Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-07-11
THE CAPTAINS WIFE.

Old Fort Baldwin consisted of row of squat, one-story adobe houses, built in the Mexican style, which were the quarters of the officers, and a similar though some what differently arranged line of buildings extending at a right angle from the end of the officers quarters, that comprised the barracks occupied by the three com panies of infantry and one troop of cav airy which made up the garrison. The storehouses, stables, corrals, etc., com- pleted all there was of Fort Baldwin.
 It was sun-baked slope extending to- ward the Gila, three miles away, but along pretty stream, 8 redeeming fea- ture, having it's source in the springs at the base of the mountain which formed the background. The landscape was still farther relieved by the extending lines of cottonwood and mesquite trees which bor- dered the little stream, called by the h. dians, the "Shus- be-to," or Bears water.
 Around this post the Apaches were everywhere, even stealthily crawling inside the line of sentinels at night or shooting their arrows at the sentinel as he walked his lonely beat. On one dark night they watched the guard at the cattle corral, and during his short absence from a selected spot, by an adroit use of their rawhide lar fats succeeded in dragging several of the OpSulu8 bu0y had forced between the logs without dis covery, whereat a soldier next morning rhymed:
 Lol the poor Indian. with untutored mind, Finds calves in the corral, and chokes of their
 wind.
 In the year which followed the close of the war of the rebellion to Fort Baldwin had come Capt. Sigourney, with his bride and his cavalry troop. Gentle Mary sigourney was a minister's daughter, who In the far away New England town had joined her life with that of the brave young Captain, that hero for whom she had forsaken home and kindred, to share with him the wild, unknown life on the frontier. The fair, girlish form seemed strangely out of keeping with the rude surroundings, but she was content.
 Barely were the soldiers given time to occupy their quarters after the weary march across the sand deserts. It was h. dians! Indians! everywhere and at all times. Captain Sigourney, the ideal of an American cavalry officer, was almost con- stantly in the saddle, his form a tower of physical and moral strength. His rough riding troopers were already a terror to the neighboring bands of Apaches, who felt that their strongholds and mountain fast nesses were no longer places from which they might defy the troops of the Govern ment
 It was Sunday afternoon. The October sun shone brightly as stable call was sounded at Baldwin; but, instead of answering the call," both officers and men had collected in groups about the flagstaff, intent upon strange something which had attracted their attention. Even the few members of the officers families were there, in a little knot, but slightly re- moved, and the eyes of all were riveted on a common object. Gradually 1t was seen to emerge from the haziness of the sur rounding hills, and soon forms were dis tinguishable.
 But ere this, the clear notes of the cav airy buglee rang out Boots and saddles r. and the long roll of the infantry was as promptly beaten. Captain Sigourney is al- ready 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 om- inous silence, do the veterans so recon tly from the scenes of 8 civilized war wait the approach of savage foe.
 With bated breath has been passed from one to anothor the dreaded name of" Coch- ise," that fearless Indian whose prowess had for years maintained an absolute su- premacy throughout the Southwest, from the Rio Grande to the Colorado, the men, ton of whom might well cause the cheek O1 the DOrU6T 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 tc punish him. He had brought his chosen warriors, armed with the lance, with bows and arrows, and with fire arms, the spells of many @ massacre in Arizona and Sono- ra. 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 military precision, and in numbers much greater than the little body of troopers. An occa- sional glimpse could be caught from be- heath the overhanging cloud of dust with which they were enveloped, while so per- feet was the discipline of this wonderful savage that no word was spoken, the silence being broken only by the poundin 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 a level piece of ground adjacent to the post, when the command Forward was given by the cavalry Cap tain, and the troop moved out. This, in ! rapid succession, was followed by the com. | mands Trotr' and "Gallop!' Then, in l the clear, brisk notes of the bugle came the
 
 With ranks unbroken, and gleamine 1 sabres high in the air, sped the gallant | troopers with the swiftness of the wind to meet momentum with momentum Five hundred yards were passed, and the white man and the red were for an in. | stant face to face, eye glaring into eye | with silent deadly purpose; then the wild whoop of the Apaches filled the air echoing back from the mountain side as from thousand savage throats, ming | ling 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 In. dian!' There was no time for more. At the head of the Indian band rode the herculean Cochise, with lance already poised, who now, in broken English, shouted: Here, white man! We two fghtv
 The point of the Indians lance was near the Captains breast, when, with g I ,folre z0