Absalom C. Grimes was a writer in his own right, but his principal fame comes from the fact that he was a military companion of Mark Twain. Grimes was a pilot on the Mississippi whose loyalty was with the South. Although one of his brothers joined the Union army, Absalom became well known as a mail smuggler for the Confederacy. Grimes would eventually join the First Missouri Cavalry CSA, during which service he would become well known for escaping from capture several times (once from the guardhouse in Cairo, Illinois, and on another occasion from Gratiot Street Prison in St. Louis, Missouri).

Prior to enlisting in the First Missouri Cavalry, Grimes joined an irregular Missouri unit in Ralls County. It just so happened that Samuel Clemens, who would later write under the pseudonym Mark Twain, was a lieutenant in the "Ralls County Rangers." Grimes wrote about their escapades together, and it is this account which follows. Grimes survived the war, including a last minute reprieve from hanging as a spy, and lived until 1911.

"Campaigning with Mark Twain"

Clemens, Bowen and I lived in and near Hannibal, Missouri. We decided to go home and visit our families a few weeks (none of us were married) and by that time the secession disturbance would be settles and we could obtain licenses without taking the oath. We went to Hannibal and while there we three pilots visited the levee every morning when the regular Keokuk packets came up from St. Louis and landed there. On the fourth morning we were sitting on a pile of skids about two hundred yards below the landing. The steamer Hannibal City came up the river and landed about nine o'clock. To our surprise a federal lieutenant and four privates came off the boat. After a few words with Jerry Yancey (the boat agent) they turned and walked down the levee to where we were sitting. The lieutenant bade us good morning and pulling a document out of his pocket, asked if our names were Grimes, Bowen, and Clemens? We assented. He said, "I have an order from General John B. Grey, commander of the District of St. Louis, to escort you three gentlemen to his headquarters." We demurred, but upon his statement that he had been ordered to take us to St. Louis and if we went peacefully would treat us like gentlemen, while if we resisted he would be obliged to put us in irons and take us by force, we decided to cause him (and ourselves) no trouble. He and the privates accompanied us to our homes in Hannibal to get our clothing and bid our families farewell. We took the next boat for St. Louis, the steamer Harry Johnson. We were permitted to sleep in staterooms with guards at our doors. The boat left Hannibal at six in the afternoon and arrived at St. Louis at seven o'clock the next morning. We remained aboard until ten o'clock, when we were escorted to General Grey's headquarters in the Oak Hall building on the northeast corner of fourth Street and Washington Avenue, where the Norvell-Shapleigh Hardware Company's building now stands.

The lieutenant introduced us by name, in turn, to General Grey and handed him the commission which he had read to us in Hannibal. The general dismissed him and his men. When they had gone he turned to us and said: "Gentlemen, I understand you three men are pilots and were in Hannibal on a vacation. It seems that the pilots are nearly all Secesh, as they are hard to get hold of. I want to send a lot of boats (carrying soldiers) up to Boonville, on the Missouri River, the latter part of this week." We told him we were not Missouri River pilots and knew only the Mississippi River. He said: "You could follow another boat up the Missouri river if she had a Missouri pilot on her, could you not?" We had to admit that we could accomplish that. "That is all that is necessary," he rejoined.

Just then two stylishly dressed ladies appeared at the office door and greeted General Grey, remarking that they would like to consult him upon some special business as soon as he was at leisure. He requested them to go into a room across the hall and he would join them in a moment. He then asked us to excuse him until he found out what the ladies wanted. We were pleased to do so! He left the room and we immediately picked up our baggage and went out the side door and downstairs to the street, leaving General Grey to enjoy his tete-a-tete with the ladies. After a short consultation we decided to go back to Hannibal, where we thought the authorities would not bother us any more. I went to my mother's home in Ralls county, twelve miles west of Hannibal. A short time afterwards the war excitement reached old Ralls and one fine morning I learned that a whole brigade of recruits had formed a camp at Nuck Matson's home, two miles west of New London. I had become quite enthusiastic in the southern cause so I went over to review the troops assembled at Natson's in behalf of the south. I found that the "brigade" consisted of ten young men, most of whom were my friends. Among them were Charley Mills, Jack Coulter, Tom Lyon, Ed Stephens, Sam Bowen, Sam Clemens (Mark Twain), Asa Fuqua, and a few others. The recruits were undetermined what destructive move they would make first. On the suggestion of someone nearly all of them had their hair cut off as short as possible so as to allow the enemy no advantage in close quarters. Tom Lyon acted as barber, using a pair of sheep- shears. Any hair that escaped cutting was pulled out by the shears. I joined the brigade, and, mounting under a shade tree, had my hair sheared.

