ing her apron as a signal to stop. I ordered the engine stopped and the woman said to me, "For God's sake, don't go any further, Anderson's gang has killed Major Johnston and all of his men.

I did not believe the story and so went on to Centralia. There I found but one man to approach me; his name was Singleton. He told me that after the slaughter of the invalid soldiers, Major Johnston with a company of State Militia had come to Centralia in pursuit of Anderson and his band. Johnston's command was mounted on unbroken horses taken from the farmers in Ralls and Monroe counties, some of them being mares with colts following them. Johnston pursued the marauders beyond the village of Centralia and found them gathered in a line near a wood. Here they stood until Johnston and his company delivered a fire that at once put his horses in a panic. Seeing the confused line and before the men could reload their muskets, the Anderson gang charged and killed every one except two of Johnston's command, who happened to be mounted on fast horses and thus escaped. After slaying Johnston and his men, the fiends mutilated the bodies in a way most horrible to relate.

Learning from Singleton the facts I have above described, I did not with the small force at my command attempt to follow the enemy on foot. I took the murdered soldiers in Centralia to Mexico, where they were buried in one long ditch. The bodies of Johnston's troops were buried by the Ninth Cavalry.

The rebels retreated south and crossed the Missouri River, from whence they made their way to the forces commanded by General Price, then invad

ing the State through the southeastern portion. These forces were practically unresisted until they reached Pilot Knob, where the Federals under the command of Ewing and Fletcher gave battle. The Confederates under Price and Marmaduke greatly outnumbered the Union men and compelled the retreat of the latter. The invaders did not come nearer St. Louis but went in the direction of Jefferson City. In the meantime, all available federal troops in the State, including my regiment, were hurried forward to Jefferson City to protect and save the Capital. These troops came from various sections and comprised a regiment under the command of Colonel John F. Philips, others under General John B. Sanborn, and still others under the command of General E. B. Brown, General John McNeil, Colonel Joseph J. Gravelly, and Colonel B. F. Lazear.

The confederates crossed Mauro Creek some three or four miles south of the Capital, deployed skirmishers, and marched in force toward the city. Here the number of federal troops seemed to deter them from a serious assault. Instead, they avoided the city and retreated, beating their way west in the direction of Kansas City. They were followed vigorously by the Federal Cavalry and engaged from time to time on their retreat from the State into Arkansas, the Federal Infantry also being used in repairing bridges, rebuilding railroads, etc.

After the failure of Price's invasion, comparative order and quiet was restored throughout the State.

The re-election of Mr. Lincoln as President and the election of Thomas C. Fletcher as Governor of Missouri, took place in November. General Grant

was pushing with energy the forces under General Lee in Virginia, and the western armies with renewed vigor were making their way down through Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. While away from home in command of my regiment, the republicans of Pike County at the November election re-elected me as a member of the State Legislature. My colleague from that County was Doctor Stephen J. Reynolds of Bowling Green. When the legislature met, I obtained a furlough and for a time attended its sessions. Thomas C. Fletcher was duly inaugurated as Governor.

In January 1865, I received orders to take my regiment south and to report at New Orleans to General E. R. S. Canby. I went aboard the steamer "Diana" at St. Louis, and after a week's time reached my destination and reported. My regiment was then assigned to the Sixteenth Army Corps commanded by General A. J. Smith.

After remaining in and about New Orleans for ten days, I was ordered to go aboard a steamboat named the "Laurel Hill" and proceed to the entrance of Mobile Bay. Here in good time I arrived at Fort Gaines. Further preparation was there made for an advance upon the city of Mobile. The army composed of the Sixteenth Corps under command of General Smith, the Thirteenth Corps under General Gordon Granger, the Ninth under General Steel (this corps being composed of colored troops), and all under the command of Major General E. R. S. Canby, proceeded to invest Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely on the east side of Mobile Bay. These two forts comprised the main defenses of the city. The

siege was made on the twenty-seventh day of March, 1865. After a bombardment and battle that lasted for several days, Spanish Fort was evacuated, and two days later the garrison at Blakely surrendered.

Among the prisoners taken at Blakely were many Missourians, notably General Francis M. Cockrell, afterwards a Senator of the State, Colonel Gates, later State Treasurer of Missouri; Colonel Thomas C. Carter, an old neighbor of mine in Lincoln County; George Walker, an old acquaintance of St. Charles County, and others.

The city of Mobile surrendered to federal control and was occupied by a part of the Thirteenth Corps.

The Sixteenth Corps (General Smith) was ordered to proceed overland to the city of Montgomery, the capital of Alabama and the first capital of the Confederacy. Steel's corps went on boats up the Alabama River to Montgomery. At Greenville, we first had news of the surrender at Appomatox Court House of the Army of General Lee to General Grant. Shortly after this we learned of the assassination of President Lincoln.

On the march from Mobile to Montgomery, I was taken quite ill with malaria fever and it was some time before I was able to avail myself of a sick leave and return to Missouri. I left Montgomery on a steamboat and went down the Alabama to Mobile, from which point I went to New Orleans and took the steamer "Mississippi" for St. Louis. After remaining at home for a month I returned to Montgomery and received orders to take my regiment to Vicksburg to be mustered out. This was in the latter half of July. At the same time, Colonel Sam Holmes

commanding another Missouri regiment, received a similar order. It then became a race as to which should get home first.

The facilities for getting across the country to Vicksburg were very poor, but such as they were I succeeded in moving ahead of Holmes. From the Big Black into Vicksburg I went in advance of my regiment. Here I found General Henry W. Slocum in command. I asked him to change my order and let me proceed to St. Louis for muster out. This he granted and I at once applied to the Quartermaster for transportation on the river. When I reached the office of the Quartermaster it was quite late at night, but I found the Chief Clerk in charge. This man's name was Kretchmar.

He was a son of Christian Kretchmar, who had been clerk of the Criminal Court at St. Louis for several years. When he found out who I was he seemed to be greatly pleased, and said he would give me the first boat up the river. He spoke of what he termed a great favor shown his father when I was a member of the legislature. This had reference to a bill reported by me for the relief of his father as clerk in some matter that had escaped my memory. However, I got the order and went to a hotel for the rest of the night. The next morning about ten o'clock the smoke from the steamer "Henry Von Phul" was seen, and shortly after the boat landed at Vicksburg. About this time a train, running between the Big Black and Vicksburg, came in with my regiment aboard. It took but a little while to change from train to boat and by noon we were well under way.