The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-04-30

heathens,n two more Indians came riding
into camp, leading ponies. Bunton and ]
at once recognized two Of our new &C.
quaintances Of the day previous, who ..set
up the canine coup. twas enough. The
sight OF these cani(ne)bles called up the
scenes OF the day before; and for 4 few
moments things looked decidedly like o
massacre Of the whole gang would take
place. Film made ashilalee Of his carbine,
Bunton drew his rusty saber, while Bill.
lingley seized one Of the savages by the
throat and jerked him roughly to the
ground. Then there was Q few yells, which
brought the rest Of the gang together, who
all at once broke out In all the broken
English they knew and begged for mercy.
Our officers interfered, and the reds got
Off with a few bloody noses and black eyes,
AID as they disappeared around the bend
In the road, they gave US a parting salute
by drawing large scalping knives from their
belts which they fourished over their
heads.
at won't be safe to meet those fellows,
boys, where the odds are against you,"
said Major Squires, sand I advise you to
keep on the look out"
II Is needless to say that no more ponies
were brought back by those Indians,
although q few civilized Pottawatamas were
aiterwArd employed TO assist the boys in
the pursuit.
Two days were spent in gathering up ~
stock, many ponies and mules being so
badly crippled as to render them useless.
and many were never found at all. I had
procured'an old mule, and during the day
1t had wandered off several miles up the
creek alone. While hunting for a ford,
my attention wa attracted to a pony near
me fastened in the woods. On approach.
ing nearer l recognized the old hero, Gear.
abaldi." Then l remembered that my old
Maynard friend, Cahe!!, had not been with
US for several days and l at once began to
search the woods for him. Ihad not much
trouble in finding him. He way lying be-
side q log half covered with leaves, and
wrapped in his blanket.
He had a severe fit OF delirium tremens,
and although he recognized me; he could
not speak my name. His hand felt for his
canteen and he raised It toward me. | IN.
derstood at once that he must have whisky,
and l fastened of TO the village for the
neediul Returning an hour later, / found
him leaning againstthe log, and in terrible
agony; raising his head | poured q few
drops down his throat but he at once threw
it up. He seemed very willing to try again
and after repeated efforts got it to "stick."
He soon was able to talk. He could give
no account OF himself; but thought he had
been led off by some kickapoo indians.
Leaving him at asmall Indian hut where
they promised to take care Of him and his
pony. l left him with q promise that he
would soon follow. We never saw or heard
OF Sylvester Cahel again, or his faithful old
pony. Returning thirteen months after, l
made a diligent search, but could get no
trace OF him. Strangers occupied the little
hut but none could give any information.
He may have been murdered and robbed.
His wife lives at Richmondale, Ohio, and
if this should meet her eyes we hope she
will furnish this paper with any intormation
OF this lost soldier she may have.
OF the boys nov living, who crossed the
plains on this expedition, the writer is able
TO furnish the whereabouts OF but afew.
Sergeant Abe Pancake lives near Milton,
Cabell county, West Virginia. He was a
noble, and faithful soldier, and will be
kindly remembered by all who knew him.
John Brammer, VIM. Martin, James Bruce,
Martin Bazel, G. K. Holiday, and several
others, live in Lawrence county, Ohio.
They all bore an active part in this war,
besides a full share Of the field Of battle in
the war for the Union. And many Of
them bear marks and affections as memen-
tos OF the hardest and coolest winter ever
passed thro' by any soldiers on the plains
or in the Rocky Mountains.
We moved the next day, but in q very !,
crippled condition. But now in order to
be brief we must pass over many incidents
and adventures along the route and hasten
on. Every days march brings with it
new scenes and adventures, and as we
pass slowly over the garden spot OF the
world, many OF our men resolve to make
their future home In Kansas or Nebraska.
Thirty days have passed and we arrives at
Fort Kearney, Nebraska. The weather has
been beautiful and We have had abnnd.
ance OF sport hunting antelope, wild tur.
key and prairie chickens. In our command
we're forty Henry ridrs-l6 shooters. These
had been brought into requisition and their
value had been greatly enhanced. We are
now upon the great Platte river. AT Fort
Kearney there Is plenty Of timber on the
river, and occasionally some scrub oaks
and cottonwood are found as far on as Fert
Mcpherson, but beyond that for three
hundred miles all is q sandy desert, with
not a stick OF wood to be g
Welay at Kearney several days, and for
want OF sufficient grass are compelled to
feed our iponies on corn. Many Of them
had never eaten corn and itrequired some
starving and considerable patience to get
them to take hold. While there we visited
the scene Of the "Phil. Kearney Massacre"
Here q large number OF Indians were
decoyed into the mouth Of "a battery Of
artillery and moved down with grape and
canister until but a few were left to tell
how it felt. This was done some years
before, by order oil the brave Gen. Kear-
ney.
The barren sand bluffs back OF the fort
for many miles are strewn with the car.
cases Of thousands OF buffalo which give
us the impression that we would soon be
among them. But we learned that these
had been killed several years and that their
carcasses were preserved by the alkali in
the atmosphere. Indeed they were so
well preserved that in many cases the
bodies were whole and gave forth a sound
like that OF a bass drum when struck with