The Courier of the Ozarks Page 4

  CHAPTER IV

  MOORE'S MILL

  We left Harry Semans and his young companion just starting on theirlonely ride to Jefferson City, a distance of twenty-seven miles. Thesoldier with Harry proved rather a garrulous youth. He said his name wasDavid Harris; that he belonged to the Third Iowa Cavalry; was a farmerboy, and rather liked the service. "It's exciting, you know," he added.

  "Very much so at times," dryly answered Harry.

  "Say, what makes you dress like a blamed guerrilla?" suddenly askedDave. "You are a soldier, aren't you?"

  "I am a scout," replied Harry. "I dress like a guerrilla because I haveto pretend to be one about half the time. Just before I reached Fultontoday I passed myself off as one of Porter's men. It saved me adangerous encounter, perhaps my life."

  "Gee! it must be exciting," said the boy. "I wish I was a scout."

  "Couldn't be one," laughed Harry. "Your Yankee brogue would give youaway. I notice you say 'keow' instead of 'cow' and 'guess' instead of'reckon.' But please don't talk any more, we must keep both ears andeyes open."

  After this they rode along in silence; that is, as much as Dave wouldallow, until Harry ordered him to ride in the rear, and if he must talk,talk to himself, and so low that no one else could hear.

  For some ten miles they proceeded at a swift gallop without adventure,meeting two or three horsemen who seemed as little desirous of makingacquaintance as they were themselves, and Dave began to think the riderather tame.

  As they were passing a place where the bushes grew thickly by the sideof the road, they received a gruff command to halt. Instead of obeying,Harry, as quick as thought, drew his revolver and fired, at the sametime putting spurs to his horse and shouting to Harris, "Ride for yourlife."

  There was a rustling in the bushes, an angry exclamation as well as agroan. Harry's shot had gone true, and came as a surprise to thebushwhackers as well, for two or three seconds elapsed before three orfour shots rang out, and they went wild.

  "Well, how do you like it?" asked Harry, as he drew rein, consideringthe danger past.

  "It was so sudden," said Dave. "I think I would have halted, and askedwhat was wanted."

  "And got gobbled, and in all probability hanged afterwards. Dave, youhave to learn something yet before you become a scout. Always be readyto fire at a moment's notice; and if you have to run don't tarry on yourgoing. I took chances as to whether there was a large party or not, butconcluded it was not, or some of them would have been in the road."

  "Did you think of all that? Why, the word 'Halt' was hardly out of thefellow's mouth when you fired."

  "Think quickly, act quickly; it has saved my bacon many a time. Youought to have been with me when I was with Captain Lawrence Middleton.There is the fellow to ride with. But this wouldn't have happened ifBruno had been with me."

  "Bruno? Who is Bruno?" asked Dave.

  "Bruno is my dog. He would have smelled those fellows out before we werewithin forty rods of them. I am never afraid of a surprise when Bruno iswith me. But no more talking now."

  Once more their horses took up a swinging gallop, and they met with nofurther adventures, and within less than three hours from the time theystarted they were halted by the Union pickets who guarded the approachto the river opposite Jefferson City.

  Harry demanded of the Lieutenant in command of the picket that they beferried across the river without loss of time, but the Lieutenantdemurred, saying it was against orders to allow anyone to cross theriver during the night.

  "I have important dispatches from Captain Duffield to Colonel Guitar.Refuse to take me over, and I would not give much for your command,"angrily answered Harry.

  "Who are you?" demanded the Lieutenant. "From your dress you arecertainly not a soldier."

  "I am Harry Semans, scout for the Merrill Horse," answered Harry.

  "At the name 'Merrill Horse' the Lieutenant became as meek as a lamb.

  "Excuse me," he exclaimed. "I will see that you get over the riverimmediately. Anything new at Fulton?"

  "Porter and Poindexter are within eleven miles of the place, andDuffield expects to be attacked by morning."

