Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-06-28
HIS LAST RIDE.

general way, on the Mexican side of the
Rio Grande, about due south from the lit
tie supply camp of the American troops
stationed at Eagle Springs, Tex Because
thelriver could not be crossed by United
States forces, there could be no special loca-
tion Of the Apache bivouac-si Vic
torio was 'around there" at about such a
place. General Gresham, colonel of the
Fifteenth regiment, United States cavalry
(colored), determined that reconnois-
sance Of more special nature was neces-
sary to try to decide If the internal
devils" who were bound to get over some
how, would cross the river opposite the
Alamo, between Eagle Springs and Bass
canyon.
By reason Of fancy duty" and other
soft details'-all fancy" however-there
was only a single officer to each mounted
organization, counting one cavalryman to
command the Pueblo Indian scouts. 1t
was necessary, therefore, to send noncom-
missioned officer in command of the recon
noitering party. Corporal Asa Weaver of
Troop II was recommended by his captain,
and the general told Beatty, the adjutant,
to give the detailed orders-seven cavalry
men from the different troops, besides the
corporal and four Indian scouts.
vate George Tockes Of Troop c was to rep
resent that troop in the Alamo expedition.
Tockes was not bad man. He was young
and possessed many of the follies of youth
if not most of them. He was a colored
Kentuckian and posed or tried to pose as
lover OF spirited horseflesh as well as of
other Kentucky institutions He was not
hard character in any sense and did not
get drunk oftener than every pay day-at
that time once every two to four months
and sometimes he would even miss that in
diligence. All in all, young, reckless boy
as he was, he was an efficient, bright, neat
soldier Nothing pleased him better than
at guard mounting TO take orderly away
from Caucasian confreres who happened to
be serving at his post, and he usually did it,
Like most of his race, he was an excel
lent rider. Like most of the southern rep
resentatives of his race, he sought to secure
for his own riding the worst tempered
horse of those assigned to his troop. His
present horse was FESTIVE, vicious, buck
ing beast, which few of his comrades cared
to back, but of which Tockes seemed to be
particularly fond There was no man in
the troop who suffered more during the
process of grooming from occasional kicks,
even bites, than Tockes suffered, and few
AaTockes was dropped, but no horse in the
POOP received kinder, more gentle, more
ltional treatment than Tockes' mount re-
Lived from Tockes.
1t does noe take long when in camp for a
gh-all scouting outfit to get ready. Lieuten-
ant land Adiutant) Beatty gave his orders
at half past o o'clock p. m, and as was his
cgvtom gave very simple orders:
yTwo days saddle pocket rations You
are not sent out to do any fighting unless
you have to-bear that in mind. You know
the country; go to the Alamo; watch close;
use your Indian scouts as best you can; get
word to us as quickly as possible if you dis
cover anything, and if you are jumped or
seen, come back quick with your outfit.
Before 10 O'Clock Corporal Asa Weaver
reported that he and his detachment were
ready to start.
After reporting and receiving his last in
stfuctions, Weaver saluted and gave the
command to mount, and "by file, by the
right flank, march, and the little band,
Tockes along with the rest, followed Wea-
yer ON the trail from the Eagle Springs
overland stage station, near which was
the supply camp, into the arroyos and hills
70 the southeast
Il was the night of Aug 1. 1880. The
Alamo, so called from the small cluster of
cottonwood trees near by, is by trail about
90 miles little east of south of Eagle
Springs. Thet trends nearly southeast
erly at first through the rough country Dor
dering the eastern slopes of Eagle noun
tains and then turns toward the south.
Difficult country-rocks, loose stones, steep
inclines and declines, cacti in every con-
ceivable (except giant variety, abound. 1t
was n starlight night, but at that hour
there was no moonlight. The moon would
scale the horizon at about o'clock.
There was no chance for fast riding. A
steady walk was the extreme possibility.
Drawn out in single file, trying to follow
the narrow trail, the men scattered fire.
ouently ut considerable distances. One be
hind the other, there was little opportu-
nity for coherent conversation. The noise of
the horses hoofs, climbing and sliding up
and down through the rocks and loose
stones, up one arroyo, down into another,
deadened most articulate sound. Each
man had to look squarely out that he did
not get an ugly fall, and that feature de
pended on how each individual soldier
could guide, as it were, Mt first in the dark
ness. later in the almost as treacherous
moorfhine, each individual horse.
Pitched to an extremely high key, unde-
sirabe for continuous talk, many choice
oath could have been distinctly heard when
a horse made false step or a rider caused
his horse to do so. Doubtless Mr.. Bergh or
agarrison court martial could either have
secured evidence-might have convicted six
out oishe eight cavalrymen for absolute
crueltv to dumb and United States beasts.
But the outfit rode along just the same,
Tockes and his vicious mount keeping up
first rate.
Corporal Asa Weaver was an old and
good soldier and knew his business. He |
thoroughly understood not only the letter
but the spirit Of his orders and also their
l Responsibility. Way down in his big AT
Rycan 4art he thought Of those New Next |
"a ran chers, Caucasans most Of them, but |
II BIZ countrymen, dwelling now in fan
td security, but to whom would come |
Ire desolation and ruin, Of the approach Of |