Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-07-19
tribes of tine pralries.


six or seven miles to the banks of what
appeared to be large river in the rainy
season. It's course was nearly north. east
and those among US who pretended to
know any thing about the country put it
down at once for the Wichita, a stream
that was said to empty into Red River
high up, and about which bat lnlle was
known except to The truppers and lndi-
ans. Unfortunatey for US we had none
Ofthese along. Finding excellent grass,
water, and timber upon the banks of this
stream we rema .ned the next day ID re.
cruit our cattle and repair wagons. The
spies were sent out in the meantime to ex.
anime the country and find out good
rout ahead. At night we had IN eclipse
of the moon without any one knowing that
such an occurrence was to take place and
the next morning many end queer were
the speculations, especially among The
guard, as to what caused the singular ap-
pearance of the heavens.
Although still unable 10 bear much
weight upon my foot or walk without
great pun made out 10 mount my horse
with assistance on the Sd August, and
bade the old Jersey Wagon, 10 which |
had journeyed near six weeks, a very at
fectionate farewell. Scarcely had we
gone three miles that morning before
three buffalo made their appearance qui-
city feeding in a valley to the right. 1t
was the first opportunity had and in.
mediately gave chase; but the hard gait of
ny horse over the hog acdlloac prairie
panied my ankle SO much was obliged to
give il up
Another chase came off, however, on
the same day, which, in the way of ex-
element, fairly went ahead of any thing
in tie way of horse racing | have ever
seen. One ofthe volunteers had started
out to hunt water by himself and a short
time after, without being aware of it, Ma.
| jor Howard left the command on the same
errand. BY accident they came suddenly
upon one another in a little valley, and the
man, misiaking Major H. for an Indian,
get off at full syeed. The latter, also
thinking the other an Indian, gave chase
with yell, and away they went across
the prairles Us fast as their hor~c 8 would
carry them. The first part Of the chase
was plainly seen by many Of US al ere.
ated the greatest interest.
The Major was he bes, mounted Of tie
two and is bold and dashing rider; bu
lie was much heavier mn than the par
sued and this gave the Latter an advantage
The chas continued Until bo;h wero GU
of sight, Major II. slowly gaining upor
the supposed Indian by his superior riding
On one or two occasions the former rails
ed pistol to shoot the other off his hors;
and noihinggprevented it but a desire ,c
bring him INTO camp alive. Finally he
was up alongside, both no. scs nearly brc
ken down, VIXEN The brighter Ell vo;untee
turned his pale and llpodless face implor
ing .oui.d and recognized in his pursue
the we'll known Major.
II "VlF-wh--wny Major" said he.stam
merng md agrated from fright-Why
Major, is that youl"
"Certa My ii is; vino the devil did yor
take me forl'' - -.
T--I--I-thought you was an Tndiar
, indeed | did,"
SWELL" continued the Major, 81 though
yon was an Indian, too, and you ought t
consider yourself lucky that did No
shoot you for one"
In the course of an hour MINOR Howar
came into camp btinging his prisoner
who, WAS really half frightened TO death
In fact the man afterwards del on th
road, and those WHO knew him best sal
that he never got over the "scare."
may appear singular that two white me
should thus mistake each other for Ind
ans; but it should be reco lecte5 that W
= were in an Indian range, and that tn
I dresses we wore were any thing and CIV
+ every thing that came handy and conduc
ted most 10 our comfort while upon tn
solitary praries. After being out tw
: months upon a campaign any man will re
6 gard his personal convenience more tina
: his personal appearance, and hence VIC a
q more nearly resembled Indians in DIRE:
than civilized men.
: On arriving at camp that evening it Wa
\ found That Frank Coolnbs and young Gu
{ It's Caldwell, son the old captain Of Ii
: spy company, were missing, occnsioniu
n no little socitude among all. They cam
a in, however, shortly after our guard. frs
u had been kinded. About nine o'c.ock
II night we had tremendous shower whic
continued until near daylight. When ii
: water first came trucking through m
Y blanket, thought of snug rooms, clea
+ beds, musquito bars. and all that sort
d thing; but while thinking o: them I fs
q asleep, and never nad a better night
rest in my life although woke in Il
6 morning wet to TIE skin.
+ A Damp Dag and bampet cloths-cn
n los Mexican, detailed for the s.
sr Company-Meeting 10Th party
Is Wako s. Beautiful Appearance
ut their V,lioge-Preparafions for ente
: ingit-Hs d. seriionS By The Ilhabitant
~ The morning ofthe 4lh of August W
cloudy, with. drizzling rain, compell.l
- us to start without a chance to dry o
or blankets or wet clothes. To the rig
In the dim outline of a belt of timber W
al s, en- which all supposed TO be { 9 skirtil
CIR of Red River. A Mexican named Carlo:
+. native of Taes in New Mexico, and W
n. was attached to one of the companies, Isl
i, ted that he had trupped up an down t
a above river and knew every part oft
- that. the country around US resembled
, every resreet the vicinity ofttet strea
L I