a politician. Not the kind which the general acceptation of that term implies, but thit nobler and higher meaning wherein the greatest good of the nation is the thing sought after.
Patriotism is defined as "Love of country;" that passion which aims at the safety of our country, either in defending her from invasion, or protecting her rights and maintaining her laws and institutions in purity and vigor. Patriotism is the highest type of citizenship; the noblest pission thit animates min in the capacity of the citizen; and surely those who followed the fortunes of the flag during those dirk days of rebellion, and who carried it to victory without the loss of a single star, can be countedl pitricots of the noblest type.
Comrades, you are not yet mustered out of active duty. Your country has yet other claims upon you. There are other battles to be fought; other victories to be won. You who stood, comrades, as a wall of fire 'round about the old flag when assailed by traitoron; hinds; you who learned to love the scenes of war- not for the love of conflict and glory, but rather for the love of country, national uhity, humanity, liberty, human rights and equality -- must still rally, as of old, to guard the institutions of our lind and protect it from the hands of those who, claiming to be Americans, would barter away the birthright of the nation for a miserable mess of "political pottage " You who loved the old flag when all else was dirk and gloomy; you who carried it in triumph through trial and conflict; you who waited and watched by the field of battle as other comrades carried the flag, and you who awaited the bugle sound to charge to the death; and you who) watched and caught a glimpse of old glory; and you who marched to battle. borne up by truth, and who in that supreme moment felt that all that was sacred in life to you was bound in the sacred colors of the old flag, - you I say, must see to it that your children and the children of America shall imbibe something of the enthusiastic love of coantry, and that the influence of these reunions shall prove veritable springs, flowing with patriotism; fountains of liberty, at which the youth of America shall, with you, old comrades, draw inspiration and cour-
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age to stand against the dangers that surely threaten this nation. Comrades, you owe it to yourselves; you owe it to your army record and to your country, that you, while the political excitements that periodically sweep across this country, when patriotism and all seem to be forgotten in the mad rush for success, that you be found at the helm, calling a halt. You belong to different political par- ties; and thus, while you may differ upon questions of political economy and financial policy, yet you are one in love of country; one in honest, earnest endea- vor to promote the best interests and happiness of this people, and above all you are one in the proud boast that you are Americans. [ Applause. | Not simply by birth or adoption, but of a higher, nobler type, wherein love of country is held to be above love of self or party.
Being thus united, there is a platform so patriotic in its sentiments, so grandly American in its principles, that you can stand upon it, and while rallying 'round the flag you can yet work for the success of your different parties You can demand of these parties, as the price of your support, that they will stand by the charter of our great fundamental government, a government of the people; by the people and for the people; a platform that stands for the majesty of the law and that demands respect for, and obedience to, the law; a platform that stands for the purity of the ballot box and declares it to be the sacred right of every qualified elector to cast one ballot and have that ballot counted; a platform that would welcome to our shores every honest, intelligent emigrant, provided he comes with an honest intention, and comes as an American to stand by our American institutions; and, further, when he raises his hand to Heaven to swear obedience to our laws and the constitution of the United States, that he does so with no mental reservation to any foreign power or potentate; a platform that is pledged to the support of our common school system; that will defend our land against the powers of evil fanaticism, and against the demagoguery and intrigues of political tricksters, who would ruin the nation for party success; a platform that, while it concedes the right of every parent to provide a suitable education for his children, demands that every child, educated under the old banner, shall be taught to read and write the English language; a platform that recognizes the little school house on the hill as the bulwark of our institutions, the hope and trust of this republic.
Respect for law and the rights of others under the law is what distinguishes the true patriot from the anarchist, and open violence breeds contempt and dis- regard for all law. If you believe a law to be unjust, fight it in the proper way; fight it like men, and not curs; fight it by the silent ballot But as you love your country and as you hope for the perpetuation of American institutions, respect and obey it while it is a law. An old commander, Grant, once said, "The only right and safe way to get rid of an obnoxious law is to rigidly enforce it." Fox populi vox Dei may not always prove trne, but that political party which keeps closest to the people is very apt to be right and safe Majorities may not always do right; majorities sometimes do wrong But if wrong is persisted in they may soon expect to become a minority.
