Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-08-22

down upon us in all it's fury, not a
breath Of wind was stirring, and not a
vestige of shade, but the stunted mes
quite brush and cactus could be seen as
| far as the eye could reach over the vast
plain of sand and alkall. The al
| kali dust caused by the tramp OF the
advance guard arose and hned the
| Threats of those behind, and the accou-
trements became unbearablY heavy.
Hayersacks and blouses had been con-
signed with the knapsacks to the wag-
ons. vet the 'prailie- belt, with it's nine
tv-fo1r rounds of ammunition, which
weighed seven pounds, the canteen, and
tin cup. and the 'long Tom, or Win
chester rifle, seemed to weigh ton to us
poor devils struggling along to make be-
heve that the United States Army was
really of some account--exoept for the
benefit of officers, spectators, and In
dian agents. Seven miles from Fort
Thomas Capt. Callaghan dropped by the
roadside exhausted, and one by one the
boys began to faint or turn sick andfall.
Guns were thrown away. The canteens
were empty. and as the mirage of the
desert loomed up to view, oh, what Joy
1t gave our poor sinking hearts. We
saw water in the mirage and forged
ahead only to find it like will .o'-the-
wisp leading us on to destruction. We
tried with pebbles and with bullets to
cause the SALIVA to flow and ease our
parched tongues and blistered Threats and
lips, but of no avail. The command was
now a remnant, many having gone
ahead In an endeavor to reach the fort,
others were lying along the road, while
others were stretched out upon the wag-
ons, either sick or unconscious. The lit
tie water remaining in the canteens was
brackish and hot enough almost to boil
eggs, besides it tasted of the tin lining;
yet it aided in moistening the lips.
Major Walker, however, had water
for himself and dog. He had a beau
tiful hunting dog with him which
he. called Sweetheart, and 1T was the
pet of the boys. When it began to fag
out it was placed upon wagon and there
it died from the effects of the heat. 1t
seemed as If we would never reach Fort
Thomas, and Just as everything before
me began to get red and black, and l
was about TO fall, buggy drawn by two
horses and containing the colonel, COM
mander of the Third cavalry, came up at
full speed and inquired for Major Walk
er. The colonel had been informed Of
our condition by one of the boys VINO
reached the fort. Just then, to our
great Joy, wagon containing a hogs
head of water came dashing up and
rush was made for it, one man jumping,
In his delirium into the hogshead, but
was quickly fshed out. A guard was
then placed around the wagon, and each
man received due allowance. The march
to Fort Thomas from here, some three
miles, was without any other incident
worthy of note, except that upon our ar
rival there the thermometer stood lis
degrees in the shade. Several of the
command went to the hospital, and while
tents were being erected and supper
cooked ambulances were dispatched for
the disabled ones along the road.
Wednesday, the 10Th, the command
rested. On Thursday morning start
was made for the San Carlos agency,
where at that time were located many of
the same White Mountain and Chirica-
hua Indians recently caught mapping by
Gen. Crook in the Sierra Madre Noun
tains In Old Mexico"