The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-04-17
MIRACULOUS ESCAPES.
Adventures Of a Government
Scout With the Cheyennes.

Three Times Saved Seemingly BY the Hand
of Providence-Five Soldiers Magnified
into Fifty-Two Deserters and
Scout Rescue Two Civilians.
The position of Government scout and
post rider at Fort Wallace in 1867 NAV
be judged from the fact that no less
than four attacks were made BY the
Cheyennes on that fort during the sum-
mer. The place was a small collection
of huts, with nothing whatever in the
shape of fort, and for distance of 200
miles the stage statious were wiped out,
one after another, and the post thus
isolated. In May. 1867, when the cam
paign opened, there were seven of US.
When the first snow came in the fall I
was the only only one left. The other
eight had been wiped out in the line of
duty. We were not only required to
scout the country about Fort Wallace,
but sometimes to make ride of two
hundred miles to other forts or posts,
and to keep open the lines of commune
cation between the temporary camps.
The Indians were making their last
fight, and they were never so vigilant,
cruel and cunning.
When the first attempt was made to
re-establish the stage route small bod y
of soldiers was left at each station.
Each station was provided with dug
out, which was an eXcavatio or pit
rooted over and provided with water and
provisions. Port holes were left for
firing, and four men ensconsced in one
of these pits often proved too many for
hundred bloodthirsty redskins. had
a route covering three of these stations
for some weeks, and there was not an
hour in the TWEEN ty-four, nor a mile of
the route which did not have its own
peril.
One afternoon about the 1st of June,
about two hundred Indians appeared
within mile of the fort, INDUCED in
extravagant demonstrations of defiance
and contempt for the few soldiers guard
ing the post, and drew off just before
dark This was haforo the stare stn
tions were abandoned, and at dark was
posted off to warn the first two that the
enemy was out in force. 1t was a calm,
starlight night, with a crisp air and a
frost, and a horse and rider could be
seen pistol-shot away. 1 believed the
whole body of Indians to be between the
fort and the first station, but the oply
precautions l could take was to bear
away and make a quarter-circle, hoping
to flank them that way. Six miles from
the fort, as brought my horse down to
walk on reaching a stretch of broken
ground, I rode right in among the In
dams, who were strung out across the
stage route for half mile on either
side. l came upon the line as it was
debouching from a dry gulch, and so
suddenly that I saw the horses close
ahead of me before caught the slight
est sound of their near presence. Ow-
ing to the nature of the ground the
line was very irregular, and all the
ponies we're on walk. For a long ten
minutes I rode within fifteen feet of
three Indians who were on the right of
the line, and who had only to turn their
heads to discover that did not belong
to the party. They were smoking and
talking and gave me no attention. When
we came to the foot of a rise l checked
my horse and let them pass on out of
sight, and then bearing off to the right
! made detour and gained the trail
ahead of them and pushed on.
A month later, when passing between
stations, I had an escape which seemed
to show the hand of Providence. The
stages had then ceased running, but the
dugouts were being held by the en-
ployes, and was carrying orders and
extra ammunition. We had seen no Indi-
ans during the afternoon, and the night
came on dark and rainy. I got away as
soon as darkness had come, and keeping
to the left of the trail did not attempt
to 60 beyond walk. l had covered
about half the distance when l heard
the movement of horses in front of me,
and at once came to a halt. In about
two minutes was surrounded by Indian
ponies, which had been turned out to
Craze on the scanty feed, and some of
which were hobbled. Had it been a
clear night they would have moved
away from me, but the dampness and
darkness seemed to have taken all the
spirit out of them. at once dismount-
ed, and had scarcely done so when the
herd wedged me closer and heard the
voice of an Indian on my left call out in
the Cheyenne dialect:
"Are you trying to drive them over me
while catch little sleep?"
''They move because they are hungryr'
replied voice right in front of me.
These were the sentinels of the herd.
The war party were no doubt in the basin
ahead of me and between me and the
station. stood there holding my horse
for fully ten minutes, and by that time
was quite alone, for the ponies had NO
sooner got my scent than they began to
draw away. Ipassed to the right step
by step, and almost foot by foot, and
when had gone half a mile got into
q gully and followed it up until felt
that I must be beyond the party to whom
the ponies belonged. Such proved to be
the case, as I reached the station with
out further incident. found an adobe
house and barn and dugout, and there
were five employees of the stage COM
pany. Each had Spencer carbine and
two revolvcrs, and the fixed ammunition
! bad brought put the men in good
spirits. They hoped the indiana would
make an attack, as every thing was now
ready for them, and it was hardly sun.
rise when the hope was gratified. The
rcd men could approach US within hall
mile under cover of the gullies and
washouts. and after that they showed
themselves. They first tried trickery,
rs an Indian always does when he fails
TO surprise. A warrior advanced with a