NEVADA, Mo., Sept. 8.-- [Editor Republican.]-- Some time since my attention was called to an article in the REPUBLICAN written by Maj. Foster, in which the major drew a great many things from his own imagination. I was requested to answer it at the time, but declined to answer it at the time, but declined to do so, as I thought some other would improve the opportunity.
Next came "No. 2," from one Sidney D. Jackman, with a wood cut of his "phiz" and "general" prefixed his name. This is a particular piece of writing. For brag and bombast it has not its equal in ancient or in modern history. I do not think that since Adam was driven from his Eden ever pretended to write the history of any event and used as many "I's" as did our distinguished "general" in the very remarkable article. When I was a boy there was a family fight among the Missouri Democrats, in which the Benton and anti-Benton factions opposed each other bitterly. In speaking of the arrogance of Thomas H. Benton, it was the custom of the anti-Benton partisans to denominate that distinguished worthy "Old I Did" and this would seem a fitting name for the heroic Jackman. Therefore, I will be pardoned for referring to him as "I Did."
The magnifying glasses worn by "I Did" makes the "I" very large, while the "Yous" are correspondingly diminutive. Yet many things that he relates are as near to the truth as a mind like "I Did's" can write. It is hardly necessary, then, to add that very many of his statements are highly tinctured with "concentrated." Like the novel writer, he must have his hero, and in this case his hero must be Jackman! In order to accomplish this, however, there were several other names to get out of the way, and the first of those was Col. Cockrell. This man was wanting in nerve- showed the white feather- started to run back, but "I Did" and "I Said," and, finally, we went on; and had it not been for "I Did," Col. Cockrell would have turned tail and run back to Troy Bayou! But "I Did" saved him, and we went ahead with flying colors.
After boasting Col. Cockrell in this style as long as necessary, "I Did" pets him up again, just as some men fondle a dog after having kicked him out of the path. As to how Col. Cockrell will appreciate the treatment is not for me to say.
At Lone Jack the first strike "I Did" makes is at Col. Up. Hays, who, I believe, is dead. Hays must not have even one feather in his hat, so "I Did" boots him clear out. Hays, out of the way, branded a coward, we will now proceed with the battle. The lines were formed much as stated by "I Did" Hunter on the right, Jackman in the center, and Tracy on the left. Thus formed, we marched up near the sleeping enemy and then waited for an attack by Hays on the east. When we heard the federals getting up I went to Jackman and proposed to attack at once, but he would not consent, saying that the order would not permit [it.] I told him that the circumstances were different from what Col. Cockrell expected, and in my judgement we should move at once. This he refused to do. Had he and Tracy consented to a charge at that time, the federal line would have left the field dressed in white; but we must not take any advantage; consequently we waited until they had donned the blue, seized their guns, provided themselves with plenty of ammunition, formed into line and counted off, as if on parade, and were thus ready and waiting for a foe to fight. Then it was that "I Did" gave the order to charge, when the entire line had been waiting all this time for the idea to get through his head that the proper time to charge had already come.
When the charge was made, my command, being on the right, struck the south part of the town, my left near the hotel and my right out along the fence, while the federals were formed in the street. My line and their left being south of the houses, neither side had any protection. The federals opposing my line soon gave way and retired down the line further north, forming behind the houses in front of Jackman and Tracy. It was not long after the fight began until both parties took advantage of the houses on each side of the street, and the fight was reduced to sharp-shooting- shooting from behind the houses, from windows and from behind any objects that would shield a man's carcass from the bullets of the enemy. After the fight had continued for some length of time and the federals had been driven behind the houses, it was reported to me that there was a body of cavalry threatening my right flank and moving, as if it would attack the boys keeping our horses and our ammunition wagon. When I heard this, I sent my adjutant, Lieut. Frost of Henry county, to see. He came back and reported to me that there was quite a body of federal cavalry out there, and unless immediate steps for protection were taken they would capture our horses and ammunition, and also be enable to charge me in the right rear. At this time Jackman, Tracy, and the federals were all behind the houses, each on his own side, keeping up a regular sharp-shooting match, neither trying to dislodge the other and neither doing much damage. I had, by this time, lost seven men killed dead and many wounded; and when I left Jackman everything was safe, so far as an advance was concerned, and the enemy could not have turned his right flank without first coming out from behind the houses. This I knew they would not do; besides, if they had, I was close enough at hand to meet them and drive them back.
I marched my command a little west of south, about 150 yards. When we started in that direction the cavalry retired east, in behind the federal lines. During this movement we were exposed to a raking fire from the federals in front of Jackman, and my adjutant, Lieut. Frost, was killed and several others wounded.
