Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-03
BY CAPT CHARLES KING. U. s. A.,
copyrighted 1889 by the author.
STORY OF FRONTIER ARMY LIFE

bring lIcr 10 such pandemoninm rs
this? wus his exclamation to Holmes as,
a moment later, they fastened forth
upon rhe parade Yes, he hastily
answered, - a little boy came run-
nlng tearfullg 10 him to say that
mamma was taken very III, and they
didn't know what 10 do for her = Yes,
SO are italf the women in the garrison, /
doubt not: though they re all scared for
nothing, l II bet dinner Tell mamma
I'u be there Just rs soon rs l We seen
Mai. Miller Here he comes now
The major with his adjutaHt and fol-
lowed 10y his orderly was coming rapidly
into the quadrangle as he spoke and the
two gentlemen fastened forward TO meet
him. From half a dozen houses women
or children were rushing to question the
commanding officer with wild, impioring
eyes and tailoring tongues. He waved
his hands and arms in energetic gyratiOns
and warned them away.
900 back! Go back! You distracted
geese!o he called ITS all a lie!
There's hardly been q brush worth men
.tioning Terry ana his men are all safe.
Now do stop your nonsense! But come
with me. doctor, he quickly added in q
lower tone ''Come, Mr.. Holmes.
want You both to hear this. It Is so like
Terry. Damn those outrageous Bridgets
down there! Did you ever hear anything
like the row they raised? And all for
nothing -
HAS there been no fight at all?"
asked Bayard.
.Yes-a pretty lively one, too. Me-
Lean is shot and otherwise hurt, but can I
be dangerously SO, for he wanted to go
on in the pursuit Three horses killed
and two troopers wounded; that 5
about the size OF it, but there s
more 10 come. Doctor,
want two ambulances to 90 down ut once
and will send half dozen men as guard
They can ride in them. We have no
more available troopers viii you go or
send your assistant; You cannot get there
much before 10 or II o clock, even if you
trot all the way Better let Dr.. Weeks,
don I you think so?
" Whichever You prefer, major. Weeks
has been devoting himself to Blunt,
though of course could relieve him
there When could we get back
Not Before noon tomorrow. The
wounded are way down ut Royal : Ford,
where Terry had left them with two or
three men and pushed on after the
Indians with the rest. They tnc<ed him,
/ fancy, and nc ism I in good humor.
by this time the quartet had entered
the Office, ana there, handing the dis
patch 10 his adjutant, and bidding the
orderly close the door, the major seated
himself III his desk, invited the others TO
draw.up their chairs, produced a map of
Platte county and the trails to the Sioux
reservations over along the White river
a ad babe the adjutant to read aloud.
This the young officer proceeded to do:
..Ox THE TRAIL. NEAR RAwHIDE,
1880 a. m.
Post Adjutant, Fort Laramie.
Sm-Reaching Royal s ford before
daybrcak, we posted lookouts and headed
off the Indians, who appeared at dawn.
In the fight Lieut.. Mclean, Sergeant
Pierce and Trooper Murray were wound
ed two Indians killed ard left on the
field: Others wounded bat carried off At
ter skirmishing some time ut long
range they drew off and
were next seen far down the
Platte below the ford. / started at
once in pursuit, but had only got four
miles when we discovered il was only
small band, and th3t the main body with
considerable plumber had got down 10
and were crossing the ford. This led us
to hasten back and we have kept in hot
pursuit 10 this point. Now, however,
the horses are exhausted and we have not
even gained upon their fresh ponies,
although they were forced TO abandon
good many horses they are driving away
As soon as our horses and men are rested
I Will start on return VIA north bank.
Please send ambulances, etc, for the
wounded. Very respectfully, your ODE
dent servant,
GEORGE F. TERRY,
Captain Commanding.
To- this military and matter Of fact
correspondence the auditors listened in
silence.
- Not much about that to stir up such
q Robbery - said the major presently.
How did you hear about Mr.. Nc
Lean 5 wanting to join the pursuit?
inquired Mr.. Holmes Capt Terry
seems to make light mention Of him and
the other wounded l know enough of
Indian fighting to feel sure there must
have been some sharp work when they
leave two dead on the field. -
so do /, - answered the major and
that is why I inquired of old Zooll for par
ticularS He is the last man in the ranks
To DE eXaggerative or sensational, and as
for his captain-weI, this dispatch is
simply characteristic of Terry He
has Il horror of anything spread
eagle, as he calls it, and will
never praise officers or men-says
that il must be considered 4 matter of
course that they behaved well and did
their duty otherwise he would be sure
10 prefer charges. Now, DR. Bayard, if
you viii kindly send for DR.. Weeks / will
give him ms instructions and, meantime,
win you make such preparations as may
be necessary?
This the Chesterfield of the medical
department could not bat understand
as a gentle hint TO be off, and he prompt
IL arose and signified his readiness to car
~ out any wishes the commanding officer
might have Holmes, too, arose and
started for the door with his host and en-
tertainer, ana though the major called
HIM back and asked il he would not re-
maal he promptly declined, saying that
he greatly wished TO accompany the doc
tor and see the preparations made in such
eases.
But he tarried only a few moments
with Bayard 1T the hospital, and when
the doctor Strove TO detain him. he
begged TO be excused n little while
There was matter, he said, he wanted
to look into before those ambulances
started The post surgeon looked after