Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-06-21
1HE TRUTH OF HISTORY.
HAPPY Hollow, june IA, 1883.

HAPPY HOLLOW, June IA, 1883.
To the Editor Of TIE Eagle:
see in the EAGLE, May 8, 1888, under
the heading Of Exit Carson's Country"
over the signature OF "Curtis," . piece in
which he gives little sketch Of the battles
of Apache Canyon and Pigeons' Rancho,
In New Mexico. He would have rs believe
that Kit Carson was major and that Chiv-
ington was colonel at that 6ght. do not
think that Carson was at that fight At all.
At any rate, Slough was the colonel and
commanded the Denver, or Colorado,
troops. Chiyington was major, and during
the second days fight took four companies
and went across the mountains, eight miles
or SO, and took the rebel train, burnt every
thing, and came back that night without
the loss Of man, but with good appetites.
Major Chivington was made colonel short
time after that am Of the opinion that
Col. Carson was at the battle Of valyerde,
on the Rio Grande, below Peralto, as Gen.
Sibley came up the country.
At the fight at Pigeons Rancho, the Sec
ond day, there was q duel fought between
one OF Capt. Cooks men company Fl and
one of the rebels. Each had taken shelter
behind rock and took one or two shots at
each other, about seventy yards apart, when
Cooks man hollered to his man, "If You
will step out, will !" They both stepped
out and took one shot apiece, and missed.
"Now," says Cooks man, "damn you, I've
got you!" He had carbine and could
load the quickest. And he did get him, and
then run to him and got his revolver. Capt.
Cooks company was cavalry and had breech-
loading carbines.
Now, want to ask friend "Curtis," who
killed Zeigtemiller's pigs II he can an
swer that will know that he has been to
Denver. That was by-word, for long
time at Camp Weld, a barracks close to
Denver. A company Of Home Guards and
companies A and b Of the Second Colorado
were stationed at Camp Weld, u miles from
Denver. The captain Of the Home Guards
was named Zeigtemiller, and he had pet
pig that would weigh about 100 pounds,
and he was sleek aud fat. He kept 1t in a
pen close TO his quarters, and it SO happen
ed that one day about noon the pig broke
out OF his quarters and run about forty rods
across the parade ground. One of company
A boys saw it coming and prepared himself
with small stone, hit il between the eyes,
knocked it down, out with his knife, cut
| its throat, ran into the cook house with IT,
chucked it into a barrel, put some potatoes
oil the top SO as to cover it up, and went
out at the back door just as Capt. Zeigte-
miller was heard to open the front door.
But be found neither pig nor man, but the
next morning, just before reyeilIe. there
was a plate OF nice dressed ham put down
at his door, and he had no trouble about
guessing it.
| Now about the Colorado troops receiving
no.pay: think any one being in Denver
just before the Colorado troops started to
New Mexico. would not have said they got
no pay. To have taken hammer and
knocked some of the weather-boarding of
the barracks they might have found some
800 pairs of boots, and coats and pants
enough for a regiment of men, all of which
was drawn by the tops. Two companies OF
the 'sPet Lambs" when we come to get out
final discharge, at Fort Leavenworth, re-
ceived nearly 100000.
Iwould like to have said few things
about the old Pecos Church, and few more
words about Kit Carson, but for fear Of
taking up too much Of your time and space
am yours,
ZARAH MCCLUNG.
Co. L, Pet Lambs, or Second Colorado.