When the federals, against whom we were moving, retired from the south, I ordered my line into column facing the east, intending to march across the road, south of the two lines, and charged the left wing of the federals and drive them from behind the houses. When the adjutant started east, some of my officers told me that the men had no ammunition. We had but a few cartridge boxes and the men carried their ammunition in their pockets. (Jackman stated that we had only six rounds to start with.) I halted the column and passed down the line. I found that some had two cartridges, some one and some had none, except the one in their guns. In this condition and still under the fire of the federals from behind the houses, I thought it best to retire to the wagon and get ammunition, and I think that I got there about one minute before the irate "I Did." He came up blustering, but I was busy, and paid but little attention to him. Probably the electricity vibrating on the bristly red hair of his head so shocked my shattered nerves that I was dumb. However, be that as it may, it made no impression on my mind, or I had forgotten it.
On our return to the town to renew the fight I may have fallen down (for I have a big foot), but that has also slipped my memory. At all events I went ahead and got up behind the houses. I got up behind one, and Jackman behind another. I fired several shots and supposed he was equally busy, But I noticed he was as careful to shield his carcass as I was to save mine.(By the way, neither of us died for our country at Lone Jack.)
Finally the federals decamped. It might appear that the said Jackman showed his fiery red head from behind the house, and the federals, thinking it a heretofore undiscovered comet threatening them with sure destruction, fled. But the facts are these: That man, Col. John T. Coffee, that Jackman said had run off, happened to return just in the nick of time, when victory was poised over the field, uncertain where to perch. Col. Coffee came up, formed his line across the road north of town, and moved down on the field in grand style (and that was one time I was glad to see the gallent colonel), and the federals, not liking the looks of Col. Coffee's sharp-shooters, fled precipitously down the road to Lexington.
This is a plain, fair and candid statement of facts. I was one of the boys that fought at Lone Jack, and only ask my part of the honors.
As to my being a coward, the men that were with me at Lone Jack did not so believe. When we reached Arkansas my recruits numbered 1,700. By order of Gen. Hindman these recruits were reduced to ten companies of 125 each, making 1,250 men, two or three hundred of them having been in the battle of Lone Jack; and every one of them, by popular vote, voted for D.C. Hunter to be colonel of the Eleventh Missouri Infantry. These men did not believe me to be a coward; the men who were with me at Prairie Grove in front of Gen. Blunt do not believe it; the confederates from Missouri do not believe it, and now Sidney, "honest injun," laying all jealousy and pride aside, you don't believe it yourself? Now own up and admit you just wanted to brag a little.
That boy that helped fire the hotel belonged to Capt. Lowe's company. His name was Lafayette Logan. He was killed before the fight was over and now sleeps under the Lone Jack tree.
Col. Jackman makes a thrust at Col. Tracy. As to the facts I cannot say, but as Col. Tracy long ago sleeps under the sod, and cannot reply, I think it was a very small piece of business to use his vulgar slang to dishonor the dead, that he might boast of himself. As to Capt. Brewster and Lieut. Herrill, both of whom he boasts out, I can say nothing as I do not know them.
It is curious, with the reputation the confederates have always heretofore maintained, that the immortalized Jackman should have been thrown among so many cowards. I am sorry that any body of confederate troops should have been commanded by a set of cowardly officers. And I might ask the "general" some questions about why he left the army in Arkansas, depriving it of his valuable services at a most inappropriate moment. The army west of the Mississippi thus suffered about the same loss that the army of Virginia did in the death of Stonewall Jackson; the difference was that one went to the grave, the other back into the brush. Had Jackman remained with the army and helped Gens. Smith and Holmes, the results of the war would have been far different.
Col. Jackman said nothing about the cannon. I am surprised that he did not claim that he captured them. After the fight was over there was a boy belonging to my command, who lived two miles east of Molcombe's springs in Arkansas (I have forgotten his name), who came and told me the cannon were down in a field. I, with others, went back with him. We found that there were two pieces, and they were bravely defended, but we made a gallant charge and the enemy surrendered. An old dun horse defended one piece and a boy and a sorrel the other. They made a gallant defense, but could not resist our charge and so surrendered to Hunter and the Arkansas boy.
Others may claim the honor of capturing the artillery but it rightfully belongs to the boy from Arkansas. He wore yellow jeans pants, a checked shirt of homemade cotton cloth and a white wool hat.
As to the number killed, after the dead had been carried up and laid in rows for burial, I went along the row and looked at the dead men. I asked the officer in charge how many there were. He said that he had counted them and there were 119 federals and 47 confederates. I did not count them, but from appearances, I thought he was correct. Nine of these belonged to Hunter's command. I never could ascertain as to my number of wounded. Several of my men were left in hospital, and several, who were slightly wounded, went out with me. Some also returned to their homes and there was no report made of the battle to my knowledge.
I do not know that it is necessary, at this late day, to answer the charges more fully than I have, that was never made, to my knowledge, until nearly a quarter of a century after the battle, when a majority of the participants on both sides are sleeping in the dust. And with all the social intercourse I have had with Col. Jackman, and with all the kind regards and personal friendship expressed through letters from him and from others, I had no idea that there was any venom secreted in his heart against me, and I cannot now believe it was anything else than his inordinate love of praise that prompted him to write as he did. It is unlikely that the appointment of United States marshal from President Cleveland may have puffed him a little- but I am done for the present.