Neighboring farmers who were in sympathy with the south provided horses for those who had none. After much deliberation and discussion of plans we decided to move our camp westward, as we heard that some of the Union army would be in Hannibal shortly and we were liable to be captured at any moment by them. We wanted time to organize and drill before their arrival. No two soldiers wore the same equipment. It would be useless for me to try to describe the appearance of that brigade when mounted. Nothing was uniform except that we all rode astride. I will mention especially but one "war horse," the one that had been presented to Mark Twain. He was a little yellow mule, as frisky as a jack-rabbit. He had long, erect ears, was about four feet high, and carried his tail sticking straight out on a dead level with his back. He looked as if he had been mounted on the vinegar keg, and Lyon, the company barber, had used the sheep-shears on the wrong end, for his tail was shaved as with a razor to within six inches of the end--which resembled a painter's only tool. He was promptly christened "Paint Brush" by his master. On this little mule were located Mark Twain, one valise, one carpetsack, one pair of gray blankets, one home-made quilt, one frying pan, one old-fashioned Kentucky squirrel rifle, twenty yards of seagrass rope, and one umbrella. The donor of the mule was Harvey Glascock.

We proceeded west until we reached the home of Colonel Bill Splawn, where we had supper and remained overnight. Next day the brigade went over to Colonel John Ralls' home. He gave us a lecture on the importance of our mission, etc., and after his statement that he was duly authorized by Governor Jackson to enroll recruits for the Southern army, we were all sworn in. then for the first time we realized that someone was going to get into trouble. That afternoon we rode northwest about five miles to Goodwin's mill, which was, I think, located on a branch of Salt river. There we found another squad of men who had organized a company and called themselves the Salt River Tigers. Their appearance would have filled the enemy with terror and caused a stampede equal to that of Bull run. A blacksmith had completed their equipment by providing each man with a huge saber, of knife, made from scythes, sickle bars, long files, and goodness knows what else. Among the tigers were some musicians, the Martin brothers and two others, and they were the orchestra.

When we visited their camp and watched the Tigers drawn up in line, answer to roll call, etc., it occurred to us that we should have someone to take command, give orders, plan a campaign, and instruct us in military drills, so we decided to elect officers. The nominations for captain were William Ely and Asa Glascock, for former being elected. Then Glascock was unanimously elected first lieutenant. Sam Bowen nominated Mark Twain for second lieutenant and he was promptly elected. Sam Bowen was made sergeant and Tom Lyon orderly sergeant. After all the officers had been elected we had three or four men to serve as privates. We called upon Mark Twain for a speech. After some hesitation because of such a large audience (the Tigers were present) he mounted a log, blushing, and said, "You would scarce expect one of my age to speak in public on the--this log. Well, boys, I thank you for electing me your lieutenant. I will try to do my duty and the square thing by you, but I can not make a speech." Captain Ely then commanded us to meet next morning in a certain prairie for drill, as there were no fields in the neighborhood large enough--although some contained sixty or more acres. We dispersed, going in different directions to farmhouses for supper and lodging. I went with some others to Mr. Washington Clayton's home. Next morning before going to the prairie for drill we assembled at the home of Colonel John Ralls.

When I left New London, Colonel Hanceford Brown gave me an old sword and belt that he had worn in the Mexican War and his father had used in the War of 1812. While at Colonel Ralls' I concluded our second lieutenant should have a sword. He was a pilot on the lower Mississippi river and I was an upper Mississippi pilot. We had been friends long before we went into the southern army. I requested colonel Ralls to make the presentation speech, which he did, and Mark Twain responded. We then rode to the prairie, drew up in line, and waited for Captain Ely to report--which he never did from that day to this. Lieutenant Glascock finally assumed command of the Ralls County Rangers, as we had named our company. We made camp in a secluded spot on Salt River, somewhere in the edge of Monroe county, close to an old farmhouse. After we had camped there about two days we were joined by Burr McPherson of Hannibal, who acted as commander and drill master.

