The Van Buren press., 1894-11-24
MYERS FIRST SCOUT.
BY LOUIS FERGUSON.

kenxie's old regiment, but 1t was con-
sidered = great scout indeed by Pri-
vate Myers, of Troop A. 1t was Pri-
vate Myers very first outing, and he
seemed to truly realize the RESPONSE
bilities involved. As matter of fact,
the officer whose luck 1t was to finally
lead him towards hostile bullets was
no better OF in fighting experience
than was Myers. 1t was going to be
that officers first fighting experience
too, although he had seen good and
hard service for nearly nine years
But Myers was unaware OF such
trifiing circumstance. He simply
knew that he himself was recruit,
and he had innocent and implicit con-
f3dence in all men older than he who
worc the blue and yellow.
Myers was an eighteen or nineteen
year old boy from one Of the middle
states. How he happened TO persuade
tho recruiting officer that he was
twenty-one at date of enlistment will
always be q mystery. Probably 1t
was because he was such q good-look-
Ing little boy, and because he exhib-
tied such ardent desire to be a soldier.
Possibly Myers had read more dime
novels than were good for him. More
possibly he really was imbued with
true soldierly spirit, and enlisted, and
was permitted to enlist, for that
fcason-a trifle OF falsehood as to real
age being compromised on the respec-
tive parts of both recruiting officer
and recruit.
It was rather exciting the evening
the two troops of cavalry selected rode
out from Fort Apache after Geronimo.
Orders had come quickly. That Sum-
day morning few people knew In or
near the post-it any person at all ex-
'cept Lieut.. Davis, who was In charge
of the Chiricahua Apaches-dreamed
Of trouble. It was generally believed
that, SO far as the Chiricahua and
White Mountain Apaches were con-
cerned, the Indian problem was about
settled-t through the wise admlnistra-
tions of Lieut.. Davis, in charge OF the
former, and of Lieut.. Gatewood, who
was looking after the interests Of the
latter. Tranquil peace had reigned in
that portion OF Arizona for SO many
years that "Crook's Apaches" had
grown to be universally regarded as
harmless but thriving agriculturists.
It is difficult even now, after years
have passed by and thorough investi-
cation of the subject has been had, to
decide what truly caused Geronimo's
outbreak. To individuals who profess
TO know the Indian it looked, and still
looks, like strong case OF heredity.
Certainly there was no omismanagement
ON the part either of Davis or Gate
wood.
The troopers filed at decorous
walk through the post. following the
road leading to Seven-mile hill. When
the column turned out of sight into
the CANYON, "Trot" was ordered, and
later "Gallop." This was brisk work
for Myers. 1t was realization of his
dream Of what scout should be. All
OF his fonlest military authorities In
the troop library treated Of galloping
troopers, and he remembered a particu-
larly interesting illustration showing
the Seventh cavalry, all in full-dress
uniform, with Custer at their head,
careering through the sally.port Of a
frontier post In pursuit of hostile
Sioux. Apart from uniform and sally.
port, there did seem to be somewhat Of
. difference on the present occasion.
Just now darkness was gathering
quickly, and the narrow wagon road
and the close.crowding trees and
bushes rendering riding at q fast gait
awkward. "But it's bully, Tom. amt
it?" said Myers to the comrade who
rode beside him.
At the top OF Seven-mile hill brief
halt was made. There, in little
while, the command was joined by
Davis and Gatewood with their scouts,
who brought word that the Turkey
Creek camp of the Chiricnhuas was
abandoned, Geronimo, Natchez, and
some fifty bucks gone, and that the
compaign was in truth opened.
The first long halt, at a convenient
water-hole, caused everything to seem
still more like real soldering. Men
gathered together In small groups.
Older soldiers were reminiscent, and
Myers listened eagerly to their talk.
He envied these men their apparent
unconcern as to the present situation.
and their evident extreme previous in
timacy, going back into years long
gone by, with Mackenzie, Writ Davis,
Lieut.. Mckinney and other we'll
known heroes OF the regiment. The
expressions me and the general"
and me and the major" in allusion
to alleged incidents of past occurrence,
Allied little Myers heart with a great
deal of awe and reverence.
The march was resumed as soon as
the first light of day began to CLEAN
over the hills, and Myers had imme-
diate experience of more fast riding,
directed for the purpose of making up
time lost by the two hours rest Trot
and gallop were again In order. Down
the steep hill leading to Black river
crossing, through the river, and up
the sleeper bank on the other side,
crashed and splashed and crashed the
troopers. The hostile trail was too
hot now for dismounting, even though
the path was SO rough, or for even
stopping, except for a moment or two
for water. Signs Of the hostiles had
been in constant and direct evidence
since daylight Ponies even and sur
plus packs had already begun to be
abandoned. 'Those fellers amt SO
very far ahead" remarked Myers, for
getting for the instant he was re-
cruit. and momentarily finding his
voice.
That Myers was quite correct in his