Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-21

On the little handful, but II was developed later,
when it became known that the hostilee were
engaged in watching the movements Of Col.
Henry's column of troops.
LITTLE MAGGIE NAILoR GONE.
There is no Maggie C. Nailor at Pine Ridge
now. ''The babe Of the battlefield was TO have
had clean water sprinkled on its head and at
the same time receive the name which Maj.
John n. Burke had selected for il, but the plan
has been broken up by an unlooked-for piece
OF philanthropy. The wonderful escape Of the
little one after being in the thick of the fight
and then exposed to forty hours of genu-
Inc Dakota blizzard attracted the attention of
Gen. L. w. Colby, who commands the Nebraska
National Guard His heart warmed toward the
little thing and last night he drove away to
Rushviile, en- route TO his Nebraska home, tax
ing with him the child. who will in future be
known as Marguerite Colby. The little ones
mother agreed to give up all claim to her on
spring for a consideration and the considera-
ton was handed over yesterday evening. This
news will probably not be displeasing to ALI
son Nail0r.
Gen. Colby also wanted little Johnny No
neck, seven-year-old boy who was captured
on the battle field, but Johnnys relatives and
friends would not give him up.
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
For years it has been fashionable among
certain class of people to speak slightingly of
that great unpaid army of volunteer soldiers
the National Guard of the United States. Toy
soldiers" tin soldiers Sunday soldiers"
are a few of the more choice applications which
have been applied TO them in every state in the
Union. The same practice has been in vogue
In Nebraska, but it has died out during the past
week or two and there are strong reasons for
supposing that in the future there will be less
OF dlsparaging comment than in the past On
the last day of the year 1880 the northwestern
Nebraska frontier, with it, numerous and -four
lshlng settlements, was exposed to the attack
OF not less than 1000 fully armed and muir
derously inclined hostile Indians. The new
year was less than forty-eight hours old when
a chain of determined white men, armed and
equipped, stood between the vicious red man
ana the fleeing settlers. This chain was COM
posed OF $50 officers and men Of the National
Guard of Nebraska, and its protecting influence
stretched from Madden's bridge Twelve miles
north of Chadron) on the west to Wounded
hnee creek, north Of the town Of Gordon.
The assembling of these men was no
small task. Very few Nebraska towns con-
tam more than one company, so that the
eentraiizing OF troops must necessarily
be slow: Company pride, however, forced
each of the little commands to hurry up, and
the result was some truly marvellous military
agility. Just how necessary the presence of
THESE mllltlamen was no one can realize unless
he or she has lived in the exposed region which
lies Immediately south Of the great Sioux reser-
walton. Little bands of Indians-some friendly,
some hostile, but all Of them appearing hostile
70 the lonely men, women and children who
tear their existence from the border soil of
Nebraska and South Dakota-were hurrying
toward Pine Ridge, but they were making no
more rapid progress toward the scene of strife
than were the scared settlers in the direction of
more secure civilization. Hundreds of people
were preparing to leave their homes for fresh
fields and pastures new, where the Indian is
not prevalent, when they heard of the battle Of
Wounded Knee. Then commenced a stampede
which would practically have depopulated one
OF the richest agricultural and grazing regions
OF Nebraska; q stampede that was effectually
headed OH by the appearance of the Nebraska
miitiamen. Confidence and courage displaced
doubts and fears. Men who were compelled to
be towards for the sake Of their families turned
once more toward the homes and farms they
had toiled so hard to establish and possess.
Women and children felt that an organized
force OF strong hands and brave hearts stood
between them and the sanguinary savage, and
as result there was sound sleep in MAN. q log
cabin for the first time in several weeks.
THE NEBRASKA ORGANIZATION.
There are not more than one thousand men
in the Nebraska National Guard-organized in
twenty-five companies-bus when the roll was
called along that frontier line on the I'd
day q January $50 citizen soldiers re-
spOnded to their names. Only eighteen COM
panies were ordered out, the other four being
held in reserve. This shows that the entire
strength of those eighteen companies was in
the field. Every summer the Nebraska state
troops have an encampment. This encamp-
ment is the most alluring military feature of
each year, and the young men whose tendencies
are toward volunteer service turn out to camp
as to holiday. Two weeks ago the state called
upon these same young men to go to the front,
not in summer time but in the depth of a
northern Nebraska winter. The response was
unanimous and where six men have attended
the pleasant summer reunions seven shouldered
their guns and went out to where the blizzard
reigns for a considerable portion of the
winter. Col C. J. Bills Of the second
regiment (the ranking colonel of the brigade),
told me today that'he was not aware of a single
instance where q man refused to do service.
Several members of the guard were in other
states when the order to assemble was issued,
but distance was not proffered as an excuse for
absence. A number of the men left their
places Of employment in Kansas City and re-
ported by the first train; one threw up q good
position in Peoria, Ill. A lieutenant colonel was
In Utah at the time. and as soon as he heard the
him with his regiment on the border, and an
other officer left Idaho to obey the behest of
the state to which he had sworn allegiance.
ON GUARD ON THE BORDER.
As soon as the various companies reached the
places at which they had been ordered to re-
port they were assigned to posts. Two COM
panies were assigned to each post. Earthworks
were thrown up in the most commanding po-
sitions and rifle pits were dug. Each post was
the headquarters for a detachment of ten
mounted scouts, through whose activity was
communication with neighboring posts kept
up. These same scouts also patrolled the coun-
try to the north of the line of defenses, and
kept the authorities thoroughly and accurately
informed of the hostile movements.
But" says some carping critic, ''none of
these fellows did any fighting" That is true
simply because the fighting did not move in
their direction. They were there to put up the
best article they had in the line of aggression
or defense and they stayed by their contract in
spite of cold weather and the discomforts of
camp life.
Gen. Miles appreciates their willing activity
and so expresses himself with a degree of
warmth that must be most gratifying to the
Nebraska boys in blue. Gen. Colby, who COM
mands the state troops, told me that he could
not say enough in commentator of their eff
cheney. They have said he, shown them
selves thorough soldiers. No man need wish
militia, and If he did wish for it would like to
know where he expects to find it,
Fully as proud of his Nebraskans as Gen.
urer of the National Guard Association of the
tains to the volunteer soldiery. Glib.
Ended Their Troubles With Death.
Alexander Elsner Of New York was found
dead in bed yesterday in his room at AS
East 18th street. He had committed suicide on
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