  The Lieutenant gave a low whistle. "The devil," he ejaculated, andrushed to give the necessary orders.

  It was eleven o'clock before the river was crossed and the headquartersof Colonel Guitar reached. He had just retired, but Harry and Dave werewithout ceremony admitted into his bedroom. The Colonel read thedispatch of Captain Duffield, sitting on his bed in his nightclothes.

  At once all was excitement. There were but five hundred men guarding theimportant post of Jefferson City. Of this force, Colonel Guitar orderedone hundred to accompany him to Fulton. He dared not deplete the littlegarrison more.

  While Harry and Dave were in the Colonel's bedroom, Harry noticed thatDave was regarding Guitar with a great deal of interest. When theypassed out Dave said to Harry in a whisper, "That general don't amountto shucks. Think of him fighting Porter?"

  "Why, what's the matter with Guitar?" asked Harry.

  "Matter! He wears a nightgown just like a woman. Who ever heard of a manwearing a nightgown?"[1]

  [Footnote 1: A true incident.]

  Harry exploded with laughter. "Many men wear nightgowns," he explained."I have no doubt but what General Schofield does. I reckon you will findout that Guitar will fight."

  During the day there had been two important arrivals in Jefferson City,that of Lawrence Middleton and Dan Sherman. They had told Colonel Guitarof the rapid concentration of the guerrilla bands all through thecounties north of the river, and had warned him to be on the lookout fortrouble. In fact, they had brought orders from General Schofield for himto send two of his companies to Columbia, as it was thought that was theplace in greatest danger.

  Lawrence and Dan were told of the danger that threatened Fulton, andthey determined to accompany Guitar in his expedition.

  It was not until they were on the ferryboat crossing the river thatHarry was aware that Lawrence and Dan were of the number. He nearly wentwild on seeing them.

  "And how is Bruno?" asked Lawrence.

  "Bruno is all right. I sent him with a dispatch to Colonel Shaffer."

  Hurry as fast as they could, it was long past midnight before the forcewas across the river, and then there was a twenty-seven mile ride aheadof them.

  On the march Harry had an opportunity to tell Lawrence much that hadhappened to him since they parted.

  It was daylight when Fulton was reached, and, much to their relief, theplace had not been attacked, but the excitement ran high. Rumor hadincreased Porter's force to two thousand. Colonel Guitar believed thisestimate to be much too high. So, small as his force was, only onehundred and eighty, he determined to move out and attack Porter withoutdelay.

  When this became known to the few Union inhabitants of Fulton theyimplored Guitar not to do it. "Your force will be annihilated," theyexclaimed, "and Fulton will be at the mercy of the foe."

  Lawrence agreed with Colonel Guitar. "We came here in the night," saidhe. "Porter does not know how many men you brought. No doubt your forceis magnified, the same as his. Assuming the offensive will disconcerthim, and also prevent him receiving further reinforcements."

  So it was decided, and the little force took up the march for Brown'sSprings, eleven miles away. Couriers were dispatched to find ColonelShaffer, for even if Bruno had succeeded in delivering Harry's messageShaffer would march for Fulton instead of Brown's Springs.

  It was about eleven o'clock when the column reached the vicinity ofBrown's Springs. Nothing as yet had been heard from Colonel Shaffer, butGuitar determined to attack. Lawrence had been asked by Guitar to act ashis aid, to which he gladly assented.

  Two or three small parties of guerrillas had been sighted, but they tookto the brush at the sight of the Federals.

  The command now moved cautiously forward, but there was to be no battle.Harry, who had been scouting in front, returned with the news that theguerrillas had fled. Their camp was
soon occupied. Everything showed arapid flight; even the would-be dinner of the guerrillas was found halfcooked.

  Along in the afternoon Porter's force was located near Moore's Mill,about four miles distant.