We had no tents, so we cut sticks and stuck them into the ground and spread some of our blankets and quilts over them. As for food, the most important part of the expedition, we had very little of any kind. The boys went foraging and brought in corn meal, fat side-meat and some sorghum. This constituted our bill of fare during the entire two weeks we remained there. It rained all the time we were there. Salt river was bank-full ready to overflow. Near our camp was located a log farm belonging to the farmhouse. We used the barn as headquarters. There was a room across each end and a gangway between the rooms which was about fifteen feet wide and covered with a clapboard roof. In the gangway we did our cooking, as it was too wet outside to have a fire. Along each side of the gangway was a large trough in which we fed our horses and at night Clemens and I slept in it.

Someone brought us the news that the Yankee army was coming out of Hannibal in full force--that it would leave the railroad at Monroe city and march straight to our camp. This report created much excitement and we decided to put out a picket guard. Sam Bowen, Ed Stephens, and myself were selected as the most reliable men for pickets, as we had been pilots and could keep awake better than the others. Mark Twain was placed in charge of the picket guards and we started after dark for our post two miles north of camp, at the mouth of a lane leading to Monroe City. Opposite the mouth of the lane were some trees and bushes, to which we tied our horses. We shook some dimes in a hat to see who would stand first, second, and third watch, as we deemed it unnecessary for all of us to remain awake all night.

Bowen stood at the mouth of the lane from eight to eleven o'clock, when I took his place to remain until three. At one o'clock I heard the enemy coming and I roused the other two soldiers. Lieutenant Clemens mounted "Paint Brush" and held our horses' bridles, while we went to the mouth of the lane to observe the movements of the enemy. I stood in front and thus commanded the best view. Presently I saw them rise over the top of the hill and swerve from left to right. I raised my double- barrel shotgun and fired both barrels into their ranks. Without remaining to see how many were killed we turned and ran for our horses. To our horror we saw our lieutenant more than a hundred yards off and still going. We called to him to halt, and finally Bowen leveled his shotgun and yelled, "Damn you, Sam, if you don't stop I'll let her go!" Clemens halted, and when we caught up with him (Bowen still swearing) he said, "'Paint Brush' got so excited I could not hold him." We mounted and rode away at full speed for our camp, leaving our lieutenant and "Paint Brush" far in the rear. The last we heard of him he was saying, "Damn you, you want the Yanks to capture me!"

When we reached the camp the boys were all up in line in all sorts of rigs--coat and a pair of shoes, hat and a pair of pants, shirt and one boot, shirt and coat, shirt and a pair of socks, etc. We told them the cause of the firing and we all waited breathlessly for the enemy to approach. Presently a clatter of hoofs was heard coming down the ravine and the order was given to "make ready!" when we recollected that our lieutenant and "Paint Brush" were still out. We called to Commander McPherson to hold fire, as it must be Clemens. And so it was! We drew a sigh of relief as he came into the gangway full tilt. He made no effort to stop "Paint Brush" until he had reached the rear end of the line and then you may bet his picket guards heard from him. Among other abuse he gave us was a special clause for the loss of his hat. We stood in line, momentarily expecting the enemy, until daylight, when we retired in good order.

After a meager breakfast I requested sergeant Bowen to go with me to the mouth of the lane to see if the enemy had removed their dead. Upon arrival there I cautiously approached the fence corner and viewed the field of battle. I said, "Sam, I want to tell you something, but you must swear that you will never reveal a word of it to any living soul as long as you and I both live." He said he would swear and crossed his heart. "Do you see those tall mullein stalks on the side of that hill? Well, last night the wind probably caused them to wave and I would have sworn they were Federals on horseback." "Well, you damned fool, you played hell, didn't you?" was his only remark, but en route to camp we were jovial and joked about the lieutenant and "Paint Brush." The very first thing Bowen did when we reached camp was to tell the whole story and I was frequently reminded of those mullein stalks for many days.

