The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1891-05-06

Lever IcdCucu US, CltuCI WI AAAG Oss$H>
through fear or having been picked on
by some concealed rifieman. About
five o'clock in the afternoon the natives
appeared in large numbers, both above
and below us, and then we knew what
had happened: indeed, they tainted us
with the humiliation of our comrades,
and gave us the news that the main
column had moved on and desert
ed Us. An old sergeant, who had passed
twenty-five years in the service. was in
command of us, and as sAon as he fully
realized the disaster which had come
about he called the men together and
said:
I'VE have no choice in this matter. A
thousand men could not push their way
down into the valley now. to try and
overtake the column. We must remain
and do what we can"
'.But what can we do?" asked . cor.
poral.
"Die- replied the sergeant. That's
what we were sent out here for, any.
how. We are twenty-five to hundreds
and thousands. We must kill as many
of the devils as we can and then lay
down ourselves"
There wasn't glimmer of hope. We
knew the Afghan. In that long and
bloody campaign neither side bothered
with prisoners. If we. captured one,
ten, fifty. or hundred it was puff!
bang. and they were left lying dead as
we marched on. If one of our men
fell into their hands his head was
Topped off or spear sent through him
before he could wink twice. They'd
have the life of every man, even it they
yielded up twenty lives for one. Some
would follow on after the column, but
hordes would be left behind to harass
the outposts left along the line of COM
munication.
1t stood US in hand to make good use
of the few hours left to us. The
Afghans were elated and excited and
showed no disposition to attack that
evening, but we knew the morrow
would open siege which might last
until there was no longer a man to
defend the fort. AS there were five
days rations for one hundred men, the
twenty-five of us had close upon a
months provisions. AS for water,
there was a spring bubbling up within
the fort, and all the preparations we
could make consisted in strengthening
the position. During the night we
built bomb proof, hauled in a large
supply of fire wood, and not one of us
got wink of sleep. Day had scarcely
broken when we found ourselves sur
round by at least a thousand natives.
The first move on their part was to de-
mand surrender. This was promptly
refused, and musketry fire was then
opened on the fort. We made no return,
but avoided the portfolios as much as
possible, cooked breakfast, and most of
the men slept until noon.
told you our fort was on the crest of
a steep hill. The earth slanted away
from it in all directions for about forty
rods before there was any cover for an
enemy. So far as musketry was con-
cerned, they might blaze away for
year and not hurt anyone, but we
knew they would soon bring up field
pieces against us. There was only one
spot where they could plant the guns to
get the proper elevation on us, and that
was just opposite the north center of
the fort, on little plateau forty feet
above the travelled trail. During the
day we backed this wall with other
blocks of stone and made it as secure
as circumstances would permit. and
when night came the enemy had fred
five thousand bullets at us without in
;n<s tho 1nncf No HADN'T
the lumber to build platforms around
the walls, but we had sufficient to build
three lookout stations at three corners,
and there sentine]s took their stations
when darkness fell. What we feared
was night attack with scaling ladders,
and that was exactly what they were
planning for. Instead of taking time
to make ladders, however, they made a
rush on us about one o'clock in the
morning with a detail of men carrying
long poles to rest against the walls
The. scntinels gave us timely notice,
and, standing on blocks of stone so as
to bring us nearer the enemy as he
showed up on top of the wall, we
tumbled him off with bullet and bayo-
net so rapidly that he drew off in great
confusion.
That attack was good thing for us.
The enemy gave us credit for three
times our actual strength, and there
fore decided to move with more caution
in the future, and it gave us the idea
that our position could be defended
against big odds. During the next day
the Afghans kept up slow and irregu-
lar fire against us, simply wasting their
lead. and all the men, except those
on necessary duty, were permitted to
sleep. When night came again we dis
covered the cause of their apathy. We
plainly heard them clearing away the
small trees on the plateau and using
the spade. and knew that they were go
ing to plant artillery to use against US.
The artillery branch of the Ameer's
service was very weak, the guns being
of light caliber and the ammunition
generally poor, but no one could doubt
that if gun or two was brought to
bear on us, and the enemy would keep
Deppinp away the shot and she'll wOnld