The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-10-05
audersut. gntelligeaeer.
With the Wagon Train.


country. Yes, We shall be attacked by
the hostiles. They would not let such
an opportunity pass. They can music,
four to one, even if ne counted in the
teamsters. Colonel Blank, at the new
post to which ne were bound, had writ.
ten to- Captain White, who Was to COM
msnd 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 Captain White sent for me and
said:
corporal, you shall act as special
guard over the third wagon"
Every we'll, sir"
"The Colonels wife Is in that wagon,
as you probably know"
eyes, sir"
"In case the Indians are too strong 70,
us they must not find her alive. That's
ALL"
rode back to the third wagon and
placed my horse at the nigh fore wheel
and lifted my cap to the lady, who had
been provided with a comfortable seat
by herself. she WIS a little bit of 6 Wo-
man, not over Is years old and married
to the colonel only two years before.
She looked at nae cut of her blue eyes
and smiled, but she could not steady ber
voice az she leaned forward and in
quired:
Corporal, do you-you think We shall
be attacked?"
"Quite likely, ms'am, but We may
squeeze through"
"And if attacked and you can't beat
them of, you--''
ri have the captains orders, ma'am.
"Yes; very we'll"
We both understood. I had been spe-
cially detailed to kill her if I saw that we
were to be whipped out The thought
OF it made me dizzy as I rode along.
Now and then glanced up at her to
find her face white and her eyes snx-
iously searching the horizon. I had my
orders and was there to obey them, but
could I do it, If was the last living
man of that train, could I.raiselmy car
bine and becomeher murderer. 4 4 II
At23o'elock on the afternoon of the
second day out We saw dozen mounted
Indians on ridge to the right and clos
ed upthe train. To the left were sue
cession of ridges, and if there was any
force of hostiles about they we're hidden
behind them. The colonel's wife was
one of the first to discover the Indians at
the right. She was looking at me as I
glanced up.
"We shall be attacked" she queried.
"Within ten minutes, ma'am."
"Well, you-you-"
"Yes'm, but hope ne 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 cane ol
attack. In closing up the wagons had
doubled the line, moving two abreast
The horsemen fell into their places al
onee-twenty on side, FIVE in front
and five In the rear. Some of the team
sters had carbinez, while all had revol'
vers. Half mile beyond where we had
seen the frat Indian the attack was made
and it was q bold one. AS we came
opposite valley running back into the
ridges 100 or more mounted lndisni
came charging down on US. The valley
was just aboat as wide as the train ua'
long, and therefore the twenty of US or
that side had a chance at the reds as
they came On in mob, shooting, shout
ing and seemingly determined to ride
over Us. &c.
"CorporalP'-
It was the voice of the colonePs wife
just as We were preparing to FIRE.
"Yss'm, I remember I replied as ]
lowered my carbine to look up at her.
We poured the fire of our carbinos int
the charging mass and checked it's rush
The Indians then passed to our front and
rear 10 as to assail US on ell sides. There
we're fully 800 of them, and had the train
halted but for minute they would have
had us wiped out. A part of them had
been ordered to FIRE only at the mules at
tached to thswagons. As they were KEPT
moving only three or four were struck and
none disabled ..'s' = .14' ~
"Corporalw
There was fighting on front and real
and both sides and the bullets were fly
ing about in spiteful way. Five had
passed through the cover Of the wagon
beside me.
It was the colouel's wife calling to me-
I looked up into her white face and abe
gaaped:
"Corporal, are you going toto
"Not yet-we are holding our own" ]
replied as turned to open again. '
We were gradually getting ont Of the
trad. Further on the ground was open
and to our advantage. The Indian al
was does his best fighting at the start
Here and there We had man wounded
but there was no oonfusion-no halting
Whenever they gathered and to charge
We opened fire on the spot and scattered
them. Our fire Was rapid and vel
sustained and at the end of quarter o.
an hour va had them beaten. We were
just drawing clear Of the ridge when 6
bullet struck the third wagon teamstel
In the shoulder, and he fell forward OF
~,