The National tribune., 1888-02-09
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The march was TO be long one-l0 OF -
weeks-aud through 2 desert land not only
difficult for travelling, but swarming with hos
tile Indians, determined, If possible, to ami
hilate all the whites west of the Missouri.
Each mile bad TO be tTayerscd with the COM
mand ready for action to repel Indian attacks,
and each camp had 70 resemble. as nearly as
possible, q garrison besicged. The enemy had
ALL THE ADVANTAGE,
and were well armed. well mounted, brave and
intelligent, and outnumbered us many times
over.
The following was the order of march as
well as can remember 1t: The new guard of
to-day, the advance guard; one company Of
cavalry recruits ambulance containing Off
GERS families; wagons containing soldiers
families; wagons containing camp equipments !;
horses led and guarded by soldiers these horses
were tied to long rope at regular intervals)
second company Of cavalry: wagons containing
supplies: another section Of horses; third COM
psny Of cavalry; extra wagons; camp followers
etc; old guard Of yesterday, rear-guard.
On the right flank. well in advance, rode %
picked men, old soldiers, who acted as lankers
and scouts TO protect the expedition from sur
prises. The wagons moved in single or double
tie as the nature Of the roads or the
PROBABILITIES OF ATTACK
control Of Wagonmasters, and the drivers were
instructed 10 halt and form IN position 70 resist
stack al moments notice. The movement
was 30 be executed iB the following manner
An attack threatening, the fankers were slowly
70 join the main column, the advance guard
hating at once. The wagons, when moving in
double column, halted IN this order: first two
leading wagons came together, mules Gnhitched
and tied 10 Wagon-Wheels; numbers three and
-ffr nd laf fnfs
70 the inner side OF wagons one and two; wag-
oDs i've and SIX right and left Of these, their
mules driven 10 the inner sides Of wagons three
and four, and SO on until the whole command
was iH position 60 resist attack The ambu-
lsnces soldiers horses, etc, would thus be en-
trely Enclosed, and the wagons, loaded with
camp equipage and stores, would make very
fair fortress. The soldiers could fight from
under the wagons, keeping Up fire that would
make an
INDIAN ATTACK
a very dangerous undertaking. In Indian
fighting one man holds four horses and the
other three act as skirmishers. The signal OF
danger" which is made by riding round in q
circle, means also the enemy is in dangerous
proximity; collect together as soon as possible.
Thus q tanker way of on the right could
Egnal the advance guard, and the Officer Of the
Day. always with OF near the advance guard.
r Z
minutes the whole train would be In position
for the threatened attack
In this manner, and always on the alert we
marched through Kansas. Reveille sounded
early ia the morning, sometimes when IN very
dangerous places, long before daylight, and
camp was usually formed about or o'clock In
the afternoon. After the site for the camp had
been carefully selected, the wagons would
move into position. forming three sides of {
square Il on the river bank. or a perfect SQUARE
II OF the open prairie in single Of double row
Of wagons. The horses were herded. If in /
secure camp OF If threateaed, were tied to th,
long ropes between the camps which were fas
tened 70 posts firmly planted in the ground
The hospital and guard tents were the earlies
raised and when the whole camp was IN ordea
IL was indeed a pretty sight TO see. Bv sun
down the camp was silent except that now AM
then one might hear a banjo or guitar, or som,
voices singing songs Of home. as,the soldier
gathered round their campfres and smoked o
told stories until after tattoo. The night
were usually cool, and how pleasant cam
seemed after the long, hot and dusty ride Of tn
day. As we journeyed westward
GRASS GREW LONGER,
and beds became more luxurious First W
threw down our rubber pOnchOs, then blanke
folded twice, or ofteDeF, for mattress. II W
had 60 pillow, folded oVeTcoat over pair G
boots made an excellent substitute Anothe
blanket over us completed tie bed. Taps th
last call. babe rs rest in peace 10 wait for "a
Inorrow's reyeille. Soldiers, like other boyi
are apt 70 be froliesome at bedtime, and man
were the prHnks played between tattoo an
taps and sometimes even after taps.
AusketOs were plentiful as Summer sd
xanced, and they made slumbers, which i