Jefferson Barracks Missouri

November 14, 1864.

 

Dear Brother;—

                                    It is some time since I have heard from you, and some time since I have written to you. I suppose you did not know where I was, or what had become of me. Well I must say at times since the 27^th of Sept. I scarcely knew myself where I was, or what I was after. I had a very distinct idea that I was after Price and his Pack, but wheather I was awake or asleep, half dead or alive, riding, flying or standing still I knew not. Old Price is the fault of all my delays. But you wish to know something of our trip after Price. Well: we were ordered from Memphis or rather from the Talahatchie in Miss. to St. Louis on the 26 of Aug. On the 8 of Sept. we reach Memphis—13 we left Memphis and on the 16^th of Sept. landed in St. Louis. For what purpose we knew not. We expected a glorious time, and we got it, but not by remaining in St. Louis. On the morning 3 A.M. of the 27^th of Sept. we left our Camp at Old Camp Gamble, for a five or ten days Scout, which ended in a 50 days Scout.

 

Old Price had made his first move for Mo. and we 7^th Kansas, made the first move for Price. Little did we think then that before we would get through, Old Rosy would have 30,000 Cavalry around us, and we would be the advance of a charging column of Two thousand drawn sabres, on the open Prarie, under the command of the celebrated Pleasanton, who is the greatest Cavalry Officer for sabre charges in the U.S. From St. Louis we went to D^eSoto on the Iron Mt. R.R. from D^eSoto on the Merrimac, being then the left flank for St. Louis, from the Merrimac / we followed and watched Price, not being able to do any more, with the 13 Mo. and Merril's Horse to Franklin on Pasific R.R. then to Union then across the Gashanade and Osage to Jefferson City—from Jefferson to California and Boonville—then to Lexington, and here we made the first big move for Price. Our forces commenced to collect. Gen. M^cNeal took command of our Brig. a few days before October 19, and it made us feel as though we were going to fight. We had become very much dissatisfied and felt as though all we could do was watch Price as he pilleged and laid waste the Country and let him go on in his work of ruin. Believe me that in all the raids in Miss. and Alabama I never saw any thing to equal the ruthless plundering of Price's men. In Union not a carpet—not a piece of male or female, or childrens' apperral, not a single cook utensil, not a mirror was left. They took the carpets from the floor and the most shameless of all, took the rings off of the womens fingers. On the 21^st of Oct. we commenced fighting with Shelbie's command near Lexington. We followed them to Independence, and here they made a stand until 2 Oclock P.M. of the 22^nd Our Reg't was the rear guard and we were ordered to the front for a charge 9 miles distance—we went the distance at a sweeping trot, and went into Independence at a full charge with drawn sabres, charged their battery of Two Guns and took it. For 20 minutes it was hot work but they would not stand our sabres. But few prisoners were taken. We supported 2 Companies of the 13 Mo. and they killed every prisoner. A thing we never do. If we take a man Pris, he is safe. We took six men and one Col. They were shot by orders of Gen. M^cNeal for wearing our uniform. Every Reb who had any part of our uniform on was shot or hung.

