The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-02-28


answering the CALL" both officers and
flagstaff, intent upon n strange some-
thing which had attracted their atten-
ton. Even the few members of the of
ficers' families were there, in little
knot but slightly removed, and the eyes
of all were riveted on n common object
Gradually it was seen to emerge from
the haziness of the surrounding hills,
and soon forms were distinguishable.
But ere this, the clear notes of the cav
airy bugles rang out Boots and sad
dlesl" and the long roll of the infantry
was as promptly beaten. Captain
Sigourney is already in line with his
troop on the flank of the post facing old
Mount Turnbull, near him the longer
line of the infantry battalion has also
halted, and now, in ominous silence, do
the veterans so recently from the scenes
of civilized war wait the approach of
a savage foe.
With bated breath has been passed
from one to another the dreaded name
of "Cochise," that fearless Indian
whose prowess had for years maintained
an absolute supremacy throughout the
Southwest, from the Rio Grande to the
Colorado the mention of whom might
well cause the cheek of the border man
to pale.
From his customary haunts Cochise
had heard of the work of the "blonde
| soldier chief" on the Shus-Be-To and
had come to punish him. He had
brought his chosen warriors, armed
with the lance, with bows and arrows,
and with firearms, the spoils of many
massacre in Arizona and Sonora.
| Contrary to his custom, he had said he
would fight the soldiers on open
ground; and now, followed by horde
of painted fiends, he was riding on to
the devoted garrison of BALDWIN.
On, on they moved, with almost mil
itary precision, and in numbers much
greater than the little body of troopers.
An occasional glimpse could be caught
from beneath the overhanging cloud of
dust with which they were enveloped,
while so perfect was the discipline of
this wonderful savage that no wcrd
was spoken, the silence being broken
only by the pounding of unshod hoofs
and the snorting of the ponies, who
scented the coming fray.
The Indians had advanced so that
the dull sound of their coming was
audible, and had reached level piece
of ground adjacent to the post, when
the command Forward" was given by
the cavalry Captain, and the troop
moved out. This, in rapid succession,
| was followed by the commands ''Trot!'
and "Gallop!" Then, in the clear,
brisk notes of the bugle, came the
"Charge!"
With ranks unbroken, and cleaning
sabers high in air, sped the gallant
troopers, with the swiftness of the
wind to meet momentum with momen-
tum Five hundred yards We're passed,
and the white man and the red were
for an instant face to face, eye glaring
into eye, with silent, deadly purpose;
then the wild whoop of the Apaches
filed the air, echoing back from the
mountain-side as from thousand saw
age throats, mingling with the loud
cheers of the soldiers as the surging
| bodies met.
Turning in his saddle the Captain
called: "Now, men, each one pick his
Indian!'' There was no time for more.
At the head of the Indian band rode
the herculean Cochise, with lance al
ready poised, who now, in broken En-
glish, shouted: Here, white man! We
to fight"
The point of the Indians lance was
near the Captains breast, when, with a
quick stroke of the saber, he severed il
from the staff and sent it whizzing
through the air. Then bending as he
rode, he pierced Cochise's arm; but ere
he could seize the advantage which fol
an instant seemed within his grasp, the
crowding horses of his troopers forced
him on,
Now the soldiers and the Indians
We're a confused, dust-enveloped undis
tinguishable mass, each fighting des
perately for life. Quickly flashed the
saber, alternating the thrusts of the
lance dexterously parried by the prac
ticed trooper, while from the tightly
drawn bows too surely flew the mur
derous hint-pointed arrows of the
Apaches. Here in the dust they rolled
side by side, the unhorsed trooper ant
his willy foeman. Then on foot they
fought, with carbine, with pistol, o.
still with lance and saber, with the
ferocity of war, and for self-preserva
tion, this unto the death. Riderles'
dashed the frightened ponies of the In
dians and the larger horses of the faller
soldiers with nostrils wide apart, wildly
snorting, into the thicl1est of the fight
then, as some faithful brute received
his death-wound, sounded that cry o
equine terror heard mid the scenes o
carnage where Destiny has ever leC
humanity. There was no quarter; t.
fall was almost certain death. QuiclIl,
was the ground strewn with the bodie
of those who but now sought eacl
others lives: together, silently an,
peacefully, lay the white man and tn
Indian in the arms of Death.
All this passed in almost the space o
time it has taken to tell it, and the oI
posing forces has passed through eacl
other" On the other side the trumpe
had already sounded the 'Rally.
Quickly did the Captain assemble tn
remainder of his men to renew tn
charge, but the Indians did not wait;
was not their method. The Apache
seemed almost to vanish, so rapidly di
they gain the cover of the trees an
rocks bordering the stream at a poin
above the post.
While the cavalry was charging tn
Indians on the open plain to the right
IL. T. 1 I