The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-02-11
THE TRIBUNE.
AFTER MY SCALP.
The Story OF Michigan Soldier.

ter the surrender of Lee and the winding
up of the war. We had been in every
prominent battle after the summer OF
go rode over almost every mile Of Vir-
GINA, skirmished with Mosby on every
turnpike and cross road, fought the cav
airy of Early, Jackson and Lee, but the
surrender did not release us. Troops
were wanted west to subdue the rebellous
Indians and so our cavalry brigade drew
: rations for Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
Through to Petersburg by rail, down the
Ohio, and Mississippi, up the Big
Muddy"-and at the end of eleven days
we stepped on.the broad levee below the
fort.
morning in June we were bugled into
line" and the column turned Its head for
Julesburg. Colorado territory heasny;;
Platte Bridge, Julesburg Laramie. ana am
other points passed by the Union faci6c
railroad. now presents many p1iaseS OF
civilization: but things were wild at the
time of nv story. Even at Platte, 10,
the moor Indian did not maintain that re-
.nectful distance and leneanor earnestly
desired bv the inhabitants; while at ueS
burg and Laramie, the noble red man
made a practice to ''barber" every stray
inhabiant.
Whatever put it into Gen. Dodge's
head to have an exploration made up IN
the Powder river country, where no CIV
;lized white man had ever stepped foot,
is beyond the writers comprehension;
high military officers execute many eccen
rric maneuvers. or cause subaiternS to eX
4ecute them, and probably this was one Of
sbem-at least we Of the rank and file
Found no difficulty in SO believing.
But Col. Kidd. of the Sixth, did not
stop to indulge In speculati0ns as to wheth-
er shigher law was right or wrong; he
made detail of thirty men, advised US
to pack our salt and hard tack close,
and-oh for Powder River! We went
northwest from Laramie an even 200
miles. Our daily jaunts were about hfteen
miles, for we were running right INTO the
country of the PawGee3 and Blachleet,
and we had to keep our weather-eye al
ways open. Not an hour in the day but
that we saw rowing bands OF Indians
scouting about US, generally keeping clear
of the "seven shooters and seeming
more inclined to wait our fnal object. As
before mentioned, | caEuot state achrt
that object was and neither / think,
could or can the colonel. He moved us
as far as he thought prudent, anu then
came the order to return.
1t was about clock p. m, when the
column wheeled for our back tramp. We
had not Travelled two miles when 1t be-
came apparent that fight would shortly
come off for our scalps. PaWnees IN front
Pawnees on the left, and, turning around
IN our saddles, there We're goodly mum,
Der of Pawnees Ia our rear. L counted
for full twenty minutes. and still there
- 70 fT6
saw that an open fight would be massa-
ere. for every Indian was well mounted,
and the August sun reflected back from
a hundred rife barrels.
"Dlsmount' '-Lariat and pin your
horses "Now, boys, we must come
Virginia on these red devils, and lntreneh
there's geing to be fun here before sun
down.
Following instructions, we soon had
respectable barricade manufactured from
our saddles, and then each man began to
dig for life. Where knives were not to
had fingers were used, and in thirty min
.ates we had an excavation and barrlcade
that would have astonished sapper.
The horses were tethered and near by as
possible Poor things they scented dan
ger from tae distant war-whoops, and IN
sisted on Keeping as close to the earth
work as possible.
Calmly and quietly Kidd gave us our
instructions. The chances OF our leaving
shat cache alive were slim indeed, aud
that calmness of our commander was that
which brave man ever feels when he
feels the hour of life danger coming on.
s'Saye your ammunition-only twenty
rounds to man. They will presently
charge us. Keep perfectly cool. They
are towards at heart and one good volley
in their faces would send them bowling
back to the hills.
Thus spoke our colonel. We saw and
partook Of his calmness. And we needed
It. About half an hour before shutdown,
from hill on our left, there arose such
medley of shrleks, whoops and yeliS as
even now shake my nerves to think OF and
in 8 moment more, out came full two
hundred Pawnees, horribly painted, each
one brandishing a rife, and charge they
came down upon our little FORT Ready,
men stand firm We are good for twice
their number. Aim low-ire cool
Down came the red devils, straight
upon US, not a man tlInched, Chick J
click ! The Spencer" were getting
ready to talk Now, when the yelling
savages are not twenty rods away,a blaze
thirty rifles. twice repeated, and when
the smoke cleared away we saw half a
score of savages and more than as many
horses piled up on the prairie before Us.
Once more after lapse of a few moments
the screaming devils came down upon US
but only to be driven off by the murdcr-
Gus Spencers. When night set in there
we're pale faces in our little fort. We
knew the crafty, cunning OF our subtle
foe. and we're powerlesS to match 1T IN the
dark. The Indians had replied to our
volleys by scattering shots killing three OF
our horses, but not lujurin@ man. AT
ter short consultation, we found that we
must wait aud watch. The night had set
In dark with a damp wind that BODIED
rain. We knew that our foe would take
every advantage, and we doubted not an.
other conflict. nor 81 Fortunate to us, he-
fore another sea- was Il sergeant-not
81 mush IA ! aAI more or deserved =
"a her fhat III eUg promp attention
10 3uty >,9ae g gaalt a. it-
IL crtry aae. .tt5t tn5{ vt
roc5e came warl 1a- .~
Oar Colonel spoke Il few words as ST..
crouc!led down behind the barbados
1T IS almost certain death, pul the .
hounds will sooa have on" Scsips-it ut
tonight, to-morrow or next day. iaeN'
viii Slreeatl AL ~ au fv
have ol.y I'll s e
outside llep na GONE t..r.5...
within t1af days, d: the MA us
man LETT awe Dare you attempt 1t
Help was wanted, and | had been Sc
lected to ride through body or 3ob out
lying Indians. aud over lone prairie for
near 200 miles, to obtain it. The risk