  As Colonel Guitar's men had not slept a wink the night before, and asboth men and horses were tired out, the Colonel decided to camp, resthis men and await the coming of Shaffer.

  Why Porter fled from Brown's Springs and yet gave battle the next day,after Shaffer had come up, will never be known. If he had fought atBrown's Springs he would have had five men to Guitar's one. He may havethought Shaffer was miles away. What Poindexter had told him would leadhim to believe this. And it would have been the case had it not been forHarry and the faithful Bruno.

  Every precaution was taken by Colonel Guitar to guard against a nightattack, but his little army was allowed to rest in peace.

  During the night the couriers sent out to locate Shaffer reported. Brunohad done his work well, but Shaffer had been miles farther away thanthought, and as had been requested by Harry in his report, had marchedfor Fulton. He was yet ten miles away, and it would be impossible forhim to join Guitar before morning.

  The morning came and with it Shaffer, and with him five hundred andfifty men, eager for the combat. How Guitar's men did cheer when theysaw Shaffer coming.

  Scouts reported that Porter still occupied his camp, and showed no signof moving. It looked as if he had resolved to stay and fight. ColonelGuitar gave the order to move forward and attack. The advance had to becarefully made, for the country was rough, wooded, and covered with adense undergrowth of bushes.

  Harry now had Bruno with him, and leaving his horse, he, with the dog,made his way to the front, in order to discover, as far as possible, theplans and position of the enemy. So dense was the undergrowth he couldnot see thirty feet ahead of him, but Bruno, as stealthy as a tiger inthe jungle, crept through the bushes ahead of him and more than oncegave him warning to turn aside his steps and take another direction. Atlast he came to quite a hill, on the summit of which grew a tree withbranches close to the ground. Leaving Bruno to guard, Harry climbed thetree, and to his satisfaction had a good view of the country. But whathe saw filled him with consternation.

  The road on which the Federals were marching was narrow and on each sidelined with dense underbrush. Ahead of the Federal advance, the roaditself was clear, not a guerrilla in sight, but Porter had left his campand all his forces were stealthily creeping through the woods, andconcealing themselves in the bushes which lined the road.

  Harry knew that that meant an ambuscade, and the Federal advance wasalmost into it. In his eagerness he hardly knew whether he fell, jumped,or swung himself down by the branches, but he was out of the tree andtearing through the brush like a mad man to give warning.

  He came to the road just as Colonel Guitar came along, riding at thehead of his column, the advance, consisting of twenty-five men ofCompany E, Third Iowa Cavalry, being a short distance ahead.

  "Halt the advance. Ambuscade," gasped Harry. He could say no more, as hefell from exhaustion.

  "Halt the advance. Ambuscade," gasped Harry.]

  Guitar understood. "Halt," he cried, and to an aid, "Warn the advance."

  The aid put spurs to his horse, but he was too late. Before he couldgive warning there came a crashing volley from the jungle on the eastside of the road, the thicket burst into flame and smoke. It was anawful, a murderous volley. Out of the twenty-five men who composed theadvance, hardly a man or horse escaped unscathed; all were killed orwounded.

  Swift and terrible as this blow was, it created no panic in Guitar'slittle army. The road was narrow, thickets on each side. Nothing couldbe done with cavalry. Quickly the order was given to dismount and sendthe horses back in charge of every fourth man. Guitar then formed hisslender line in the edge of the thicket on the west side of the road,with orders to hold until Shaffer came up, for Shaffer was still behind.

  Hearing the sound of the conflict, Shaffer rushed forward, sent back hishorses, and along the road and through the tangled undergrowth the linewas formed and the battle became general.

  The guerrillas displayed a bravery they seldom showed when engaged withregular troops, and fought with determination and ferocity. They had theadvantage in position and numbers, but Guitar had the advantage inhaving a couple of pieces of artillery. One of these pieces was broughtup by hand and planted in the road where it could sweep the woods inwhich the guerrillas were concealed.

