Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-01-10


Of musketry warned US that there wa
trouble on the picket line. BY the tim,
our buglcs had recalled us from oui
hospItable lounging-place, and hurried
US toward the front, a soldier with
broken arm came In and reported tina
some cavalry had tried 10 force theii
way into town by the western road
and, being repulsed, had dlsmoGnted
and were disagreeiug, In the usual mil
itary manner, with the pickets, VIII,
had fallen back to Glennie's breast
works.
"Bless Glennie for the breastworxsl'
exclaimed our Major in command
after he had shouted: double quick
marchr'
The resistance made by our entire
force seemed 10 disgust the enemy,
for In couple OF hours they ceased
firing. A special roll call showed that
none OF our men had been killed, and
only two or three wounded, but q
Captain approached tho Major and
said that Lieutenant Glennie was miss.
ing. He had gone nearly a mile 10
the front TO little elevation where
he had thought howitzer might adj
vantageously be posted, gone two or
three hours before tho enemy APP
peared.
Captured, then, OF course" "
groaned the Major. "Confound II,
gentlemen, for the good Of the service
I'd rather have been captured myself" "
Most OF us felt the same way, and
we were too dismal for the remainder
Of the day even TO rejoice at having re-
pulsed the enemy. The entire force
went out as skirmishers for mile or
two, asking questions at every planta-
ton house and cabin, but no one could
tell whether or no the enemy, as they
galloped away had Union officer with
them.
We felt so ugly at our loss that we
feared TO face the natives when we re-
turned to town. What would they
think OF us, as soldiers, when they
learned that the officer whom we all
cheerfully acknowledged was the
ablest soldier among us had fallen
into the enemy's handsp The Major
was so amazed that ne actually hit of
the mouthpiece OF his pipe-stem in a
At OF anger; but this severe action did
not return to US the flower Of the reg
iment.
just before sunset sentry on the
road startled all of us, as we lay be.
hind the works. by shouting;
"Ofiicer of the guard Flag OF truce
comingr'
We all sprang upon the parapet, and
saw emerging from the forest. nearly
half a mile away, horse, rider. and
tiny white rag. The Major raised
his glasses, peered through them "a
moment, dropped them and exclaimed:
"Well, I've heard that the Confed-
eracy had robbed the cradle and the
grave, but didn't imagine they'd been
recruiting Amazons. That flag Is car,
ried by a womanm
Then all OF us wished we had glasses.
The rider advanced slowly until we
could see that she was not armed; then
that she had a good seat and q fine fig
ure, and finally that she was young
and pretty.
WANTS protection forher property,
l suppose" growled the Major.
Those raiders are probably cleaning
out the family's barn and smoke
house, there being nobody at home
but women and children. What do
they suppose few infantry can do
against nobody knows how many cav
alry?"
Nevertheless we went slowly out,
alone, TO meet her. at which Glennie' 5
Captain exclaimed:
This isn't according 10 enstoml
Who knows but she's a young man,
disguised, and will drop the Major
with his pistol? Come on, boysr'
Several OF us followed him. As we
saw him twirling the ends OF his mus
tache and tipping his hat slightly 70
one side, we followed his example in
these respects also. We overlook the
Major Just as the rider halted, looked
very pale, and said.
alt wasn't his fault, sir-really it
wasn't"
Whose fault MADAME" said the
Major, raising his hat.
"Mr Glennie's." said the girl.
"Ohl Confound III / mean-so they
got him. did thcy?'
"Oh, no, sir, but he wishes they had.
And they would have done, only
only"
"Well, madam
"Only they we're prevented.
fIndeed? how was that?"
"Why, you see, sir, he stopped at
our house, just for drink OF water.
and while he was standing by the well,
the Rangers -"
"Rangers2"
"Yes, sir; tho Texas cavalry-they
came across the hill just then. He
started to run this way. but-but-"
''Wen?"
The girl looked down q moment,
colored, raised her head and said rap
Idly;
81 told him he never would get there
alive. said they we're a hundred to
one, and he'd surely be killed. I'm a
true Southern woman, sir; my father
is Captain Grayson, Of the artillery
battalion, but don't believe murder
is war. So l made him come into the
house. He declared he wouldn't; death
was nothing TO duty. But made him
come in."
" "IndeedP What arguments did you
use, may askP"
Again the girl looked down and col
ored deeply. Some Of the younger Of.
hcers began TO exchange winks.
"He declared he wouldn't" the girl
resumed, but ] made him. He
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