The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1884-05-22

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ground ahead of them, where they
were not in danger of killing each
other in shooting at him, they fired
a volley at him. None of them hit
him, and up to this moment he
was entirely unharmed. Had
his horse been equally fortunate
this would doubtless have ended
the fight, as the horse was a fine,
high spirited animal, superior to
any of the Indian ponies. But the
first shot received at the beginning
of hostilities had cut a small arte-
ry, and from this the blood was
pumping out steady stream that,
together with his violent exertions,
was fast sapping his strength. The
Indians, seeing this, were encour-
aged to continue the pursuit, and
their leader, mounted on an Amer
lean stage horse (stolen the day
before at a stage station a few
miles back, which they had burned,
numbering all the inmates J, sue
ceeded so well in keeping pace with
him, that Howard could almost feel
the breath from the nostrils of his
pursuer's horse. Thus they rode,
nose to tail, for a mile or two, the
Indian occupying the time in shoot
ing savagely at Howard. Three
pistols, six-shooters, he emptied,
and bullets flew around poor How
ard on every side. Four more en-
tered the poor horse already so
badly wounded, a bullet pierced
Howard's clothes at his side, an
other cut the strap of his field
glass which was lost, another cut
off his spur, bursting the heel
slightly but not drawing blood; a
fourth pierced the wooden breech
of his rife, as he carried it in his
hand-almost carrying it from his
grasp; others struck the saddle, and
in short they seemed to strike ev-
erywhere but where they were
aimed. All this time Howard was
to reach over his
shoulder and get shot at the In
dians, but at every such movement
the savage slipped under the belly
of his horse and went out of .sight,
except a hand on the name and
heel on the back. Finally, all am
exhausted, the Indian re-
sorted to his spear, and with the
wooden handle gave Howard one
or two severe raps on the head,
trying to knock him out of his sad
dle-without avail, but at last How
ards horse, that had been tottering
shakily from loss of blood, fell on
his knees, and the Indian rushed
up to end the contest. At that in
slant the horse struggled to his
feet again and Howard saw that
his opportunity had come, his foe
was at his side, and he quickly
thrust his rifle against the Indians
body and fired, blowing a hole
through that seemed as large as
ones arm. The Indian shrieked,
leaped out of his saddle, and fell to
the ground upon his face, dead.
Looking about, Howard saw the
of the band following at
a prudent distance, for by this
time they began to look upon him
as a god, invulnerable TO all
their weapons. When, at last, the
poor horse fell PROSTATE, and APP
parently dead, they all focked up
to make a final disposition of their
troublesome enemy. But How
ard, undaunted, lay quietly down
behind the body Of his horse, and
when they came within short
range, took deliberate aim and
fired, killing another man. This
unlocked for disaster completely
demoralized them, and they fed in
all directions. Within three min
utes not an Indian was in sight.
He turned his attention to his
horse, loosened the girth to take off
the saddle, and was surprised when
the animal drew a deep breath and
struggled to his feet. He then led
him slowly to where the rest of the
party had made a stand about
their wagon, and as he approached
from one direction I came limping
up from the other, with bullet
in my right leg. The Indians had
paid their gentle attention to the
rest of us during the time Howard
was having his fight, but fortunate
ly not in force, and we succeeded
in getting together at the wagon
without the loss of man, l being
the only one wounded in the whole
AS soon as Ho ward
joined us we started on the retreat
for camp, the Indians harassing us
the whole way. They would form
in single file or all abreast and
charge as though they were going
to ride right over US, but on get
ting within short range would
wheel and retire, after discharging
a volley of shots that would tear
up the earth all around US. This
was terrifying to me, a boV fresh
from school, who had never expe-
any sort of warfare, and
had never seen a gun fired by one
man at another-but Howard, who
had gone through four years of
war of the rebellion, and had seen
three years or more of border war
fare with Indians, was quite exhile-
rated by the excitement. He gave
them a challenge by walking alone
several hundred yards away on
one side. They charged but re-
treated wheR he kneeled and fired.
Arriving at camp efter an hours
ride and running fight, we found
the escort thoroughly alarmed, and
just starting out to pick up our
dead bodies, for they had seen so
many Indians about that they made
sure we were all killed. 1t was
scene of mutual congratulation, as
we had feared that they had met
an untimely fate. A hasty counsel
of war was held as to what was to
be done. We were unanimous in
the opinion that It was Iolly to con-
tinue work without a larger escort
and a personal guard, besides it
was necessary that my wound