12 mid night we left Independence and marched until 3 O'clock A.M. of 23^d when we came to Reb. Camp. On the 23^d we, our Regt. was ordered to the front again to skirmish with the enemy. Price's traine passed Hickman's Mill on Santafee Road, near little Blue and we were to charge / the traine, but our reserve was half a mile back—and the Rebs had about five thousand men, entirely too much for four hundred. So we drew up in skirmish line, on the opposite hill, in good gun shot of each other, watched their traine pass, and passed about four hours shooting at them, and sticking ourselves up as a target for them to shoot at us. Not a brush between us. Every shot they made reached us, but strange to say they did not fire as much as men would who had plenty of ammunition to expend. We were in more danger of our own guns. They opened a battery half a mile in our rear and most of our shells exploded in our line. Three struck within five feet of me, and we were compelled to move our position. And here let me say that I would, rather, and so say all our men, make half dozen charges than stand in one open field skirmish line. The enemy have a dead aime and you must stand like a condemned criminal who is to be shot. While in a charge all is excitement. You hear no balls whising around your head, see no actual danger, and know none until you feel it, and then unless mortally wounded you are scarcely aware of a wound. We remained out until 9 O'clock P.M. & lay remainder of night in line of battle until 3 A.M. of 24 when our Co. went on a reconoitering expedition—that night we followed them until 12 mid-night when we lay in line of battle again. They on one side of the Meradesene and we on other—next morning 25^th, at 4 A.M. Col. Winslow, in command of the 2^nd Brig of Mississippi Cav, crossed the River and charged them. He took 7 pieces of cannon—Gen. Marmaduke and Gen. Cable, 4 Cols. 27 Lieutenants and 515 prisoners. Glorious mornings work, though poor fellow he was mortally wounded, and it is reported has since died. This was the commencement of one of the most glorious cavalry fighting days the Union army ever saw, or ever will see. Such a body of Cavalry will never meet again on such a battle field, in America. The Great Western Prarie with not a tree to shelter a man, / For thirteen mile we went at a fast trot, until we crossed the Osage. Out on the open Prarie within three miles of Ft. Scott they made a stand. We charged them with Two thousand drawn sabres and one thousand Carbines (7 shooters) in the centre—our charging column was one mile from the left to the right of the column. And the Rebs. had three lines of a mile front each. They fought like devils, but they could not stand our sabres. They rushed into our centre and you could scarcely tell who were our men, but when we came in from the right and left with our sabres they run like good fellows. We made three charges that day and drove them every time. Pleasanton never brought up his reserve, and did not use his cannon until he found he could not get them into a regular engagement. They had three time our number engaged, but would not stand. I wish you could have seen the military movements. They trying to keep out of a fight and we trying to get them to stand. They had three cannon left, but dared not bring them into action. "Bring out your Cannon". "Why dont you come and get your cannon" was the constant cry from our men. But they made no reply. We run two howitzers to our charging column in order to get them to charge them, and one time they made for them, but they went back. About 4 O'clock they left the field. Fired the Praire and retreated in the smoke, and such a retreat. They must have been frightened almost to death. For ten miles from the Battle field, the road was covered with burnt, burning and abandoned wagons. One hundred wagons were burnt in one Corral. They left ten wagons loaded with ammunition. The teamsters cut the traces & left them in the road. Harness, saddles, guns, accoutrements, cartridge boxes, powder kegs, worn out horses, sick soldiers—cooking utensils, plunder of all description, clothing and bundles lined the road for over ten miles. They lad conical shells with percussions in the end all along the road with the percussion toward us in the road for miles, expecting our horses would strike / them with their feet and they would explode. Hundreds of shells were thrown on the Prairie, which they intended to fire, and thus ignite them, but the poor devils had no time to finish their work. Three thousand Cavalry in the front could have captured their whole army. Their provisions had given out, having nothing except what they got off of the Country. We captured all their cattle they had with them—cheated out of Ft. Scott, where they expected to provision themselves, worn out, hungary, many dismounted, and disheartened with bad luck, they must have been a miserable army. Their best generals, Marmaduke and Cable gone. Out of eighteen pieces of artilery only three left (Blunt took what we left) they had enough to dishearten them. In Miss, the women said it was to be the grandest thing of the war. They were to take Jefferson and hold Mo. this winter. And what have they done? We followed them from D^eSoto, where they first entered the State into Arkansas, and what have they made? They took Pilot Nob with a few prisoners, captured a few towns and malitia who they all parolled and plundered a large scope of Country, their friends with the rest. Turned many of their friends against them. Lost fifteen pieces of their best field pieces, two of their best Generals, over eight thousand men, killed, and captured, wore out their horses, and demoralized their whole Cavalry force, and done nothing for the Confederacy, made no friends, and were driven into Arkansas half starved, and half of their army half naked. The prisoners we took looked miserable—of all the thousands I have seen not a hundred men were well clothed. We followed them through Carthage to New-Tonia, within twenty miles of the Arkansas line and then went to Springfield. At Springfield we were ordered by Gen. Grants Adjutant, who was in St. Louis, to follow Price. On the 31^st of Oct. we were at Springfield, it snowed two days and we were anxious to return. Many of our horses had given out, and in fact not one out of every ten was fit to start on an expedition, but the / order was issued and had to be obeyed. So after turning the unserviceable horses and dismounted in at Springfield Gen. M^cNeal started with his command to Ft. Smith, and a rough time they will have of it. I was sent back to St. Louis in charge of our dismounted men, being twelve out of our Company. And after drawing condemned plugs at Springfield we started to Rolla. There we turned in our horses, and took the cars for St. Louis, where we arrived dirty, tired, worn out and hungary on the 11^th day of November, being out in the field 46 days. While out our Camp was moved from St. Louis to Jefferson Barracks, thirteen miles from St. Louis, and here we are in our tents in a fine grove, and feel as though we were in Paradise. Although it was a rough trip I would not have missed it for a fine sum of money. This will do me, however, for the next six months.

 

            I am well and as hearty as any warior in the field. Tell sister I will write to her in a few days. Give her my kindest wishes, and give the boys a hug for me.

 

            It is getting late, and I must close.      Your Brother as Ever

                                                                                    John M. Ruby

                                                                                                Jefferson Barracks

                                                                                                            Missouri

M. Gordon Ruby Esq.

            St. Joseph, Missouri.

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