Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-09-18

s lay upon the battle field for five days,
unable to be moved, when litter was
constructed and ! was carried on the
backs OF my faithful Caddos ninety
miles, to Fort Radzminski. AS soon as
able returned 10 my alma ma or, Flor
ence (Ala.) Wesleyan University, where I
finished my education, and returned to
Texas in 1859. At the period Of which /
write, was out on vacation.
For some time after the battle OF
Wichita tine Comanches were less trou-
blesome to the people of the Texas
frontier, but in 1859 and 1860 the condi-
tioa OF the frontier was again truly de-
plorable. The loud and clamorous
demands Of the settlers induced the
State Government TO send out regiment
under Col. Nj. Il. Johnson for public de-
Tense. The expedition, thou of great
expenseto the State, failed TO accomplish
anything Having just graduated and
returned to mg homo at Waco, j was
commissioned as Captain by Gov. Sam
Houston, and directed to organize COM
pany of sixty mel, with orders to repair
to Fort Belknap, in Young County, re-
ceive from Col. Johnson all Government
property, as his regiment was disbanGed,
and offer the frontier such protection as
was possible from so small force
The necessity for vigorous measures
soon became so pressing, however, that / de-
termined to attempt TO curb the insolence
of these implacable, hereditary enemies of
Texas, who were gre tly emboldened by
tie small force left to con front them, and
to accomplish this by following them in
to their Businesses. and carry the war in
TO their own homes. | was compelled,
after establishing post. TO leave twenty
OF my men to guard the Government
property, and give some show of protec-
ton to the frightened settlers, and rs /
could take but forty of my men request
ed Capt. N. G. Evans, in command of the
United States troops at Fort Cooper, to
send me detachment of the Second
United States Cavalry. We had been in
timately connected in the Van Dorm cam
paign in 1858, during which was the re-
cipient of much kindness from him
while l was suffering from the severe
Wichita. He promptly sent me sergeant
and twenty well-mounted men, thus in
creasing my force to sixty. Ny force
was still further augmented by some
seventy volunteer citizens, under the
brave old frontiersman, Capt. Jack Cure
ton, of Bosque County.
On Dec. Is, 1860, while marching up
Pease River, l had suspicious that In
dams were in the vicinity by reason of
the great number Of buffalo which came
running toward us from the north, and
while my command moved in the low
ground visited neighboring high points
to make discoveries. On one of these
sand hills found four fresh pony tracks,
and being satisfied that Indian videttes
had just gone, galloped forward about
mile to still higher point, and riding
to the top to my inexpressible surprise
found myself within two hundred yards
of large Comanche village, located on q
small stream, winding around the base
of hill. 1t was most happy circum-
stance that cold, piercing wind from the
north was blowing, bearing with it clouds
OF dust and my presence was thus un-
observed and the surprise complete. By
signaling my men as / stood concealed
they reached me without being discover
ed by the Indians who were busy pack
ing up, preparatory to move.
By the time my men reached nee the
Indians had mounted and moved off north
across the level plain. My command, in
Guiding the detachment of the Second
Cavalry, had outmarched and become
separated from the citizen command of
seventy, which left ne about sixty men.
In making disposition for the attack, the
sergeant and his twenty men were sent at
gallop behind a chain of sandhills to
encompass them and cut off their retreat,
while with my forty men charged. The
attack was so sudden that a large number
were killed before they could prepare for
defense. They fed precipitGtely right into
the arms of the sergeant and his twenty
men. Here they met with warm reception,
and, finding themselves completely en-
comprised, every one fed his own way
and was holly pursued and hard pressed.
The chief, noted warrior of great re-
pute. named Pe-ta- no-co-na with young
Indian girl about fifteen years of age
mounted on his horse behind him, and
Cynthia Ann Parker, his squaw, with a
girl child about two years old in her
arms and mounted on feet pony, fed
together. Lieutenant Tom Keliiheir aud
l pursued them, and after running about
mile Kelliheir ran up. by the side of
Cynthia AIMS horse, and supposing her
to be a man, was in the act of shooting
her when she held up her child and
stopped. / kept on alone at the top of
my horses speed, after the chief, and
about half a mile further, when within
about twenty yards of him, fred my pistol
striking the girl whom l supposed to be
man, as she rode like one, and only her
head was visible above the buffalo robe
with which she was wrapped) near the
heart, killing her instantly. And the
same ball would have killed both but for
the shield of the chief, which hung down
covering his back.
When the girl fell from the horse
dead, she pulled the chief off also, but
he caught on his feet and before steady
ing himself my horse. running at full
speed, was nearly upon him, when he
sped an arrow which struck my horse
and caused him to pitch or buck" and
it was with the greatest difficulty could
keep my saddle, meantime narrowly es-
Gaping several arrows coming in quick
succession from the chiefs bow. Be-
ing at such disadvantage. he undoubtedly
would have killed me but for a random
shot from my pistol, while was cling
ing with my left hand to the pommel of
my saddle, which broke his right arm at |
the elbow, completely disabling him.
My horse then becoming more quiet, |
shot the chief twice through the body,
whereupon he deliberately walked to o
small tree near by, the only one in sight,
and, leaning against it, with one arm |
around it for support, began to sing
wild, weird song, the eath-song of the |
savage. There was plaintive melody |
in it which, under the dramatic circum- |
stances, filed my heart with sorrow.
At this time my Mexican servant, who |
had once been a captive with the Conan
ehes and spoke their language as fluent |
ly as his mother tongue, came up in |
company with others of my men. Through |
him l summoned the chief to surrender, |
but he promptly treated every overture |
with contempt, and signalized his refusal |
with savage attempt to thrust me |
through with his lance, which he still held |
in his left hand. I could only look upon |
him with pity and admiration, for de- |
p1orabla as was his situ atom with No |