Colonel Horton closed his address in a ringing manner, exhorting the comrades to love their wives and not be afraid to tell them of it. "Love your country. Be enthusiastic and devoted Teach your children to honor the flag, to uphold law, and to defy and crush out anarchy, that when you turn over this priceless heritage you may do so feeling that it has fallen into the hands of worthy and noble Americans."
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ED F. JONES.
"HARD TACK."
I am glad someone has said
"A little foolishness now and then Is relished by the best of men."'
Had this never been said, I would probably never have reached this place in life. I am glad Comrade Horton lays down such a nice solid platform on which we can stand, and I want this andience to remember that, as for me, I am on it with both feet. [Applause ] A few weeks ago the committee wrote me and said that my subject would be "Hard Tack," and said to me that, if it was too hard, to "let her go to the woods," and that is what I am going to do.
On an occasion of this kind, I am very much in the position of the lady who was receiving the attentions of a certain young gentleman. They had been wast- ing a great deal of each other's time, but the young man could never bring him- self to the point of bringing the matter to an issue, and she resolved to help him out without appearing too anxious. So when he came next time she submitted to being pressed to his great manly heart, and he, thinking his time had come, began to say "Jennie, will you marry-" "Oh, John," said she, "I am so scared." He immediately released his hold and changed the subject. He asked her if she thought they would have a hard frost, and he hoped they would have a good crop next year, and said "How's the folks?" etc., and finally noticing that not all was right with her, he said "Is there any trouble? " "Oh, John, John," said she, "scare me again !" [Applause. ]
So when I appear before an andience of this kind, although I am scared, I like to be scared again, for I like to look into the faces of three or four hundred loyal men, men I know to be loyal, with not a drop of traitor blood, nor a drop of the calamity disposition in them.
I am in the condition of the old Alliance man down in the seventh district in the part of Kansas where I am now living. A very wicked nian died, and on one could be found who knew anything good about him. And when the funeral was to be preached, they could find no one who would say anything good about him, and they didn't want to say anything bad. They finally found a preacher, who had another church in charge. They went to him and stated their case to him, and after a little talk he said, "I tell you what we'll do; we'll go there and sing a hymn or two, but I cannot say anything about him," So they went there and he led off with a song, after which he said, "Now, neighbors, you are acquainted with this man who died; and now if you have anything good to say about him you have permission, and you now have opportunity to state it." And he then waited. Nobody got up. He then said, "Let us sing another stanza;" after singing which he gave another opportunity, saying, "If anyone in the audi- ence has a single good word for this man, let him state it," and then waited and
waited, and no one arose Everything was as silent as the grave. Finally this long-haired old Alliance man arose from his seat in the corner, and said, "Mis- ter, if no one has got anything to say about the corpse, I'd like to devote about five minutes to the 'Sub-Treasury Plan !'" | Laughter. ]
So now, I would like to devote about two minutes and a half to that article of food called hard tack.
Several years ago, while sitting in my office one day, a comrade came in, an old friend of mine, who, after greeting me, said, "I've been over in Pennsyl- vania visiting, and have brought back with me seven hard tacks." He then men- tioned their age, which I thought to be incredible, saying they were bought eleven or twelve years ago. I told him to bring me one that I couldn't believe the story. I thought that it was impossible that any article of food should keep for so long a time. He said he would. So next day he came in the office and said, "Here it is." And he said, "Iswear that it came from there, just as 1
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said," and so I took it, and taking an old file I had in the office I drilled a hole through it; yes, I did get a hole through it with the file, and I put a label on it 1 then had a frame made and put in there, and surrounded it with plaster of Paris, and said I thought it would keep as long as I lived.
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