Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1896-02-11
AT CIMARRON FORD.


county, Kan, a. the cars pass swiftly
westward, the tourist from his plate
glass window may look upon tha local.
ity Of the onco famous ford Of the Ar
kansas river known az the Cimarron
crossing. The two routes to Santa Fe
here diverged. That by the way Of the
crossing was over the sand desert, so
called in the days Of the commerce Of
the prairies, " which was relatively de-
void Of water. In the drouRhtiest times
the oxen would frequently drop dead in
their Jokes from the terrible torture OF
thirst. The Arkansas at the ford is wide
and generally but a few inches in depth.
It was, therefore, an excellent place 70
make the passage Of the stream.
The other trail to Santa Fe followed
the Arkansas river TO BeDt's fort, where
IL crossed a spur Of the Rocky noun
tains, a much longer but safer journey
for the caravans, for there was, Of
course, always an abundance Of water,
the grass generally good, besides some
timber existed in spots ON the banks Of
the stream.
The boundary line between the Unit
ed States and New Mexico ran north
and south through the Arkansas river
at the Cimarron crossing, and that point
the American troops changed places
with the Mexican, the former returning
eastwardly in ~escorting the caravans,
while the latter made their way back
through Mexican territory to Santa Fe.
Cimarron crossing was a famous spot
for attacks by the Indians on the freight
caravans, the government trains, the
overland stage, or any outfit passing
along the old Santa Fe trail in the long
ago, before the railroad was regarded as
a possibility even. One Of the most I'M
/ equal in point Of numbers and ~fierceness
Of the numerous attacks occurred in the
spring Of 1865, in which several promi-
nent Kansans were participants.
Major Rodney Smith, paymaster
United States army, who was on one Of
his periodical trips to pay the troops
stationed at the several military posts in
the department Of the Missouri that
were located ON the Arkansas river at
the date specified above, encountered the
notorious Satanic, war chief Of the Kio-
was, and above q thousand Of his blood
thirsty followers at Cimarron crossing,
holding his own against such fearful
odds until his brave little party were
rescued by a detachment of cavalry hur-
riedly sent to his relief ON the second
day Of the fight.
The gallant band of men who did
such remarkable work in defending
themselves against the horde Of the
worst savage cutthroats on the plains al
that time was composed Of the paymas
ter, who was the ranking officer and in
command; Major A. p. Shaw, now il
Topeka; John E. Jones, now in Okla
homa; Jack Angle, Ed Doyle, Ton
Smith, and a small escort of enlisted
men of the Fifth United States infan
try, which had been furnished at ole
Fort Lyon, the last post in the uppel
Arkansas valley.
Having completed his duties at For
Lyon, Major Smith. with his compan
ions, escort and 'stroDg box, " left ther
on Wednesday morning ~immediatel,
after a very early breakfast, intending
to make Fort Dodge, the next post ON hi
route where the troops were to be paid
When the party, who were in excellen
spirits, had travelled about 80 mile
along the broad old trail, q trapper wei
! known to the major, hailed him and in
formed him that the Kiowas were on
ON the warpath, headed by that incar
, nate fend, Satanic, their war chief, an
advised him to keep a good lookout 70
: an ambuscade OF a direct attack from til
old he devil He told the major furthe
that the savages, a large band Of them
: had congregated in the sand hills sout
Of the Arkansas, near Cimarron crosl
ing, and were watching for q favorabl
opportunity to pounce upon some freigt
caravan, government train, the overlan
coach, or any outfit that promised thel
plumber and a few Ecalps.
The paymaster's little oomman
camped that night under the high bluff
bordering Sand creek, putting out dor
BILE guards and exercising every precaI
tion to prevent a surprise, but there WI
no disturbance Of any character excep'
ing the usual hideous concert Of how.
ing wolves not an Indian was seen NJ
heard, nor were any signs discovered
the scouts indicating that they had bee
Prowling around.
The next morning the journey was r
sumed, every one now especially Wig
liant for the first appearances OF a savag
but everything went along smoothly a
til they were within a few miles
Cimarron crossing. There one Of the a
vance guard, who was mounted ON
magnificent American horse, and vi
had ridden a few miles farther ahei
on the trail, came dashing back and I
ported to Major Smith that m immen
number Of Indians, rugged out IN
their war paraphernalia, were right
the bank of the river, and evidently pr
posed to prevent the command fro
proceeding any farther. He said tn
they had their guns unslung, their rob
of, their lances were poised, their bo'
strung, and they were prancing about
their ponies, certainly getting ready I
a fight.
Upon this intelligence the mai
closed up his small column, and, sen
ing his scouts on, kept all his force
the alert In ~momentary expectation
hearing the wild, ringing wa whoOp
the b%loodthirsty Kiowas echo over I
prairie. Tie sayages did not make the
appearance then, however, and the M
excited little command arrived at Oil
arron. crossing long before dark.
Going into camp at the usual spI
the wagons and ambulances wore G.
~ rallied, and every preparation made
the anticipated charge Of the Indial
u The venturesome little outfit was "
armed, the majority Of is membI
i. with that most effective weapon, I
Martini-H Henry rife, and felt themsel'
equal to the offer Of battle, though