, 1889-08-27
THE 18TH WINS THE DAY
Fort Russell Troops RepuIse GAL
liant CavaIrymen.
Taken BY Surprise They Rally
Quickly and Win.
A Glorious Sham Battle on the
Runningwater.

hiOnR lTuugeu Ine tIn Infantry. Inc
alkalai dust, unaccustomed to the gov
ernment shoes which plowed it up, rose
in fantastic shapes and filed the eyes of
the plodding boys in blue. More than
one officer fervently wished that the "dod
gasted" march was at an end and that
they were once more back and established
in their comfortable quarters at Russell.
The hot, MONDAY sur beat mercilessly
down upon the bleached and tender faces
of the late West Pointer, and even the
old bronzed Veterans were forced to ad-
nit that the heat and dust combined to
make them feel a little husky"
The 18th infantry had been on the
march eleven day on their way to Fort
Robinson, and o-day, the twelfth, found
them about three miles north of Running
water, on the Red Cloud road. For seve-
raj days past an attack from the cavalry
had been expected. Skirmishers had
been thrown out on all sides and the
scouts, under Captain Bennett, sent ahead
of the advance guard. Now, however, it
was thought that there was no longer any
likelihood OF an attack and the skirmish
lines were drawn in; the scouts, though,
were still kept in the lead. Suddenly
there was heard "a shout. and even the
straggler who had been seriously con-
templati1g the sick man scheme, bestirred
himself and regained his place in his
platoon. Advancing toward them, riding
at a furious gate, shouting at every jump,
and a perfect cloud of dust encircling him,
cam a horseman. As he neared them
the soldiers recognized the weather-beaten
features of the veteran Captain Bennett,
who had been out with the scouts. The
captain was not riding in a princely style,
as he shouted various incoherent orders.
finally ending up with the announcement
that the coon cavalry had taken the
scouts.
Instantly all was confusion. The off.
GERS ordered double quick" in such a
torcible manner and so many times that
troops ten miles in front gathered for a
run. Both rear and advance guards with
the main body FASTENED to assist the
scouts only a small detachment being left
with the wagon train. At a run and in
splendid order the infantrymen went for
ward to succor their comrades; when they
arrived at the spot where the cavalry
charge had been made, they found-noth.
ing. Gradually the officers began to
tumble; Mai. Casey was the very picture
Of chagrin and dismay; Capt. Bennett
tried IN vain to pull out his whiskers,
Adjt. Ruhlen pulled his hat down still
more over his right eye and called on the
devil for s%olace, while Capt. Burns con-
scientiously wiped the sweat from his
forehead and said he knew it all the time.
Instantly the column was ordered to
double quick to the rear, but they were
almost too late. From the east, advanc.
ing at a rapid rate toward the train, their
penants flying to the breeze, and their
sabres cleaning in the dazzling sunlight,
came, in splendid military procession, the
two companies of the 9th cavalry. The
train was quickly surrounded by the black
cavalrymen, their beautiful horses rearing
and plunging in their excitement. The
sturdy little detachment of the 18th at
the wagons, bravely stood its ground, and
baffled the horsemen at every point; then
their comrades. Advancing with
dubbed musket. a burly seargeantshouted
the naygurs up, boys; take 'em all
in an we w%on'thave to walk. The cavalry
was forced to retreat; they could not with
stand the furious onslaught of the foot
soldiers, who could not bear to think they
were to be beaten by the '~'coons."
Anthem became aimiable and the troops
mingled together again and talked of the
fight. 1t was found that although the
9th had made the attack they were the
only ones to suffer loss, the 18th having
captured three hats and a ~knapsack from
the cavalry. The fight could not have
but ended disastrously to the cavalry had
the attack been genuine, for they were
exposed to a raking fire from the infantry
for fully a minute, while they were sweep
ing across the country.
The cavalry had made a feint to attack
the scouts and after having caused the
alarm to be sent to the rear, swept rap
idly around and closed in on the wagon
train. The 9th cavalry is splendidly
mounted and excellently drilled. Old of
floors nf tho 1Tth sai1 thot tboy bad rayar