The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-11-24

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I.SI$ at1 pass. They could mus
&C = sc: rs ter four to one, even II
-e-es>7@f We counted in the team
sters. Col. Blank at the new post to which we
were bound, had written to Capt. White, who
was to command the train:
"My wife is to come out with you. See that
my previous instructions are carried out. She
knows what they are"
And we had not marched an hour when
Capt. White sent for me and said:
Corporal, you will act as special guard
over the third wagon
Very well, sir"
"Tho Coonels wife is in that wagon, as you
probably know"
"Yes sir"
"In case the Indians are too strong for US,
they must not find her alive. That's ALL"
l rode back to the third wagon and placed
my horse at the nigh forewheel. and lifted my
cap to the lady, who had been provided with a
comfortable seat by herself. She was little
bit of a woman, not over 25 years old, and mar
ried to the Colonel only two years before. She
looked at me out of her big blue eyes and
smiled, but she could not steady her voice as
she leaned forward and inquired:
Corporal, do you-think that we shall be
attacked?"
"Qute likely, maam, but we may squeeze
through"
"And if attacked and you can't beat the In
81 have the Captains orders, ma'am!"
eyes; very WELL"
We both understood. / had been especially
detailed to kill her if saw that we were to be
wiped out! The thought of it made me dizzy
as rode along Now and then / glanced up
at her, to find her face white and her eyes
anxiousy searching the horizon. / had my
orders and was there to obey them, but could
do it? If was the last living man of that
train could / raise my carbine and become her
murderer?
At 2 o'clock on the afternoon Of the second
day out we saw a dozen mounted Indians on a
ridge to the right, and closed up the train To
the left were succession of ridges, and if
there was any force of hostiles about they were
hidden behind them. The Colonels wife was
one of the first to discover the Indians at the
right. She was looking at me as glanced up.
1--WE shall be attackod?" she queried.
"Within 10 minutes, maam."
well, you-you-"
"Yes'rn, but hope we shall beat them off,"
The redskins on the right now began to ride
to and fro and whoop and yell and seek to draw
our attention and force the train to halt.
Orders had been given the day before to keep
moving in case of attack In closing, up the
wago s had doubled the line, moving two
abreast. The horsemen fell into their places
at once-20 on q side, five in front and five in
rear. Some of the teamsters had carbines,
while all had reyolvers. Half milo beyond
where we had seen the first Indian the attack
was made and it was bold one. As we came
opposite Il valley running back into the ridges
hundred or more mounted Indians came
charging down US. The valley was just
about as wide as the train was long, and there
fore the 90 of us on that side had chance at
the reds as they came on i'll mob, shooting.
shouting, and seemingly determined to ride
over u.s.
r "Corporal!"
1t was the voice of the Colonel's wife, just az
we were preparing to fire.
"Yes'm, l remember" i replied, as lowered
my carbine to look up at her.
We poured the fire of our carbines into the
charging mass and checked its rush. The
Indians then passed to our front and rear so
as to assail US on all sides. There were fully
300 of them, and had the train halted but for
a minute they would have had US wiped out.
part Of them had been ordered to fire only
at the mules attached to the wagons. As they
were kept moving, only three Or four were
struck and none disabled.
Corporal"
There was fighting on front and rear and
both sides, and the bullets were flying about
US in a spiteful way. Five had passed through
the covering of the wagon beside me.
1t was the Colonies wife calling to me. I
looked up into her white face, and she gasped:
-" Corporal, are you going Toto"
"Not yet; we are holding our own!" re-
piled, as turned to open fire again.
We were gradually getting out Of the trap.
Farther on the ground WAS open and to our adj
vantage. The Indian always does his best
fighting at the start. Here and there we had
man wounded but there was confusiOn-
no hating. Whenever they gathered as if to
charge we opened fire on the spot and scattered
them. Our fire was rapid and well-sustaned,
and at the end of quarter of an hour we had
them beaten. We were just drawing clear OF
the ridge when bullet struck the third wagon
tcamster On the shoulder, and he fell forward
on his saddle. 1t happened right under the
eyes of the Colonel's wife, and she called to
me:
Corporal, obey your orders!"
She had her hands over her face 80 that she
might not as l raised my gun. The
next few seconds must have been terrible.
Beg pardon, ma'am bat the reds are draw
ing off, and the victory is ours"
She dropped her hands and stared at me for
a minute az if she could not comprehend.
Then she fell back in dead faint, and it was
a long half-hour before her blue eyes opened
to the sunshine again. week later. at the
new post. Col Blank called me in and asked ::
Blank?"
"Yes, sir"
"Then why didn't you do it?" he sternly
demanded.
I'll was going to, butt
But what, sir? 1t was gross disobedience
of orders, and you are no longer Corporal"
But that was the old martinet's way Of pro-
noting mo to Sergeantcy. = Wauerly Magazine