Found bushwhackers

This is a follow up and continuation of the column that appears above. However, in this set of entries in his diary Sgt. Mallery of Co. A., 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry records his patrol or scout does indeed find and attacks some Bushwhackers.

Sgt. Mallery's entire diary was phonetically transcribed by Historian Pat Brophy and has been published by the Vernon County Historical Society. It is available for sale at the Bushwhacker Museum in Nevada, Mo., Fort Scott National Historic Site in Fort Scott, Kan., and at the Mine creek Battlefield visitor Center near Pleasanton, Kan.

The following entries are located on pages 21-23 of the diary.

Monday, March 28, 1864

Cold and wind blew and snow flew all day. Rained and snowed through the day. In camp all day.

Sergeant and 20 men started for Fort Gibson. Lieut. Ellis and 12 men detailed to scout (patrol) and look for Pony Hill (a notorious Confederate guerrilla in Vernon County) he being reported close by. Wrote a letter for Bill. Snowing at 9 p.m., about 1/2 inch on the ground.

Tuesday, March 29, 1864

Cold and wind blew all day. Left camp at 12 noon in company with Lieut. Ellis and 11 men with two days rations on a Scout. Went 15 miles and hid in the woods till almost night when we moved to a road one mile, which we guarded expecting the enemy to come on. Stayed there until 11 p.m., when we started for a house, but saw their campfire so we went into camp two miles from the enemy.

Wednesday, March 30, 1864

Up at daylight and moved towards the enemy. Crossed the river, when we saw two horses. Seven of the boys went after them. The rest followed a path in the woods, but did not go far before the lieutenant and myself saw their camp three rods [approximately 50 feet] from us. They being asleep, we dismounted and fired on them four shots each (and) they run for (their) lives. We took six horses, all of their saddles, blankets and all they had. Brought away part and burned the rest.

Thursday, March 31, 1864

Cloudy and rained some. Last night we had a nice shower. Corporal of the guard, up the fore part of the night.

Wrote a letter to my father. (A) scout went out last night of 12 men after we came in (from our patrol) to look for Pony Hill and gang. Expect to be gone two days. Charley Tharp returned from furlough.

Friday, April, 1864

Clear and cold. Relieved from guard at sunrise. Snowed and rained part of the night. The Scout that went out after we returned at dawn, but found nothing. In camp all day. Nothing going on of importance. (A) small scout went (out) at night, returned the next morning.

Saturday, April 2, 1864

Cold and wind blew hard all day. Received orders to go up to Levi Welch's and relieve T. Peters so he could go and see (his) brother, he being very sick. Left camp early, but could not find him so sent word to him to go and see his brother. Arrived at Welch's at noon. Like the folks well and would like to remain here. Went up to Bartlet's in the evening.

Sunday, April 1, 1864

Cloudy and rained most all day. Took a ride with Mr. Welch to Morgan's after some of his cattle. Got dinner and started back, got quite wet. Three of the boys went to camp. (We) slept in the barn with our horses.

We are some 6 miles from camp, but for all of that we (would) like to stay here, but we have to keep a sharp lookout for Jayhawkers and Bushwhackers."

This was a typical week of activities for Sergeant Mallery and the troopers of Co. A, 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry while they were on garrison duty near Balltown, Mo., in 1864.

They found a few elusive bushwhackers but not the notorious Pony Hill, and the war went on!