Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-28
FITZ LEES PERIL.
THE RESULT OF A HAND-TO-HANO
CONFLICT WITH AN INDIAN.
An Interesting Reminlscencc Of the Present
Governor of Virginia When He Was
q Young Lieutenant in the
United states Army.
For the Dispaich.l

Jientenant- Colonel All Baird, Sixth
North Carolina cavalry, Confederate army
now Ashevile's chief Of police, on the con-
clusion of hostilities located IN Iexas WIN
an uncle. John NJ. Hunter, who resided o,
"Camp Colorado" long time the genera
Headquarters of the old Second dragoIhs'
United States army, Of winch Il. T.. boe
was the colonel. Mr.. Hunter was appoint
ed sutler by Colonel Lee. and IN that capa-
city was closely connected with the regi-
ment. officers and men, unbl the breaking
out Of the war between the states.
Mr. Hunter. Colonel Baird saws, was mp
10 the time of his death unswerying IN MS
devotion to the odd Second OF when
I,oncstreet. Hood, FitZ Lee, and others al
forwards distinguished generals on pr
side or the other in the unpleasantness lnat
followed were officers; especialiY was ne
fond of Fit" then lieutenant ana
could tell many an interesting incident,
humorous or thrilling, of his lie ana haoils
when a young suhaltern
he described him then as very different
in appearance 10 wnat he looks now. WIN
not an ounce of superfiuOus flesh, extreme
lv well proportioncd. he was the beau-ideai
OF an athletic young trooper. Ana such ne
proved himself-nOt excelled as h0rse-
man. a superior sw0rdsman, a me shoU;
was ofteuest on top in friendly wrestling
I
foot. and could lead the column IN loIS
and fatiguing march on foot.
Owing 10 his youth and an eXuberance
of hioh animal spirits, which his perfect
health provoked, checked only by army
discipline. he was not often intrustcd Win
the command of n separate detachment,
much to the chagTin OF the young heuteu-
ant. for he knew ms powers ana was aihpi-
tious: frequent calls on the troops cover
| ing large frontier, by constant lhcuIslohs
of the Indians. offering ample opportunity.
After fretting over the disappointment
ouite n while at last his chance came. Inc
| Comanches. then in large numbers, made
| a general and almost simultaneous ralu
| along the entire frontier, which necess'la-
| fed 81 troop or a squadron sent here or
there. until nearly the whole command
| had been dispatched TO repel them, leaving
| Fitz and a few other officers III camp WIN
| only a score OF so Of men.
one band of Indians, holder or more
cunning than the others, eluding the cor
don of troops sent out TO intercept them
suddenly made their appearance WITHIN q
! short distance Of the post, creating great
CONSERVATION among the settlers, both Tor
/ their own safety and that OF their herds
and focks
lieutenant Fitz Lee was ordered by the
officer in command to take ten or Twelve
soldiers and the few settlers he c0uld m
duce to 90 with him and attack them. lie
| did so ACCOMPANIED by Mr.. Hunter, the
post suffer. SO vigorously was 1t done
| that the Indians were compelled TO retreat
| leaving most Of their captured booty.
! Nioht coming Oh the little body Of men
ceased the pursuit and went into camp,
prudence debating that il was folly TO e&-
pect to cope at night with an enemy so
| willy aud treacherOus, and whose Know
| ledge Of the ground gave them every al
vantage.
after them. determined to Overtake and IN
| Aict punishment. After following the
trail Till late in the evening they were
| compelled. as much for the relief OF their
| horses as from the nature of the ground;
| TO dismount and follow on foot. The tran
| led them into broken and rocky range OF
| the Colorado Hills, which was dlihcult ana
| irving on the troOpers-unused as they
were to travel on foot--and rendered the
danger of an ambuscade very great unless
unusual precautions were taken.
| Lieutenant Fitz continued his advance
| RAPIDLY but cautiously until he discovered
| that the band was breaking into small par
ties and separating. His eagerness 70 over
| take them overbalanced his caution 10 a
certain extent as he urged his men tc
greater exertions. They responded as best
| they could. but were unable TO keep pace
| with their athletic young commander, VINO
was finally some distance ahead, pursuing
n small party Of Indians in sight and on
whom he was steadily gaining. One OF
! their number seeing the officer far IN adj
vance of his men laid a trap for him, and
| the future great cavalry general and GOV
ernor of Virginia came near losing ms
! scalp. Selecting rock which stood
abruptly up in his pathway; some SIX OF
seven feet high and so shaped on the top as
TO afford him concealment, the Indian
| dropped his blanket directly underneath
and waited with all his native cunning and
| ferOcity.
Fitz, rising the hill and seeing nothing,
| bombed on in pursuit Reaching the spot
he spied the gaudy blanket on the ground
and stopped uDsuspectingly 10 pick 1t up.
| This was the moment the savage was wait
| ing for. With bound he was upon the
stopping officer knife in hand. The force
| of the leap threw the lieutenant fiat on ms
face and rolled the Indian over beside and
partly on top of him. Turning over. and
throwing the Indian of with the qulcknte,:ss
| Of lightning they grappled and a terrific
| struggle ensued.
The Indian was larger, hut not so agile
as Fitz, whose hands slipped from the
naked arms and shoulders Of the savage as
| if creased. Over and over they tumbled,
| the Indian trying to use his knife, tlt2
! striving 10 prevent II, when with an effort
which called every sinew and muscle into
| play he threw the savage from HIM and
rapidly drew his own weapon, closing again
Immediately.
At this stage Of the game some Of the
/ soldiers came up and would have shot the
| Commanche. lieutenant Lee, seeing this,
called out: Don't shoot! It's man 70
man in this fghtl" and after bloody and
| terrific fight succeeded in killing his enc,
| nv. The vigorous and timely attack and
pursuit of the Indians by Lieutenant Lee
did much TO break up the raid and gained
| for him the confidence and commentator
Of his superiors, which continued when
! later events required the same energy
activity. and judgment that this little cpl
| sode of the plains called forth.
When Fitz left Texas he presented hls
! friend the sutler his favorite dog, a mag
nificent white setter named Sub"
This dog was Mr.. Hunters constant
! companion for many years, and was ten
DERBY buried when he died some years
after the war. His master never tired
talking Of his many good qualities, asso-
ciating him always with "Fitz," whether
! in camp or field. d. a. w.
ASheUtie, N. c., July Is, 1889.