The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-28
With the WAGON TrnIn.

Twenty army wagons and their drivers-nfty
cavnlrymon from Troop E-a pull Of ninety
miles across tho Indian country. Yes We shall
be attacked by the hostiles. They would not
lot such an opportunity pass. They Aan muse
ter four to one. even II We counted In the
teamsters. 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 como out with you. See that
my previous instructions are carried out She
knows what they are"
And we had not marched an hour whom Cant.
White sent for mo and said:
Corporal. you will act as q special guard
over tho third wagon"
Very well. sir"
"The Colonel's wife Is In that wagon, as you
probably know.
Yes. sir"
I'm case the Indians are too strong for 10
they must not find her alive. That's ALL"
1rode 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 q
comfortable seat by herself. She was a little
bit Of n woman. not over % years old. and mar
ried to tho Colonel only two years before. She
smiled. but she could not Steady her voice a.
t ..t q do yOu~you think We shall DO as-
Quite likely. ma'am. but We may squeezs
N"Ansd II. attacked. and you can't beat the
:ya have ss the Gait Captains orders ma'am"
We both understood. I had been specially
detailed Z !, t1 XII d,ht her If ! Jaw that we were 70 be
S M;f I foG GSt alo nss S sSSu amt Ct 9he ct 'n 7 sIsn %s ai1a q
her to- lind her face white and her eyes anx.
~ was the last living, man of that train, could
l raise my carbine and become her murderer?
day out We saw, a dozen mounted Indians on a
ridge to the right and closed Up the train. To
there. was any force Of hostiles s6out they
were hidden behind them. The Colonei's wife
AZ Sat tho oes ri 81 the sh hsSt was a. q loSfins s at m lsd as
GLANCED up -
Within ten minutes. ma'am."
""Yos'm. but / hope we shall beat them off,"
The redskins ON the right now began to ride
s awe our ira st tent %nS Saa h Iorce f The t naf i to hail. t.
wagons Ind doubled the line. moving "
at once-twenty % a side. Ave in front and avs
In rear. Some of the Transfers had ,carbines.
w where H ws had had s rsy" ths first h indi Z ,n the n sttaef
was made. aud it was a bold one. AS we came
opposite Il valley running tack into the ridges
charging down on us. Tho valley was just
about as wide as the train was long. and there
g y oS vi bIiuI Nltt iliu IL CIlduc0
at the reds as they came on in Il mob. shoot
ing. shouting. and seemingly determined to
Corporal"
1t was the voice OF the Colonel's wife. Just as
We We're preparing to fire.
"ies'm l remember" l replied as 1 lowered
my carblne TO look up ut her.
Nv We poured y the ;, fire eh Of our Garhtnes into tho
dians then passed 70 our front anI rear. so as
to asssii Us on gil sides. There, were fully
halted but for n minute they would have had
US wiped out; A part Of them had been ordered
3ns. As they We're kort moving only three Or
fo9r were struck and none disabled.
There was iighting on front and rear and
bst n s y ni;o Gni w the t III. s. We're llyinE about
tho cover Of The wagon beside ne Af'os"
1t was tho Coionci's wife calling to me.
l0 @koan ar ipi sr her so Witt sai, !ase ana she Sasped:
\ yet-wc are holding our own!" l replied
as Il | turned waH to oEsn IRE sEain. o,,. 60.
Further on The ground was open and to our
a1dyan.ags. Ihe lndlIn always does his, best
man wounded. but there wa, no confusion-no
hating. Whenever they gathered as II 70
tered them; Our fire was rapid and well-sus-
tninsdi and at the end Of = Quarter Of an hour
clear of the ridge when = bullet struck the
third wagon tenmster in the. shoulder. and he
, nnI t@r v. dv on liS Sadd dnior It hanEened right
called to me:
corporal. obey your orders"
She had her hands over her face so that shs
might not see mo as raised my CUR. The
next tow seconds must have been terrible.
Beg pardon. ma am: but the reds are draw.
ing OIL and the victory il ours"
She dropped her hands and stared at me for
a A. minute az ~ she could not comprehend.
n long half hour before her blue eyes Opened
to the sunshinH again. A week later. at the
new post. Col. Blank called me In and asked:
Blank I"
Yes. sir"
mnnded.
IL was going to. but"
But what, siry 1t was gross disobediNuca
of orders, and you arc no longer a corporaI"-
But that was tho old nartinet's way Of pro.
noting me to a sergeultcy.