The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1891-11-19

Canadian, there were not 1,UU
rounds of ammunition left! At this
point a staud was made. The
! incessant charges OF the now in
| furiated savages rendered it neces-
ssry to employ the small amount OF
ammunition held In reserve, and
then the troops shortly found them
selves almost at the mercy OF their
bold enemies. In this exciting en-
counter the savages would I'M
prudently ride up to within q few
yards of the squadrons OF cavalry,
| discharge the shots from their revolt
vers, and then in their rage throw
| the empty weapons at the skirmish-
ers or nj the fiankers of the "supply
train" The latter, nearly all OF
whom were absolutely out of am
munition, having previously ex-
hausted il in actual self-defense,
were compelled to sit quietly In
their saddles, passive spectators OF
the extraordinary scene. Many OF
| the Indians we're killed on their
ponies, however, by those soldiers
who were fortunate enough to have
| had few cartridges left. None of
their bodies were captured, as they
had taken the usual precaution to
tie themselves TO their animals, and
as soon as dead, were dragged by
their faithful beasts into their own
lines.
In this engagement Colonel
| Keogh's famous horse "Comanche'
received his initial bullet-wound.
General Suily had sent the gallant
colonel, who was acting as his aide
that day, down to the skirmish-line
to stop what he regarded as reckless
firing and q simple waste Of am-
munition, for he believed that the
| damage, or in fact that they were
not firing at all. The moment the
colonel arrived on the ground, how
ever, he discovered that the savages
were keeping up q vigorous fusilade,
aud the first intimation he had OF
the fact, "Comanche" was struck by
a ball from a rifle In the hands OF an
Indian who had the termerity to
charge upon him pretty closely, dis
charge his piece aud ride as furious
ly back again. 'Comanche" behav-
ed admirably; he was but four years
! old then, and soon recovered from
the effects of his wound.
Ten years afterwards, to pass over
many Insignificant skirmishes In
which he was present, not worthy
the dignity OF the name OF battle, In
the memorable month Of June, 1876,
Colonel Keogh rode him into the
bloody valley Of the Rosebud"
After the physically beautiful little
opening i'm the mountains was hush
ed in death, and General Terry's
column came to the relief OF
those of the regiment who were not
i'm the fight. but who were left idly
resting miles distant from the scene
| of slaughter, because "some one had
Numbered" "Comanche" was dis
covered wandering aimlessiy around
the abandoned Indian camp, saddle
less, riderless, wounded and lame.
He was bleeding from seven severe
bullet holes, each of which would
have killed an ordinary horse. The
noble animal was imme3iately recog-
uized by Captain Henry j. Nowlan,
~ no at the time was acting quarter
master OF General Terry's command.
II" at once sent "Comanche" to Fit.
| Abraham Lincoln In Dakota, on the
upper Missouri, with orders to
specially care for him. Captain
! Nowlan, a grand old gentleman, IL
now the commander OF troop "I, u
Colonel Keogh's original company,
the enlisted men of which, who
loved their Inflated captain Of early
DAYS, idolized "Comanche," and
looked out for his necessities as be.
came the prerogatives of the famous
pensioner upon their bounty. both
for his never-to-be-forgotten ser
vices, and in memory OF the sad
associations In which he figured SO
conspicuuusly.
"Comanche" In color was ''Clay-
Bank" in all probability had a
strain of Spanish blood in his veins,
which accounts for his wonderful
endurance and persistency. From
the members of the troop to which
he has ever been attached, he was
the recipient of marked attention ;
had all that he could possibly eat Of
the most carefully selected rations.
and now that he has passed away,
will be preserved, q taxidermest
having been employed for that pdr-
pose. When mounted he will be in
charge OF the State university until
the worlds fair. when his effegy
will be exhibited.
Fourteen years have passed since
"Comanchen has been subjected
to the burden even Of saddle. Pre-
vious to 1877. the daughter of the
colonel OF the regiment. was in the
habit, every pleasant afternoon, OF
sending her compliments to CAPTAIN
Nowlan, requesting the use OF 'Co-
mauche" to take lope on the beau
tiful prairies surrounding the fort.
One day the daughter of one OF the
majors OF the regiment, sent her
compliments, asking for the veteran
warehouse. to which the accomplish
ed and polite captain readily assent.
ed. Shortly afterward, however,
and when the favorite animal had
been sent to the quarters Of the
majors daughter by q groom, the
colonel's daughter made her custo-
mary demand for her pet "ComsD-
che" When she learned that he
had already been ordered for the use
of another lady Of the garrison. her
disappointment and discontinue
were evident to every one; 10 this
was soon added extreme bitterness,
for in few moments the rivals for
the honor Of riding "Comanche, ("
met on the "psrade ground" to join
the same 'outing party That was
the last time that "Comanche" ever
appeared with a eaddle on. The
next day the colonel Of the regiment
Issued a "Genersl Order" In which
he recited the horses long service,
his wounds and age. closing with q
provision forbidding any one from
ever mounting him again
"Comauehen was over q years old.
He commenced to fail rapidly last
summer, Captain Nowian wrote me
un1ar dafa ~ lima ~dIiu~. tsI