  Hidden from view, the guerrillas crept up near, poured in a murderousvolley, and then raising a blood-curdling yell, dashed for the gun. Fourof the gunners had fallen before the volley, and for the time the gunwas silent. But behind the piece lay a line of sturdy cavalrymen. Theywaited until the guerrillas had burst from the thicket and were withinforty feet of the gun, then sprang to their feet and poured a terrificvolley almost into the faces of the foe.

  Staggering and bleeding, the guerrillas shrank back into the woods, butonly to rally and with fearful yells dash for the gun again. This timethey were not met by the cavalrymen alone, but the cannon belched forthits deadly charge of canister in their faces.

  When the four gunners fell at the first charge, Dan Sherman, seeing thatthe piece was not manned, rushed forward and snatched the primer fromthe dead hand of the man who was about to insert it when he fell. Daninserted the primer, pulled the lanyard and sent the contents of the guninto the ranks of the enemy. Two of the artillerymen who had not beeninjured came to his assistance, and again the gun was thundering forthits defiance.

  Through the chaparral Shaffer's men now pushed their way foot by foot.It was a strange conflict. So dense was the undergrowth the line couldnot be followed by the eye for thirty feet. No foe could be seen, butthe thickets blazed and smoked, and the leaden hail swept through thebushes, tearing and mangling them as if enraged at their resistance.

  The duty of Lawrence was a dangerous one. He had to break his waythrough the thickets, see that some kind of a line was kept, and thatorders were being executed. While the men were sheltered by trees, logsand rocks, he had to be exposed, but as if possessed of a charmed life,he passed through unscathed.

  Foot by foot the Federals dragged themselves forward, slowly pressingthe guerrillas back. At last, tired of fighting an unseen foe, the menarose to their feet, and with a wild cheer sprang forward. Surprised,the foe wavered, then broke. The flight became a panic, and they fledterror-stricken from the field. The battle of Moore's Mill had beenfought and won.

  There was no pursuit that night. The day had been intensely hot, and thebattle had raged from twelve noon until four. The soldiers, withblackened, swollen faces and tongues, were fainting with thirst. ColonelGuitar ordered his men to occupy the camp deserted by the foe. The deadwere to be buried, the wounded cared for.

  So precipitously had the guerrillas fled that except the severelywounded, few prisoners were taken. Porter had impressed upon his menthat to be captured by the Yankees meant certain death.

  While searching the field Lawrence noticed some white object crawlingalong like a large reptile. Upon investigation he found to his surprisethat it was a man, and entirely nude.

  "Why are you without clothes?" asked Lawrence.

  The man looked tip into Lawrence's face with a scared expression andwhined, "The guerrillas captured me, and they stripped me of myclothing."

  "Then you are a Federal soldier?" inquired Lawrence.

  "Y-e-s," came the halting answer.

  "You lie," exclaimed Lawrence. "You are one of the guerrillas."

  The fellow then broke down, and, piteously begging for his life, said hewas one of Porter's men, and that he looked for nothing but death ifcaptured, so he had divested himself of his clothing, hoping to passhimself off as a Federal.[2]

  [Footnote 2: A true incident of the battle.]

  Lawrence ordered him to be tenderly cared for, and tears of gratituderan down the fellow's face when he realised he was not to be murdered.

  The battl
e of Moore's Mill, insignificant as it was compared to thegreat battles of the war, was important in this: It frustrated the plansof the conspirators, and was the beginning of a series of conflictswhich forever ended the hopes of the Confederates to recapture the Stateby an uprising.

  Colonel Guitar reported his loss in the battle as thirteen killed andfifty-five wounded. The guerrilla loss he reported at fifty-two leftdead on the field and one hundred and twenty-five wounded.

  In all the partisan battles in Missouri the guerrillas never reportedtheir losses, and only the reports of the Federal commanders areaccessible. In many cases no doubt these reports are exaggerated.