Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-05-10
INDIAN WARFARE.

sketches Of Life on the Plains, throws some
light onit from his own experience ia 1o6S:
Il was in the act Of taking my seat Tor din
Der my ride having given me q splendid relish
Tor the repast, when the shouts and firing of
the savages informed me that more serious
duties were at hand. Every man new to arms
and almost without command rushed to oppose
the enemy. OfieeTs and men provided them
selves with rifles or carbines, and soon be gan
delivering a deliberate but Intellectual fire
against the Indians. The latter, usual, were
merely practising their ordinary ruse de guerre,
which was Ia display a very small ventuTesOme
iorce in the expectation OF tempting pursuit by
an equal or slightly superior force, and after
having led the pursuing force well away from
the main body. to surround and destroy it by
the way OF overwhelming numbers, previously
concealed IN a Iavine OF ambush until the
proper moment ON this Occison the stratagem
did not succeed. The Indians, being mounted
on their leetest ponies, would charge in single
file past our camp, often riding within easy car
blne range OF our men, displaying great bold
ness and indispensable hOrsemanship. The
soldiers, unaccustOrned TO firing at such rapidly
moving objects, were rarely able to infiict
serious damage upon their enemies. Occasion
ally pony would be struck and brought to the
ground, but the rider always succeeded in being
carried away on the pony of a cOmrade. 1t was
interesting 70 witness their marvellous abilities
as hOrsemen; at the same time one could rot
but admire the courage they displayed. The
ground was level, open, and unobstructed; the
troops were formed in an irregular line of
distance OF perhaps two hundred yards. The
Indians had a rendezvous behind a hillock on
tht IlEnt, WHICH prevented them from being
seen or disturbed BY the soldiers. Starting out
slngly, 80 by twOs and threes, the warriors would
suddenly leave the cover of the hillock, and
with war whOOPs and taunts dash or the plain
in a line parallel to that occupied by the sol
diers, and within easy carbine range ofthe lat.
ter ne pony see med possessed OF the designs
and wishes OF his dusky rider, as he seemed to
fly unguarded by Birdie, rein, or spur. The
warrior would fire and load and flre again a
often as he was able to do. while dashing along
through the shower OF leaden bullets fired
above, beneath, in front. and behind him bv
the excited troopers, until finally. when the aim
OF the latter improved and the leaden messen-
gers whistled uncOmfOrtably close, the warrior
would be seen TO cast himself over on the Oppo-
site side OF his pony, until his foot on his back
and his face under the neck of the pony were
ali that could be seen, the rest of his person
beng completely covered by the body of the
pony. This maneuvre would frequently de-
ceiye the recruits among the soldiers; having
fired probably at the time the warrior was
seen TO disappear, the recruit would shout
eHultingy and call the attention OF his COM
Tades 10 his lucky shot. The old soldiers how
ever, were not so easily deceived, and often
afterwards would remind their less experienced
companion OF the terrible fatality of his Shots
The sayages really kept the camp in a state of
siege, so that at no hour OF the day was il safe
Tor individuals TO pass beyond the chain of
sentlnels which enveioped the immediate limits
OF the camp. Before 1t became known that the
Indians were so watchfui and daring many
narrOw escapes were made, and many laugh
able; although serious incidents occurred
IaUghable, however, only to those who were not
the parties most interested. One of those serio-
comic incidents was a. follows;
''Ihere wasa beautiful, clear stream of water
named Bluff Creek, running through camp,
which supplied bathing facilities to the Off GERS
and men, privilege which put few allowed to
hass unIInproyed Whether TO avoid the pub
Hclty attending localities near camp, or to
seek point in the bed Of the stream where the
water was fresh and undistuTbed, or from a
mouve Inherent from these, two OF our young
efhcers mounted their horses one day, without
saddles, and rode down the valley of the stream
perhaps a mile or more in search OF a bathing
place. Discovering one to their taste, they
dlsmOuIted, secured their horses, and, after
dispOslng OF their apparel on the greensxard
covering the banks, were soon floating and
foandeIlng IN the water Ike pair of young
Porpoises- How long they had been ENJOYING this
Lealthiul recreation. or how mnch longer they
might have remained, IL not necessary TO the
story. one OF therl happening 10 glance to-
of great trepidation- Fastening from the water
to the bank, he discovered the cause of the
strange conduct on the part of the horses, which
was nothing more or less than party of about
thirty Indian warriors, mounted, and stealthily
making their way toward the bathing party.
evidently having their eyes on the latter and
intent upon their capture. Here was cOndi-
lion OF affairs that was at least a. unexpected
rs ~ was unwelcOme. Quickly calling ont his
companion, who was still in the water uncon-
sciou.of approaching danger, the one on shore
made haste TO unfasten their herses and pre-
pare for flight. Fortunately the Indians who
were BOW within a few hundred yards OF the
two officers, were coming from the direction
opposite their camp, leaving the line OF retreat
for the officers open. No sooner did the war
Iiors find that their approach was discovered
than they put their ponies to their best speed
hoping to capture the officers before the latter
could have time 10 mount and get their horses
under Roadway. The two officers in the mean
while were far from idle: no flesh brushes or
bathing towels were required to restore a
healthy circulation. nor was time wasted in an
Idle attempt to make toilet. II thew had
sought their bathing ground from motives of
retirement or delicacy, no such sentiments were
exhibited now, for, catching up their wardrobe
6rn he rfarrrHA IN.
bride rein with the other, one leap and thew
were on their horses backs and riding toward
camp for dear life They were not exactly in
the condition Of Flora McFlimsey with nothing
to wear, but To all intents and purposes might
as well have been 20. Then followed race
which, but for the risk Incurred by two of the
IIderS, might well be compared TO that of John
Gilpin- Both Of the officers were experienced
hoTsemen; but what experienced horseman
would willingly care TO be thrust upon the bare
back OF Tying steed, minus all apparel,
neither boots, breeches, nor saddle not even
the spurs and collar which are said 10 CONSTITUTES
inc iuli 1nioIm OF a Georgian Colonel, and
of hideoGsly painted and feathered sayages well
mounted and near at hand. straning every nerve
and urging their heet-foOted war ponies to thei.
highest speed in order that the scaips OF the ex-
Perienced horssmen might be added to the other
human trophies which grace their lodges !?
Truly, this Was one OF the occasions when her
sonal appearance j. nothing and ga mans a
man for a that - 30 at least thought our anna
tner Mazeppas as they came Gushing towards
over their shoulders at their pursuers. who
despite every eSertiOn of the former, were surely
oEerhanling their pale-fsced brothers. To the
pursued, camp seemed a long way in the dis
lance, while the shouts of the warriors each
Tune seeming nearer than before, warned them
70 urge their steeds TO their fastest pace In a
few moments the occupants of camp discovered
the approach Of this strangely appearing marty
IL was an easy matter 70 recognize the warriors
but who could name the two who rode at the
mont? The pursuing WARRIORS seeing that
they were not likely 10 oyertake and csnture
the two knighss OF the bath, slackened their
pace and sent q yollsy OF arrows after them a
Few moments Later, and the two officers were
safe inside the lines, where they lost no time in
making their way to their tents TO attend to GER
tain matters relating to their toilet which the
sudden appearance OF their dusky visitors had
prevented. IL was q long time before they
ceased to hear illusions made by their comrades
% the cut and style Of their riding -suit.''
SPANISH UxBsxELAs.-A traveller saws in
Spain unbroits III Scr an size from an Ordinary
dinner-plafe 20 a small tent. and their eolors
are as yzsaous - nbe tints OF the, RAINBOW. We
Northerrers, with our sober notions and liking