The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-21

which occurred nearly thirty years ago,
turned his hair white in night and left
him souvenir scars which he will carry to
his grave. The story of that experience,
as told by Colonel Thornton during re-
cent visit to this City, is as follows:
During the fall of 1867 was engaged on
typographical survey work in Southern Cali
lorna. was then major OF infantry, but was
assigned to this detached service under Colonel
Wheeler, who then commanded 1900 men.
About the middle of Septem Der was sent with
sixty men to the north. We were mounted, of
course, but pack train bearing our surveying
paraphernalia seriously impeded our move
ments. We travelled from mountain peak to
mountain peak and on the evening of Monday,
Septem 20, had reached a point about sixty
miles north of The Needles. That night we en-
eamped in little basin studded with powders
and half way up the mountain side.
About o'clock Tuesday morning. we were
attacked by Indians. There were fully 500 of
them and except that the nature of the ground
favored us we would have been swept from the
earth in an instant. The powders, however,
furnished some shelter to the soldiers.
For two days we fought thus, and then, as q
forlorn hope, Lieutenant Wilder stole out from
our position, ran the lines of the encircling
savages and started for aid to Clusters camp,
been reduced by death from the bullet and
from rocks rolled down the mountain side
upon US, till, when Wilder left, but eight men
remained.
All that night the fight was kept up Our
ammunition was getting low, but at opportune
moments we robbed the cartridge boxes of our
dead. BY noon Thursday, however, the last
shot had been fired and the saYages closed in
on us. We were too exhausted to make any
effective resistance, and they took US alive
only seven, however, for one more had been
killed by the falling rocks.
The Indians took us to wooded plateau
about four miles from the scene of the battle.
We were tied to trees. Green boughs were
piled about us and set on fire. They burned
slowly, giving out sitting smoke, and while
waiting for the supreme moment the Indians
amused themselves by hurting hatchets at our
heads, their object being apparently to see
how near Us they could come without striking.
Dodge2 1t was little use to dodge, since one
was more likely to move into the path OF the
Ratchet than to avoid 1t. One poor fellow,
however, was put out of his misery by an un-
skillful throw, and after that the fun stopped.
My particular fire burned hottest on my left
side, 1t seemed ages before it got well started.
left hand, which, though tied down, could
move slightly out of the way of the flames.
They reached my throat at midnight, and soon
afterward / became unconscious. What hap
pened afterW ard can relate only from what
was told me.
Lieutenant Wilder had easily evaded the
Indians He reached Clusters camp about
midnight Thursday, and almost instantly 300
men, led by Custer himself, were en- route for
our position. They did not expect to find US
alive, but intended to trail and severely punish
the reds.
1t was about a o'clock in the morning when
Custer reached us. Forty-six miles in Jour
hours, through wooded and broken country,
is pretty heavy marching, but neither horses
nor men had been spared.
The Indians, in fancied security, had ne
elected to post guards and Clusters charge
took them unawares. Some of the cav
alrymen cut US down while others battled
with the sayages Custer himself kicked the
irebrands from under me and laid me on the
grass before taking part in the fight. The
engagement lasted half an hour and the
Indians left 200 dead upon the field. I was
laid up for long time, but am now as strong
and hearty as ever. My hair has, however,
been white ever since that day. You can add,
too, If you like that never since then have
seen red man but have had the desire to
draw a bead on him and make one more live
Indian good Indian
Colonel Thornton graduated from West
Point in 1863 Before Vicksburg he was
made first lieutenant. At Chickamauga
he became captain and at Missionary
Ridge major. When tortured by the
Indians he was, to use his own express
sion, s'beardless boy of "a" Lieutenant
Wilder. who brought Custer to the rescue,
is still living and resides in the State Of