AR-CIVIL-WAR-L Archives

Archiver > AR-CIVIL-WAR > 2002-03 > 1017262911


From: "Fran Warren" <>
Subject: [AR-CIVIL-WAR] Crawford County- Civil War Story told in 1893-Van Buren Press
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 14:59:16 -0800


I apologize for the length of this article but it will be continued in the
newspaper for the following week. If you are interested and I find the
article I will transcribe it and post it as well.... let me hear from you if
this item is too lengthy...

Van Buren Press
Van Buren, Crawford County, Arkansas
July 22, 1893

A WAR SKETCH

Adventures of a Confederate Soldier in the Vicinity of Van Buren, Ark. (by W
P Black)

>From Muldrow Register:- By request of friends I have concluded to give to
the public an adventure of the last war, which took place in the vicinity of
Van Buren, Ark., in August 1864, which I shall recite to the best of my
recollection.

Our command, consisting of Wright's, Marlen's, and Whitson's companies, on
Frog Bayou, Crawford County, Arkansas, Captain Wright in command. About 3 o'
clock one afternoon I called for volunteers to go to Van Buren and capture
Colonel Tom Bowen, who was in command of the U S forces at that place. My
object in capturing him was to to hold him for an exchange for John Norwood
and others who were at that time under sentence of death at Fort Smith, and
thus, save the lives of some good boys. Also to better the condition, if
possible of the Southern women and children in that section of the country,
who were being robbed, mistreated and imprisoned upon misrepresentation of
designing parties in order to get a chance to steal what they had.

The men volunteered to go with me. I don't at this time remember all their
names. We set out late in the afternoon, going by the way of Oliver Springs
then struck south through the woods until we reached a point just northeast
of Van Buren, from one fourth to half a mile from Dr. Thurston's place, in
some heavy timber on the hillside. By this time it was about ten o'clock at
night. Here we held a council of war. It was decided to raid the town on
foot that night and find out what we could. I called for volunteers to guard
the horses but all failed to respond so we all went to town.

On reaching town we went to some of our friends and learned that Colonel
Bowen had went to Fort Smith in answer to a summons from General Thayer,
then in command at that place. We did not go there to be beat so we
concluded to see the sights. It was so interesting to us that we stayed
until the crowing of the chickens admonished us that the bullet fever, which
raged at times in that place, might overtake us if we tarried there too
long. The Boys found stray horses with U S halters on. They boys selected 17
of the best looking ones, also a supply of pistols and mounting, retreated
in good order, reaching our place of rendezvous at day break.

We then held another council of war and decided to send our surplus stock to
the command and await developments. I then detailed three men to take our
horses to the command. We then partook of a meal of cold victuals give us by
our friends in town. I then detailed a man to go to the highest point of the
mountain north east of town, and west of our position, and watch for Colonel
Bowen, as this position commanded a fair view of the ferry where Bowen must
cross the river, when he could be easily distinguished, as he rode a black
horse.

I then took one man and went down on the road side with bridles strapped on
us shot pouch fashion, and as Union soldiers would come along would inquire
for stray horses, representing that we had lost ours. Presently squads of U
S Soldiers began to pass. Presently two came along together, and when we got
them off their guard held them up and took them out to the other boys, then
went back to the road and held up four more, and took them out with the
rest. Going back again to the road the first man that came along was Esquire
Stephenson of Flat Rock Creek, Crawford County, Ark., who we escorted to the
bush and introduced to the boys, one of whom exchanged his slouch hat for
the Esquire's fine beaver, which Stephenson kept as a memento.

When the Union forces took possession of Arkansas a new State constitution
was framed, when Esquire Stephenson was elected to represent Crawford County
in the State legislature, and was jute from Little Rock on his way home we
gobbled him. He was well treated by the boys but failed to recognize any of
us on this occasion.

One of our prisoners was an old man about 75 years old, and yet he wore the
blue. I approached him and said: "Old man are you a U S soldier? You look
rather old." His answer was: "Yes by g---d!"

I then asked him why he enlisted at such an old age. He said: "To kill such
d---d rebels as you!" at the same time putting on a vicious look and
gritting his teeth.

About this time our picket came in and reported that Colonel Bowen crossed
the river and was at Dr. Thurston's. I detailed 4 men to take the prisoner
to the command, which was to meet us on the mountain west of uncle Billy
Howard's place above Captain Winfrey's on Frog Bayou.

There being but four of us left, John Covington, Nelse Tingler, Sol Wagoner
and myself. We mounted our horses and slowly rode down the hill in a
southwesterly direction until we reached an open field. This field had laid
out until bushes from 4 to 6 or 8 feet high had grown up. In front of us
could be seen U S soldiers by the scores, under the shade of those bushes,
some playing cards, others playing mumble peg, and some asleep, regardless
of war or war's alarm. In fact, look which way we might, we could see blue
coats.

The situation was not only critical but dangerous. Could we even entertain a
hope of succeeding when it was evident that we must pass thro' this mob
before success could crown our efforts? What must we do? We had gone too far
to turn back, so we concluded to succeed or die in the attempt. So we rode
slowly thro' the field in a westerly direction and soon began to pass blue
coats on either side of us, in groups under shade of the bushes.

Now was the critical time with us, for we knew our safety depended on our
ability to deceive our enemies, so we began singing, whistling and knocking
each other's hats, to the delight of the boys in blue. We kept this up until
we reached a point some distance west of Dr. Thurston's residence. Then we
angled to our left, bearing south until we struck the road leading from
town, out by Dr. Thurston's place, which we soon reached. Instead of
stopping in front of the house we went to the rear, and here we found
Colonel Bowen's fine black horse saddled and tied; and to our surprise saw
out in the edge of the Dr.'s orchard fifteen or twenty U S soldiers with
their side arms on, carrying apples and making cider. But they did not seem
to notice us, so we felt pretty safe, and turned our attention to the object
of our search. (Continued next week)

Fran Alverson Warren
e-mail:
501-369-2703
http://www.crawfordcountyarkansas.net/

This thread: