War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

10th. Saturday. Boys broke into P. O. and a store. Major was very angry and arrested Lt. Lockwood there and made three boys walk to Carthage. Boys were mad. This morning I was sick of service or rather longed to get into some other department. Spencer, Archie and I went ahead and got a good dinner at Mr. Hammond’s—old secesh. Found an old gun, which we carried through. Reached Carthage before dusk. Letter and papers from home. Learned that the day before, Co. “I” while out foraging met a squad of rebel soldiers. One was killed, two wounded and three taken prisoners. Next day Sergt. Smith was released on parole to get an exchange of three of Jockman’s men for them.

9th. Friday. During the night we expected an attack every hour. Pickets fired two or three times. Companies were called out into line for a fight early in the morning—at four. Mounted at eight and went six or eight miles and fed oats and corn. Traveled through a fine valley, hills on both sides. Reached Neosho at dusk. Went for corn to a widow’s a mile from town. Slept on the porch at a hotel. Ate there. Good joke on Lt. Nettleton. The next morning when he presented the lady a five dollar bill, she quietly doubled it up and gave no change. Hear cannonading east.

8th. Thursday. Marched on towards Cowskin Prairie. A little skirmish on the road. Our course lay mostly among the Ozark Hills. A rich country and beautiful scenery. Reminded me of Vermont scenes. Enjoyed the ride much. As we struck Cowskin Prairie, a little beyond Elk Mill, we saw a band of thirty armed and mounted men. When we learned they were rebels, we followed, Co. “G” pursuing on their track, and Co. “A” going around a piece of timber. They had too much of a start and escaped. Exciting time. Scouts and spies of the enemy out in every direction. The Major said after we had rallied, that our squad, who had gone three miles farther than most of them, had been within a mile of a camp of 400 men. We were fourteen miles from Marysville where Coffee with 1,000 men was reported. We were in the Cherokee nation. Fine country. Enjoyed it well.

7th. Wednesday. At 2 A. M. prepared for another day’s march. At 3 were on the way. Reached Sparlan’s, a noted secesh, at nine A. M. Fed and ate breakfast. Jayhawked his store. They said the boys destroyed a great deal of property ruthlessly. Continued the march. During the day Orff and Purington had a fuss. Orff took his men and our wagons and turned east to Neosho. After going a few miles we got trace of a band of jayhawkers. Charged after three on horses. Quite a spirited time we had, but the men had a long start, getting on a high hill and in the woods. Scoured the woods, finding some suspicious characters but without arms. Kept eight prisoners. Encamped near by in the valley. They stole a horse during the night.

May 6th. Issued five days’ rations, sugar and coffee. Started on the march southwest at one o’clock. Companies “L”, “M”, “G”, “D” and “A” under Major Purington, and two Dutch companies under Lt. Col. Orff. Marched eighteen miles to Redding Mills. Secesh galvanized. Found plenty of corn and sheaf oats. Occupied a house deserted a few minutes before. A store near by. Nothing of importance left. News of rebels within twelve miles.

5th. Went out with Lt. McGowan after bacon. Went 14 miles. Saw the Challes-Louise. Enjoyed seeing the family again— talkative as ever. Took some hams from Mr. Robertson’s and some others. Went to Mr. Webb’s. Got some apples. Had a good time all around. Got back to camp at ten P. M. Major cross.

4th. Sunday. In the morning went with Archie to the river, saw some very pretty scenery, high bluffs, a cave, and fine foliage. Wrote home.

3rd. Saturday. Ninth Wisconsin, two companies, came in. Lieutenant-Colonel Orff. Major Purington under arrest for saying that he should obey the order of Curtiss. He went to Lamar. Sent returns for six days’ rations. Played chess with Lt. Nettleton.

2nd. Orders from Curtiss to go somewhere, of course we know not where, probably to Cowskin Prairie in extreme southwest corner of Missouri, near the border of Indian Territory. Went out to a grist mill, two miles, and got some flour. Enjoyed the ride very much. Letters from Uncle and L. Randall.