The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-04-16
CASPER COLLINS.
An O'ertrue Legend Of Indian Warfare.

An O'ertrue Legend Of Indian Warfare.
The Greenfield Enterprise reprints the
following beautiful poem written by
Will H. Shade for the NEws-HERALD,
from Navasota, Texas, October 5, 1885:
Far out toward the border where the Plates
dull waters flow,
And DER the broad Savannah's the prairie
flowers grow
And where the winds in wailing sighs still
sound his funeral knell,
Mars guards a spot of sacred earth where
Casper Collins fell.
Twas in the old Eleventh young Casper wore
his straps,
And in those weary Western wilds he dreamed
of fame perhaps
OF coming days Of blessed peace, when he
might cease to roam,
And meet again the loved ones in the old Ohio
home.
A braver soldier never lived; no brayer fred q
Or better bore the hardships that fell upon his
No duty was too hard for him when his it wss
to do
A more heroic soldiers blood neer stained its
| country's blue.
Twas in July in '65, parch'd midsummer day,
He led scouting party in from regions far
Across the dusty prairie, sore, fatigued and
| weak,
The leader reached the fort at last. almost too
tired to speak.
The redskins swarmed the prsire then they
| grew behind each stone,
And Carnage DER that region reigned, upon
bis reeking throne.
The troops were few and sore-besieged, their
red foes none too few,
And death seemed grimly grasping at the little
band in blue.
A long, slow, white-topped wsgon-train was
yet upon the plain:
To succor 1t was but to die beneath the arrows
| rain.
Then up spoke lieutenant "Colonel, shall
those men die,
And we-withln their very sight-to save them
never try?"
| the prairie green,
At the mercy of the savsges, the teamsters
| could be seen.
81 fear" he said, "'twould be in vain to try to
And from my little Weekend force no troops
have to spare"
~ cannot see them PERISH" the young man
answered then
"But give me twenty volunteers and I will save
those men"
His chieftain sadly shook his head, and said {:
"Take my men No
Who goes will ne'er return alive from your
relentless foe."
"Your men are fresh" young Casper said /;
land il you won't, then
And my poor, tired Eleventh boys to save that
train will try.
Attention Mount they! waited not the
brazen bugle rang;
Upon their tired and goaded steeds young
Casper's troopers sprang.
The pondrous gates swung open the brave
men passed without
And onward but to death and fame, with many
ringing shout.
Once driven back, again they go to certain
death the way.
charge more grand was never made than that
led forth that day.
On Balaklava's CORY field the Light Brigade
won fame
With Austerlitz we link the charge that made
the place q name
We read of glorious charges made by armor'd
knights we'll led
Alas if you would know the story
OF gallant charge and CORY.
Ask who saw those heroes WELD
Their sabers on the fatal field
Where gallant Casper Collins midst the prairie
grass lay dead
He died on duty's altor /; he died soldier
brave;
His little band neer liv'd to greet those whom
| they fought to save.
The record Of hero's death and charge most
nobly grand,
On history's scroll must be inscribed to that
immortal band.
Where the Rockies-grim old mountains-raiee
many \ snowy peak.
Once-with q voice all tremulous-an old scout
ceased to speak
And DER his bronz'd face stole sigh methinks
yet can see
As he finished 1t was all too true, the tale he
told to me.
And this is why upon scene where the Platte
ripples flow,
And DER the prairies' vast expanse the sweet
wild fow'rs grow;
And where the winds 30 wierdly chant hero's
funeral knell
Mars guards the hslow'd, sacred spot where
Casper Collins fell.