ARCRAWFO-L Archives

Archiver > ARCRAWFO > 2002-03 > 1017335778


From: "Fran Warren" <>
Subject: Part 2- Crawford County Civil War Story told in 1893
Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2002 11:12:46 -0800


By request........here's part two!

Van Buren Press
Van Buren, Crawford County, Arkansas
July 29,1893

A WAR SKETCH (Part two)
Adventures of a Confederate Soldier in the Vicinity of Van Buren, Ark. (by W
P Black)

From the Muldrow Register:- On the back porch of the house I met Colonel
Bowen's adjutant, to whom I spoke as politely as I knew how, and inquired
for Colonel Bowen. I was told that the Colonel was in the house, but had
forbidden the admission of any person. I then rode up close to the porch and
said "I have a message for the Colonel". The adjutant said "I will deliver
it, for he will admit no one" I told him it was a verbal one and must be
delivered in person to Colonel Bowen.
He shook his head, stepped up and laid his arm on my horse's neck and said:
"My friend, I cannot let you in".

Just at that time I caught him by the shoulder and gave him a whirl which
forced him about, and before he could recover I was on the porch and had him
covered with my rifle.- By this time my boys had dismounted and were on the
porch too. By a nod from me they covered him. I then demanded of him to know
where the Colonel was, and he pointed to a narrow passageway which seemed to
be between the main building and a small room on one end of the porch, and
said: "When you get in there turn to the left", which I did, leaving him and
he boys on the porch. When I reached the door to my left I saw Colonel Bowen
and Miss Maggie Thurston sitting close together, having his left arm around
her waist.

I saluted the Colonel according to Army regulations, which he returned, and
asked what I would have. I told him to consider himself a prisoner, which
seemed to surprise him very much. Said he: "By what authority do you demand
my surrender?"

I replied: "By the authority invested in me by the Confederate States of
America."

He then surrendered, and after searching him for arms ordered him to march
ahead of me through the narrow passage out to where the boys were, the
adjutant having escaped. I held him by the shoulder with my right hand, with
Miss Maggie following close at my heels. Just as we got out of the passage
he jerked loose from me and tried to make a break for liberty; but I gave
him a punch in the side with the muzzle of my rifle, which brought him to
time. I then ordered all to mount and the Colonel on my horse. Just then
Miss Maggie made a break for the Colonel, and I had to prevent her from
holding him back. I again ordered him with an admonition, to mount, which he
did. Miss Maggie seeing that she was defeated, with prospects of losing her
lover, mad a leap into the air- it seemed to me 4 feet high- and fell to the
ground in a faint as if she was dead.

After all being mounted we fell into line, passing the soldiers who were
making cider. What next? It would not do to shear around these fellows, for
they would open fire on us; so I ordered a charge, and we flew at them. And
such a scattering! All run but three, who threw up their hands and begged
for quarter. I then ordered them disarmed, which was quickly done. Then our
three conducted the prisoners a short distance to where there were some
horses tied, where they mounted the prisoners, and off we went, pell-mell
through the orchard and over the fence at break-neck speed.

Just on the outskirts we struck the road leading from Van Buren up Frog
Bayou to Fayetteville. Up this road we almost flew, each man with his pistol
drawn until the first rocky point was reached, when I gave a short whistle
when our rear man and his prisoner left the road, and then another until the
Colonel and myself were left alone. On and on we sped, leaving the soldiers
in town, now in a state of confusion at the news of what had happened-
beating of drums, rallying of men to arms- left in the distance far behind.

After traveling this way for several miles the Colonel and myself left the
road, traveling slowly through the woods over the mountains, up and down
steep places, crossed Frog Bayou, until we finally reached our companions,
who were anxiously awaiting us.

After the usual salute I introduced Colonel Bowen to Captain Wright, and
turned the Colonel over to the Captain. On looking around I found that all
the boys had reached camp safe with their horses, prisoners and booty.-
After we had been in camp a short time Colonel Bowen came to me and said
Captain Wright had agreed to parole him, and let him have his horse provided
he would do all in his power to have John Norwood and companions set at
liberty. I went to Captain Wright and protested against this, telling him
that we had risked our lives to save those boys and if he turned Bowen loose
they would be executed; but Captain Wright seemed to think not, so after
considerable parleying it was left to a vote and Captain Wright gained his
point.

All matters being arranged Bowen soon got ready to return to Van Buren and
invited me to go with him at least part of the way, to which I agreed. Then
we mounted our horses and struck the road to Van Buren. When we got to the
Maxey place (now Rudy) I thought I had gone far enough, so we parted, the
Colonel going ahead after hoisting a white flag by tying his handkerchief to
a stick; he rode in a sweeping gallop down the road to Van Buren.

As Mrs. Gorman lived at that time in the Maxey house I concluded to call on
them; so I left my horse at the front gate, which I think must have been 100
to 150 yards from the house. Mrs. Gorman met me at the door and said: "What
in heaven's sake are you doing here and where is your horse?"

I replied that he was hitched at the front gate.

"Save yourself", says she "by flight, for it has not been but a short time
since a squad of blue coats were here hunting for Colonel Bowen.

I faced about and got to my horse on double quick time. Mounting I took the
road leading up Frog Bayou, and by the time I had reached Captain Winfrey's
place I had fallen into a deep reverie brooding over, as I considered it, in
saving the life of Norwood and comrades. Just as I got opposite Winfrey's
house, I heard a noise, and on looking up, to my surprise, I saw 25 U S
soldiers formed in a line across the road about 75 yards from me, coming
very slow, doubtless to steal a march on me. So far as I could see there
were blue coats coming four deep. What must I do? I could almost see down
the muzzles of their guns. So I risked it like Paddy did his soul, and
halted them at the top of my voice. They stopped and inquired who I was. I
replied, "a soldier". Then one of them asked how many there were of us. I
said "one". CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.
Fran Alverson Warren
e-mail:
501-369-2703
http://www.crawfordcountyarkansas.net/

This thread: