Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-02-21
atiseellansous geading.
BATTLE Of THE HORSES.
An Old Cavalryman's "Reminiscences Of a
Remarkable Fight.

Remarkable Fight.
Just at sundown, and while we
were at supper, a drove of wild horses
numbering SO, suddenly emerged from
Thatcher's pass and deployed on the
level ground of the valley. They had
made use of the pass to cross from
Climax valley, where grass and water
might have failed them, or horse
hunters had appeared to give them a
fright. They emerged from the pass
in single file, led by spotted stallion,
whose name reached almost to his
knees and whose tail touched the
ground when he was at rest. He
wasn't as handsome as some of the
drove leaders to be met with in the
days of the wild horse; but he was
yet a king among horses. Of the
remainder of the heard about 80 were
fine animals; the others would hardly
be worth the catching. Three or four
were recognized as cavalry horses
which had been abandoned on the
march, and twice that number had
collar marks to prove that they had
stampeded from some immigrant train.
When clear of the pass they formed
in line and advanced upon us to
within a quarter of mile. We had
rs horses at the lariat pins, and for
half an hour we had all we could do
to prevent a stampede. The wild
horses were finally driven down the
valley by two mounted men but they
did not seem to have much fear of US.
On the contrary, the leader of the
drove exhibited such temper that the
men feared they would have to shoot
him. It was an hour before our
cavalry horses calmed down in the
slightest. Every animal seemed en-
ragged at the sight of the free herd,
and the captains Kentucky stallion
acted as if possessed by tiend. He
had been doubly fastened at the
beginning of the excitement, and later
on this proved fortunate thing. He
made the most tremendous efforts to
get free, and when at length he realized
the futility of further efforts in that
direction, he uttered shrill screams of
rage and lashed out with his heels till
no one dared approach him. All night
long he stood on his feet, paving
and snorting, and the camp sentinels
reported the wild horses as hanging
about within half mile of US.
p: Daylight had come, and the sentinels
of the night were coming into camp
when the wild horses rushed into view
q mile below us. On the instant we
discovered them, and while four-ifths
of the men were yet under their
blankets, the captains horse uttered
a scream which must have been taken
as signal. He reared up, shook his
head like an angry lion, and freed
himself of his halter. In the same
instant, every other horse in the
command secured bis liberty. Some
pulled up the pins, some worked their
heads clear Of the straps, and away
went the whole drove down the valley.
1t was not a stampede, as we naturally
feared. Even had our animals desired
to join the ranks of the free they would
have been rebuffed. Our horses were
punched, and in a solid bunch they
drove right through the lines of the
wild horses and left four of them lying
crippled on the grass as they passed.
The prairie drove retreated up the
valley half a mile, and then wheeled
about in a single line. When our
drove halted and turned there was a
distance of three-quarters of mile
between the combatants. We were
ordered to fall in, with a view of
advancing upon the wild horses and
driving them off; but before we had
gotten into line, it was too late.
The sight was wonderful one.
The two leaders advanced as if they
meant to decide the issue by fight
between them; but when within 40
yards of each other, they wheeled and
returned to their respective lines.
Then we witnessed something which
only a cavalryman will credit. Our
horses fell into double line and dressed
to the right as perfectly as if trooper
had occupied each saddle, and while
we looked the lines suddenly moved
forward on a charge. When they
swept past us the alignment was
absolutely perfect, with the captains
horse on the right and leading by
about 20 feet. The line of wild
horses bent and wavered /; but did
not break until struck. 1t was like
striking a drumhead with sledge-
hammer. Ibelieve that fully 40 horses
went down under the shock but all
except four were speedily on their feet
again. From this on it was a melee,
the whole drove circling around, and
each horse biting and kicking and
such ferocity as to astonish
US. The mob fought past us, down
the valley and back, and right in front
of the camn the climax came The