New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-10-28
AnIncident I'm the Life Of scott,
ny . LATE sERGEANr-NAJoR, FOURTH 4. 5. ARrrLLsl
- In -. A

The summer OF 50 was eVent1ul 10 the SOL
ders Of the Military School at Old Point, Va Nearly tie
whole OF that large garrison WIS 0rdered 10 the western
frontier then suffering the barbares of ndisn warfare
uRder the notorious BLACK Hawk" Railroads wsr
then scarcely known the Erie Canal was the most
pcditious route TO Buffalo the dreaded choleraws
hitting fearful ravages in Canada and rapidly uearns
US at every village route. Our boats stop
ped by the health officers, but healthier body OF mes
perhaps never were seen In that region With the rt
iefsness Of soldiers laughed at the idea Of oholen
and jeerngly submitted our well filled cartridge boxes
the only possible of danger promising that the
cent, nts would furnish many grave subject without IN
aid OF deaths new and powerful coadjutor. Tie ndisa
were said 10 be numerous nnd warlke and we expected
sharp fghtiDg little thinking that in few days 70
should have more muskets than men-that the rudt
cheek would be blanched the strong armpalsied the ~
laugh changed to shrek of agony that ranks woj
he thinned faster by the mysterious breath OF chon
than could be effected by the hottest fire of mortal s
But anticipate.
At Buffalo all the steamboats, were engaged TO conyy
us to ChicsgC-hcn military post of one or two
panics the embryo city consisting OF the solitary hoas
Ot he Indian Agents. Having just entered the army
had never been MY lot 10 see our Commanding Genera
At Buffalo for the first time looked ON his noble fDu
wondering how he could escape the Indians rihe dsJ
passed the lakes without any matter oln.ert
except the annoyance of being crowded ON the 0ps
decks of the steamer exposed 30 the heat Of July
by day, and the togs of the lake at night Here the
manity and fOrcthoughr of our General eyincedh
landing one third OF orr nien at the first prsecdt
point leaving ample room for the remainder Il "
Iumored that she cholera had appeared on the ctr
boat, but we considered il mere guard -house story
The citizens Of Detroit demurred at our reasirr
tLere even for necessary supplieS some OF our Omen
were offended at their apparent rudeness, and hluh
the eXpedency OF dlsregardlng their wishes. VINE
accustomed Difference to civil authority trash anan
III this inftGnce) the General promptly ordered
steamer from their shores ard we proceeded gpe
Lakes. Death was lurking in our midst, though no 90
OF his presence were yet visible Soon one and anoe
ri yCulQ ackuDWodVe
at rst attributed II 10 other but the app
ling ruth burst upon us that we were In great chars
house. We parted company with the other boat ~
put ours 10 its utmost speed IL seemed consciousd
awful freight the tmbers groancd, but could not 90
tie grOans OF the dying The shricSs OF tbestrdn 4
Cnes rose above the noise Of the harddnyen DschineT
The men were appalled, those who would have iaaf
ed ut the war.wEoop OF the Indian felt helpless ~
iants in the presence Of their unseen but ternoee
siIoyer and 1t then the noble qualities Of our N
were displayed. We had little Of him, a. hw
usually in his state-rcoin, probably maturing pAnn
the approaching campaign; but now hb tall iofm
teen everywhere encouraging the dcsp0Ddns W
still III health, but from abject far actually rPe
ing for the death harvest; from them he would psss
the fit and dying (ond at that stage of the dses
ter ms were almost synonymOus) directing and chs1H
tie attendants and often doing the duty OF the HUNKS
nurse.
Having received something Of medical educsps
and wishing 10 serve my comrades % the last n
mere boy with no human ties but those around u
cabin was called. Alas the whole ship was lus .
than hospital. Sex and faint with the elhuya lEr
snatch moment % go On deck and breathe an ~
phere somewhat purer, but nnOst quite s. deadly :
carly dawn, one ioggy morning, foand him ~
thnly clad, hs cloak lay near apparently droopeaw
his shoulder, in his attention 10 the sick scmpsss
restore II, as the dow falling heavy; but dep ~
discovered poor soldier wriihing beneath i. Ia
warfare thc wardrobe Of even a Gaporior onca,
very cxpensiyc, but our General saw the usn w.,
blanket Gin the confusion il had been lott aIi d''~
Lnlsell vi his lat wrapper 10 save hun, posSne
We effected landing az Chicago, the few uocr
friendly Indians flying from us r. from pes
for three weeks the work OF devastation went on
C the font WIS converted into a hospital aoa =
every room hlied with patients. The skli Of ooi -
clans 6med bafied the dscaCe was ne" ana
bic one slnce that fatal year IL seems 10 haye D7
Ited by medical treatment Int at that time ne Pst
scenes On tie shore Of Lake Michigan seemea "a
erootrs Of the story Of the plague In byg01
True, the atmosphere gave no indication u ase -
surrounding prairie with its yerdure and trspsn,s
senttd a scene Of quiet lOyeliness In vivid eoM.sk
our dellorsbe condition; the rose sni -
clouded plendOr, but for many dsys Es ms~hf
glanced on lfeless, distorted forms mos "a ~.
apparently been in coed health few hougs 100
And where wss our Chief Wiil psrca FT1rrb
End without the least stain on BIZ honor or
might have let Us under the caIe 81 sueom1.kS
Assumed command OF the forces ccllectd es,aS
lance from our plague t'cSen lsnd. But 40 - o
lat patent conyalcscing dill be mo'e nIb
m.dsf; every e1;resty 10 preseryc lie own ofes<k
wes unhceded. Although the knowledge 20, vIss1
from u, he had heard that another porto. o. fzrs
had been hastily landed OH the shofe o. Ls s.,,, -
thHt It's physicians rad become the nfsi vi !. ~
that the penicftric&en soldier, wfhom sss 4, -
deaf 20 threats or expcltulaoD, bad dezerTa E,iis
platoon flying, hey thought, from tss 80. aes -
tut horib. foe. Poor wreches he was 'on - Srrs II
1hosc woCds reyerbcfsted with shiien m sna b
iu then the wtocp OF the red man, o oH i'm, -
ether fell in Ggouy TO move no more ~ ,nas tS
tossed ly the Wild bogs OF the forest ~ ~ ~, -
quiyeIing limbs asunder and msde Their sr,ess,L
the csrcsses. From thesc last horror: the ~. o.
orr General ,svcd Us NO, man leit me- oses<;b
seemed 70 he sn assurance of safety IN hs 80
innid were inyisorased; the dropping en0"
manly presence in their nidst D =
In the surgery, mistakes sometimes nL.n "a rsaJf
al scree Of competent persons, and - o hsp
trget the in iignsiion that flashed from - -. ps
ing that II, ward had mistaken one p,yfss sfdss
Guy for smother, end mixed dose ynsn. -. tse ~
tered, We uld have been more surrey is'" = a. vss
cefe. From the surgery, be- you'd g ~ssI,sbsy
wfTi IN tie building. T. rursa' ~r,. ~. 'rr =
;,.,g - la!e1s We,es .ao,s SIN stN ..sI ~
/, tn. cnpp a .lash Vi ,ae sA'cr7is "''