One dark rainy night (I think it was the next one after I fired on the mullein stalks) a good-natured fellow by the name of Dave Young, who was usually about two-thirds full of whiskey, was placed as camp guard. During the night we were awakened by heavy tramping and we heard the guard cry out, "Halt you! Are you going to halt and give the pass word?" The tramping continued and that, with the guard's order to halt, roused many of the boys. The guard cried out, "Halt, or I will fire!" and bang! Bang! Went both barrels of his gun. A heavy fall and a groan were heard, and out into the darkness the men rushed to the place whence proceeded the groan. There in the agony of death lay an old gray horse, the steed of the guard, Dave Young. He was standing over the animal looking quite sad.

Mark Twain had become afflicted with a boil and it was a source of much comfort to him that there were no stools or chairs in camp. Mark had a lot of straw put into the feed trough on the side of the gangway of the barn and spent all of his time lying on the straw and wondering at the great amount of patience possessed by Job in olden times.

For a few days nothing occurred to enthuse the troops to any extent. The fare grew thinner every day and we were discouraged and began to "thirst for blood." Talk of moving camp, advancing on the enemy, tearing up railroad tracks, and firing into cars carrying Yankees became general, but these topics and plans were not approved by our commander, Burr McPherson. He told us that General Tom Harris had been appointed to this division and district and that he would soon come to lead us on to victory or to death. About that time we learned that General Harris had been staying up at clay Price's, two miles away, for a week, living on the fat of the land while we were in the swamp and rain, eating side-meat and corn bread. That settled matters and we began packing our belongings, intending to advance upon Monroe city at all hazards. Mark Twain was lying in the trough, wracked by his boil, remonstrating with us for thus breaking camp and showing no military discipline after all of our training. We told him that we were after blood and railroad iron and were going on the warpath. As we were about to depart he raised up on one elbow and said, "If you are determined to go, it is no use for me to try to hold this position by myself. Ab, if you will saddle and pack up 'Paint Brush' I will join the army and go with you." I saddled the mule and placed all Mark's baggage on him, piling it in front and behind the saddle. Our lieutenant rolled out of the trough and mounted him. It was but a few steps to Salt River, which we had to cross, and the lieutenant could not persuade the mule to take water. After a great effort to make the mule to into the river Mark said, "Ab, I guess you will have to lead him in, he will not go for me." I tied one end of an inch rope around the mule's neck and took a turn with the other around the pommel of my saddle. After some maneuvering we got the mule close to the river bank and while he smelled of the water as if to drink I gave my horse a dig with my spurs and he made a jump far out into the stream, dragging the mule with him. The top of the bank where we started was only a foot above water and the water was eight or ten feet deep the first jump. On the opposite side of the river the road went out of the water gradually between two small hills. My horse swan vigorously for the other bank. I looked back over my shoulder to see how Mark and "Paint Brush" were faring. To my horror neither was in sight and I thought both had drowned. I hurried across, knowing the rope would bring the mule. I soon landed safely and after a few steps in the edge of the water the top of Mark's old slouch hat, then Mark and the mule, in turn, showed up. As he slowly waded out of the water the mule was very weak and weaving from side to side. When he was entirely out of the water Mark rolled off and fell upon the bank, removed his hat, took his handkerchief from his pocket, wrung the water out of it, and slowly wiped his face. Looking up at me he said in his slow drawling tones, "Ab, that infernal mule waded every step of the way across that river!" The boys had all waited to see Mark and the mule cross.

We mounted and headed east. No one seemed to know or care where we were going. We had not proceeded a great way when our general, Tom Harris, met us. Few of us had met him, but Sam was well acquainted with him. He ordered us to return to camp, but we laughed at a stranger's assuming authority over us. He then requested us to go, but we did not respond. He begged us to go, but the recollection of that wet camp, the scant fare, and other discomforts caused us to refuse to return and we rode on to colonel Clay Price's and had a good breakfast ere we proceeded on our journey eastward.

The day grew quite warm as we proceeded on our way. About three o'clock in the afternoon, tired and hungry, we stopped at a nice brick house by the side of the road. We tied our horses and went in. No one was in sight. Some of the boys seated themselves in the room, while the others stood about, Presently in came a thin, tall woman with cold gray eyes and light hair that was combed back tight. In a sharp tone she said, "What do you men want?"

