The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1893-11-22
WITH HIS LIFE.
The Price Paid For II Fatal Error by a
"'~Yonasster."

"Yonas ster."
He had come out TO us as a second lieu
tenant-a young and beardless graduate
from West PGint-and the ragged old
troopers who had been fighting Indians for
three years smiled in contempt. Pity was
mingled with contempt, however. 1t was
unjust to the boy to put him up against
the savage Apaches for his first trial.
Even some of the veteran OF. GERS of the
wal had made a bad failure of it when
they came out to the plains.
1.-THE youngster," rs the men called him
had been with us a fortnight when th
colonel ordered him out on "A scout. VI
were to go dowte TIE valley four miles
turn to the west and ride down the banl
of Walnut creek three miles and thrI.
come back over the hills. One sergeant
one corporal-25 troopers in all. At THU
lime the chances were against sighting az
Indian, but the movement would tell Lhei.
spies that we were alert and watchful.
In due time we reached the creek and
turned in. 1t was lined with trees and
bushes and offered cover to an enemy.
THE youngster" gave no orders, however,
and appeared greatly surprised when he
looked bach and observed the attitude of
the men. They held their carbines ready
for what might come and obliqued of
against the hillside. | think the officer
was abou to hurl some indignant protest
at us when we got a yolley from the
bushes. Every nan in that troop realized
on the instant that we had only ten or a
dozen redskins to deal with-every man
but the officer. Had we wheeled into line,
fired u volley and charged, we should have
driven them from cover and had a good
- A. l- tHn.A
youngster'' wa ratified by the suddenness
of the attack, and because two or three
horses went down he lost his head and
ordered us to push forward at a gallop,
leaving two men who had been ~dismounted,
but were unhurt, to be deliberately shot
down as they sought for cover. We had
dashed forward about half a mile when
every trooper suddenly pulled up and
wheeled about. No one gave the order,
but all acted in concert. We were too late
to save our comrades, but the sight of
their mutilated bodies brought shouts for
revenge as we charged the thicket. We
got a feeble volley, and another horse went
down, but in 10 minutes we had wiped out
the last skulking warrior. Nine of them
had put the 25 of us to flight.
1.-The youngster'' was brought back to us
by the sound of the firing. His face wore
q look of establishment and dismay ~ he
saw the dead. When he was informed that
we had made u cowardly retreat before such
a small force, md when a trooper held up
the scalp locks of our dead comrades and
growled out that they had been abandoned
to their fate when IL cool head would have
saved them, the face of the young man was
white as death and he made no reply. A
trooper was sent to the fort for an ambu-
lance to carry in the dead. and after beat
ing up the bushes again we sat down to
await his return. The lieutenant dismount-
ed and sat by himself. For u long time he
sat with his face in his hands gazing ut the
earth, and there wasn't one of US who
didn't feel sorry for him. BY and by he
called the sergeant over to him n asked:
Sergeant, did you realize that we were
being fired on by so small a forcef"
II judged them to number from 0 to IL,
sir" was the reply.
And had you been in command what ac-
tion would you rave takeni"
'Fours right, wheel and give EN- a vol
LEY and then charge. That would have
been my way If they had numbered 100.
for a dash would nave driven them from
cover and let US in"
"And the order l gave was to push for
ward, which was the same as retreatp"
$50 we understood, sir"
And you returned and attacked without
orders?"
"Without orders. SIR"
r"ThHt will do, sergeant. The ambulance
should be here soon, and you will see about
the bodies. Try and tell a plain, straight
story about the fight when you report to
the captain"