The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-07-25

TRAILING AFTER SAVAGES.
Tho Kind of Warfare TO Which Thes
Force Our Scouts mud soldiers.

/ The Kind of Warfare to Watch Thes
Force Our Scouts mud Soldiers.
An Indian Outrage has been committed
Troops accompanied by scouts start SAY
twelve hours late, in pursuit Of the perpe
traitors. They march on the trail twenty.
four hours and strike " water for the first
time where the Indians have camped, and
on leaving have fouled the spring, throwing
in old hides and filth of all kinds SO no
water is to be had. The stock is allowed to
Craze for a few hours, and then with scouts
in front, trailing, the pursuit is resumed.
The hostiles have chosen the roughest part
of the mountain range, always in position
where they can see aud observe tha sur
rounding country for miles. The trail runs
up and down rises of more than forty-fve
degrees angle, and through passes and can.
| yons where ten determined men with breech
leaders could defy hundred. The trail
now probably leaves the mountain and runs
across an alkal plain of great length to
another range of mountains. If the troops
each this plain in daylight it would be folly
to so ON, as every man and animal could
now be seen by tho outpests and runners
that the Apaches generally leave behind ard
ON either flanks of their raiding parties II
is now thirty-six hours without water, al
still march of many miles to reach known
spring The troop halt, horses are unsad-
died, mules uupacked, and men and stock
keep out of sight in the foothills of the
mountains.
At sunset the march is resumed, the In
lians trailing in the dark almost as well as
| by daylight by use of torch Picture long
line of Indians, silent as death, in single file.
Close behind them comes the cavalry and
behind them the pack train. The only
sounds heard are the steps OF the animals
ON the rocks or hard earth, the muffied
tinkle of the bell on the bell horse of the
pack train. accompanied by the occasional
crack Of n packer as some mulo shows a
tendency to leave the column. No smoking
Or talking is allowed. Suddenly the In.
dams halt, the trail is lost, the line breaks,
spreads out like a fan, aud in the dim star.
light men are seen on their hands and knees
feeling the ground After time some In.
dian will rise, perhaps away off to the right,
and a soft Hish |" is heard The trail is
fouad, and the command runs forward in the
new direction. 1t is oil night work, and the
men have been almost without sleep for
forty eight hours. 1t is long time since
the stock have been watersd, and the strain
is beginning to tell on both man and beast
AT daybreak the mountains have not been
reached, toward which the trail runs, and
the command hunt depression in the plain
where they can rest unseen. Signs of hard
riding on the part of the Indians have been
found in number of killed and abandoned
ponies. In the matter of mount they have
every advantage over the troops II pony
gives out he is at once killed or abandoned,
and another stolen to replace him at the
first opportunity Should troopers horse
give out he has to dismount and lead him
he cannot steal
Toward evening scout runs in and re-
ports water, his reflled eanteen being proof.
1t is off the trail ten miles, but it is now
sixty hours since water has been had, and
Tho animals nast haye it. The trail fs
abandoned at sunset, and tho command
pushes rs hard as tired men and leg weary
animals can for the point where water is re-
ported. On arriving the water is found TO
be in water hole and strongly impregnate9
with allsali. Halt The men tumble of
their horses without commando guard is
put on the hole to keep out mules, whose
bump OF self-interest is more hugely de-
yeloped than that of any animal, human or
otherwise, that exists, and who always break
for water, to the detriment of all, If not re-
strained The men and scouts drink what
they want, canteens are refilled, the horses
are then watered and after them the mules.
Renewed and invigorated by the water, the
force sweeps forward to renew the pursuit.
The story of the march is the same scarcity
Of water, the trail leading in direction to
bring about this result, and avoiding any
possible chance of being approached with
out the pursuers being discovered long be-
fore they come within striking distance.
On the other hand, suppose that by good
fortune and night marching the Indians are
so closely pursued that they cannot escape
without fight. The trail leads 10 water,
the commanding points around which are
fortified with breastworks built Of stone.
On rush the scouts, who are leading. The
trail is "hob " now, and they cast aside all
superhuous clothing and spring forward like
cats over the rough ground in Natures garb
with the exception of breech clout and
moccasins Wildly excited they scatter all
over the hills endeavoring to find shelter
from which to deliver their fire with effect
The troops have their horses in safe place
and move forward in extended skirmi?h
lines, trying in some way to flank the hos,
tiles. 1t is fight now to the death. Of
ticers and men know that If wounded, and
the command is repulsed, horrible death
awaits them. Probably two days without
water, may be three, they are fighting for
that as much as anything else The scouts
are fighting for plumber and pay, the troop
ers because it is their duty. The hostiles in
impregnable positions, unapprone htble ex-
cept through narrow passes, pour in fire
so hot and searching that in a few minutes
every Indian and soldier is behind soma
shelter. The fight lasts all day or until q
aanking party, after long and wearisome
marching, gets near them, then the Indians
withdraw with their stock and squaws, the
rormer freshly watered. Tue troops find
tie water fouled upon its capture and have
to wait until the spring is cleared and re6lled
before the exhausted stock is watered, and
by this time the hostiles are miles away, pro-
bably in Mexico One of Them In Ne1
York Herald.
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