Mark Twain acted as spokesman and said, "Madam, we are tired and hungry and would like to have something to eat."

"Get something to eat, would you? Well, you will not get it here!"

"We are willing to pay for it."

"Pay nothing! Get yourselves out of here and that pretty quick or I will make you!" reaching behind her to the head of the bed she seized a large hickory stick (used to beat up the featherbed) and started for Clemens. "Hold on, Madam! Don't be so fast. Let us reason the case. We are gentlemen and intend to pay for food."

"Do you think I am going to feed any Rebels and my husband a colonel in the Union army? Get out!"

By this time all the boys were out and mounting their horses, while I remained just in the rear of Mark as he slowly backed toward the door, fearing to turn around and expose his boil to the attack of the woman with the club. She was striking at his shins, keeping him bent nearly double. All the while he remonstrated with her about being so hasty, she was abusing the rebels and Secesh. After backing him out of the door she quit striking with the club, but kept her tongue on the warpath. After we had left her I asked Sam why he did not take his sword to her. "Do you think I would disgrace it by spilling the blood of a woman?" he answered. "But I believe she would just as soon hit me as not, if I had not kept out of her way." We mounted and caught up with the other boys, who were roaring with laughter about our lieutenant's battle with the Yankee woman. We met a man on the road who informed us that the house was owned by Colonel tinker, who had been in the Yankee army about three months. "Well, who is that woman?"

"That is Mrs. tinker. She is the general at home!"

"I should remark she is!" commented Sam, as we rode on.

It was about one o'clock at night when we arrived at colonel bill Splawn's again and we were tired, hungry, and muddy. Owing to the lateness of the hour we did not disturb the family. We put our horses in the large barn and fed them, and then climbed into the loft to sleep on the hay. Mark selected a spot near the door in the gable end of the barn. Soon after we went to sleep someone yelled, "Fire!" Every fellow was up in an instant and, sure enough, a nice little fire had started in the hay. Mark made two or three rolls over and accidentally went out of the door, falling on the rocks below, a drop of ten or twelve feet. The fall sprained his ankle, and he sat there groaning and rubbing the ankle with one hand while he felt for his boil with the other. Meanwhile, the boys in the loft were busily rolling up the burning hay. They rolled it out of the same door Mark had fallen out of, and down on top of him. I shall never forget the ludicrous sight Mark and the burning hay presented. Away he went down the slope on all fours with the hay on his back, reminding me of a time when I saw some boys put a live coal on a turtle's back in order to see him run. Several of us stood in the door and screamed with laughter. In a few minutes the hay fell off Mark's back and nothing was left but smoking fragments. He turned to us with language unfit for publication. We went to him and tried to console him. We helped him to the barn, almost choked by our efforts to restrain our laughter. One of our boys had gone to sleep with a lighted pipe in his mouth and set the hay afire.

Early in the morning we advanced in full force upon the house. Colonel bill Splawn's home was always open to the Rebels. His wife and family took great pleasure in supplying our many wants, and no doubt all of those men who are still living remember the kind treatment they always received there. After breakfast we related our exploits to Colonel Splawn and then started toward New London, ten miles away.

In the afternoon we reached Nuck Matson's with our hair an inch longer than it was when we left there. Nuck had his own good time making fun of our campaign and safe return without the loss of a man, although our lieutenant had suffered several casualties. He was put to bed and tenderly cared for by Nuck and his kind wife. We disbanded and went in different directions. The last I saw of Clemens he lay groaning, his foot propped up, and the proportions of his wrappings made him look like a baby elephant. Mrs. Matson told me years afterwards that he was laid up there for a long time. They have him a crutch and kept a little Negro boy on picket all the time at the end of the lane, where it connected with the main road a quarter of a mile from the house. Frequently the little Negro would be seen running for dear life toward the house--a signal for Sam to grab his crutch and hasten to the bushes in the woods pasture adjoining the house. By the time the Negro would yell, "Miss Mary! The Yanks is comin'!" Sam would be in his hiding place, there to remain until notified, "Marse Sam, de Yanks is done gone!" I never learned what became of "Paint Brush." When Sam left Mrs. Matson's home he went to Keokuk, and then to Nevada with his brother. As a result of that trip he wrote his first book, Roughing It.