Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-12-02
AT BENT's OLD FORT.

For more than 500 long, toilsome
miles, from the busting town Of West
port, on the Missouri, to the royal city
of New Spain, stretched the old Santa
Fe trail. At its initial point on the
great, muddy river there was usually
gathering Of men, cattle and wagons,
for the making up of the numerous
trains soon to be dotted along its
whole length, steadily marching west.
ward, or resting at Council Grove,
Pawnee Fork, the Cimarron Crossing,
or Las Vegas. Now, however, all was
strangely quiet at Westport and along
the trail. No long procession of white.
topped wagons lighted up the yellow
ish green buffalo grass no crack of
whip nor merry WAGNER song sound
ed along the banks Of the river no
smoke Of campfire rose in the clear
air. A great change had come over
the old Santa Re trail, for it was July,
1916, and war with Mexico had been
declared. and waiting in New Spain
were not eager buyers Of merchandise,
but warlike parties ready, as reported,
to welcome the Gringos with bloody
hands to hospitable graves" Not
wholly deserted, however. by any
means was the great route along the
tortuous course of the Arkansas, for
on it was marching the finest Army
of the West, under General Stephen
kearney. Starting from Fort Leaven-
worth and making their way with much
difficulty over the rough country be.
tween that point and the trail, they
the staff, the regulars (infsntry, drs.
goons and two batteries,) and the
famed First Regiment Of Missouri Cav
alry-had passed Pawnee Fork, and
Were concentrating on point not far
from the junction of the Timpas river
with the Arkansas. Near this point,
too, and on the left bank, was the fort
owned by and named for one OF the
family OF Bent those celebrated fron.
tlersmen and trappers. 1t was COM
modious structure OF abode, with large
central Enclosure and rude accommo-
dations for man and beast.
1t was nearly sunset on or near the
2Sth day of July when a detachment
OF Doniphans regiment. with head
quarters staff, halted for the night be-
yond the big timber" or grove Of
large cottonwood trees, where the val
ley opens out and the river banks
slope gently down to it, day march
east OF the tort. a group OF officers
gathered round the campfire, and sat
waiting tor their supper. Ere long
one OF the surgeons Joined them, light.
my his pipe as he took his seat
How are the sick men, doctor ."
asked the major.
The engineer officer is better, but
still very weak, replied the surgeon.
The lieutenant OF cavalry is worse,
and fear he cannot last long"
Poor fellow = calculated the major,
he is u good and brave man. 1t is
hard for him to die here, and of mis-
cradle fever, before shot has been
fired. More than one heart will ache
in 81. Louis when they get the news
OF his ending. Can nothing be done
for him.
Nothing" said the doctor. He
is quite unconscious and will probably
pass quietly away during the night,
and without coming to himself"
So it was and at sunset next day
PAwnees and Comauches lounsing
about the entrance to Bent's Fort heard
the vollsys OF the firing party, and
then saw the little detachment march.
ing at rapid pace back to the camp.
Outside, and close under the walls OF
the fort at the northwest corner, and
among the graves Of not few traders,
trappsrs, and also ruthans, who had
died with their boots on, was q
simple headboard placed, on which
was inscribed: