Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1889-03-08
FIGHTING REDSKINS,

y W MAAA We AAMAAA ~ 1914 VI 80
S~'wanoochee, said Capt. Jim Storue as
he pulled a cloud Of smoke from his old
black pipe, and leaned back In his chair
under the low shed In front Of his home
knew that Capt Jim had n Of bis
numerous adventures on his mind, aud ]
prepared for the worst.
Ye see, me n 0lner1 Floyd wus alters
great cronies. We used TO swap terbacker
an borry each others knives, n Giner1
nd cuss right afore me. same's Of nobody
want Rroun' After we got though the
Oksefenobee we belt a council o'war, q n
alter it was tin1y greed that Their want
no injuns inside O. the swamp. the ques
ton wus. 'whar aire theyf' Some thought
that they'd gone to the everglades. others
helt u the idee that they wer' a hidin
out 'mongst the ponAs and bays an In
the creek swamPs like a passed. o var
mints.
At last. howsombedever. Giner1 Floyd
says TO me. says o:
''Jlm"-allers called me Jim for short
''whar do you think they sireY'
We'll, ginerl," says l. 'ef I'm not
badly QUIT II, the dod rotted villyuns Rirc
sneakin' aroun' In the big thick on
S~'wanoochee."
"Wcll. | bedurned, says Q, 'ef Jim
hain't got more sense than the whole drap
shot gang. you may have my years for
heel tap, and God knows they're tough
enough since these dad blasted galllnip
pers We afoul OF EN-. Boys, well go "
thar an drive Big Thick. an see II Jim
amt bout half right"
Ye SEQ, giner1 liked the Warlike man
ner In which | spoke. fur be saw that Of |
came across an lngin hitd be Katie, bar
the door" with that savage. | had fully
made up my min 70 shoot down without
quarter every dinged one OF EN- that ]
came across.
Giner1 Floyd had an old niger named
Sawnie what he called his body servyant.
but Their want much servyant bout 1t
The old rascal had lone fo'got everything
but how to steal, IN he wus a. diff as Q
post. an so mort1y Internal lazy that no
matter what time a day It u his shad
der WIS alters In front of i'm. Jist so
burned lazy hat he couldn't keep up with
It.
Ef they wus one thing old Sawnie loved
better'n con liekor. 1t wus to set or q log
an fab. He didn't keer fur jack an
trout an pike an red bellies. They wus
too brisk fur i'm. but mud cats wus his
glory, becase they tuck their time bout
bitin'.
We'd broke up camp an we'd marched
up the S'wanoochee to a pint bout q mile
blow whar the Big Thick begins an Gin
erl Floyd halted us an told w to be very
keerful, as We wus In the Injins' kentry, an'
they wer' h'ble to pop up In the most N
expected places. He ordered us 10 sec
that VIC KEEP our primin' ready. our Aints
well pecked. an wen the time come fur
action to be ready to carry fer and sword
into the camp Of the hos-tiles. He wound
up by akin us. in bold. big words. to
'trus' In God an Jackson IN keep yer
powder dry"
Well. sir, l sot OH gyard till bout mid
night that night, an then | rousted Big
iawed John Langford IN tole him TO take
my place while l tuck a nap.
reckin slep' mighty SCUM, an Ger
tainly sleP' the sleep Q the Jest. for ]
dreampt ! kilt seben Injun warriors at
n fer. us they sot on q barrikin log. an
l was Jest Rfxin' TO load my rife when
walked up.
%Jim. Jiml" come q voice, an I opened
my eyes an seed Blgjawed John astan'ln'
over me-
"W'ot you want. joint"
"Shl The lnjuns amt q qua'ter Of a
mile of | hearn q turkey gobolo down
the creek Jest Afore' day. R'ter I'D ben
sdozin' q while
"Y'ortor not Aben dozin' on picket.
john hits agin orders, AN ye better not
say nothin' mo bout that"
"Well. as | said. | hearn q turkey, an
thought Id nave q crack at i'm. but by
the blue Je~hosephatl as | was a-creepin'
long down the creek l happened to look
downR path that led though a openln' In
the thick. whar the creek bends. an thar
sat a lnjun with Is gun cross is lap. an
! could see q dozen more heads 'mongst
the bushes. | started to shoot. but alter
] saw that the gyard didn't see me ]
thought Id better com back an rouse
the men an we'd s'roun' 'em. | tell ye,
Jim. hit made my hare rise an my blood
run cole TO think what q nairer resk we
wus a-rounin'."
Hit was mos sun up, but 4 thick fog
hung over the swamp, n ye couldn't soc
very far ahead. but wen we toll Con
Floyd bout tho disklvery he sprung up
an ordered us to git ready TO march 'thouI
maxim any noise. ALI the camp was VI
by this time. an we belt q council Of war
Langford s0jested that We throw NJ
breastworks an let EN- attack us fust,
but we younger ones was dead agin' that
We was afeard they'd git away fom US,
an we list ruled i'm right out.
"Wel, hadn't ye better gin me q gyard
TO stay with the baggage IN protect it,
says ..
'No. wen let It take keer o fitself." said
Gen. Floyd sternly; I'VE want every mar
20 do his duty today"
Well, we was soon ready an Giner'
Floyd directed me TO take one squad an
cross the creek an go down t'other side
while him an LAngford tuck tho Other
side.
Boys" says .. a. we parted. we Rir'
Agwine Into adesper't fight. an ye know
lnjuns haint got no mercy. We don't
know what the odds aire. but wO do know
that no true Georgian II fail to do I,
duty. Some Of us may fall. but the res
mustn't finch. Go cautiously, now. an
les steal a march on the yaller devils
Trust In God an Jackson an keep yei
powder dryl"
Well. I've done q heap o. tough thingl
In my day an time. but that WAS thG
hardest monin's work Of my life. was
young an ambitions an ia alters beer
athinkin' out how I'd sek Of ! wus u
come unto ralO war. That sperit Of mini
wus what made 'em 1ect me eap'n Of mill
tia. an now that wus aeumin' face u
face with the Wild savidges nay hear
swelled up 80 big that the collar OF ny
huntin' shirt was too small. an ] felt hoi
n cold all over.
glo-,Iv 49, Ho,rf,T. - crnrt aIo,0 toI