The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1891-05-02

Indians on the open PLAN TO the rghS
their infantry companions bad not re-
manned idle. As the troop had moved
out to meet Cochise, there had come
from the concealment afforded by the
rocks and mesquite trees above and in
the rear. another band of Indians, dis
mounted. This was even larger num-
Der than that with Cochise, and was led
by powerful savage, second only to
Cochise himself Hitherto their pres
ence had not been discovered; and had
the first party not been beaten OFF, 1t
was their apparent purpose to form a
junction inside the post, where gen.
eral massacre would have been the Sc
quence.
The approach of these Indians was
| only discovered by the Major who COM
| manded the infantry in time to enable
| him to move his men at rapid gait to
a place in the rear of the line of officers
quarters. Directly behind each set of
these quarters had been built dug
out" a kind of outside cellar, such as is
used in warm climates for keeping the
\ family stores; these were few feet be-
low the level of the ground, the logs
| forming roofs covered with earth. Into
these were now unceremoniously hur-
ried the terrified women and children
composing the families of the. officers
and soldiers of the command. 1t was
| lust possible to do this and reach point
beyond, perhaps one hundred yards dis
taut, when the attack began.
The quiet was broken by the fierce
whoop Of the Apaches, which, once
heard, can never be forgotten. The
gaudily-painted and ochered savages,
bare to the waist and clad only In
breech-clout and moccasins, came on at
rapid run, in thin, scattering line,
extending far to the right and left. To
throw out skirmish line was but the
work of moments, when the steady fire
of the disciplined soldiers checked the
rapid advance of the Indians, causing
them to WAIVER slightly. Quickly push
ing his temporary advantage, the Major
drove them again to shelter. But now
there came from the Apaches deafen-
ing yell, the significance of which the
soldiers knew too WELL Cochise had
come!
When Captain Sigourney saw that
Cochise had gone, he for the first time
heard the firing in the post. Moving
his troop at gallop, he quickly passed
over the ground of his recent charge
and reached the remainder of the COM
mand Just as it was being forced back
upon the rear of the line of officers
quarters and toward the little parade
ground at BALDWIN. Many of the SOL
diers had already been killed by the
united bands of Apaches- With Cochise
: at their head, and in numbers greatly
in excess of the soldiers, it seemed a
forlorn hope, and that it only remained
I for these brave men to sell their lives
J as dearly as possible.
4 But now once more rang on the even.
5 ing air the welcome notes of the bugle
mingled with the wild cheering of the
gallant infantry men as from be
t tween the quarters dashed the
S troopers In the light of the setting
e sun again the saber flashes and does it:
n noiseless executions; the pistol, too
y comes into noisy requisition, alternating
p with the cracking carbine shots; ths
|, footmen take new heart, and their Ions
guns send many a red man to the happy
, hunting-grounds; the bullets patter, ant
e the whizzing arrows sound like flight!
of birds. The struggle is desperate
G the fate of the little garrison tremble.
It in the balance.
e From the thickest of the fight the
L quick eye of Cochise falls on Sigourney
|, His wounded arm still smarts from thu
e Captains thrust, and once more III
g calls: NOW, white man, die!'
:; Cochise is again armed with his ia
IS vorite weapon, the lance; with dead
e ly point he rides straight It the younl
= commander. Again the latter attempt
d to parry, but this time is less fortunate
g The lance enters his side and he is dis
mounted, the Indian still holding TIL
n end of the weapon.
is To Captain Sigourney, helpless an
E. wounded at the feet of his savage ad
lie versary, all seemed over. Done nov
J. his dream of glory, done his loyal prid
L. in his chosen work, done every thin