Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-12-02
CHAPTER z.

CHAPTER <.
Just as first call for tattoo was sound
ing (no one having thought to tell the
orderly trumpeter that, both on account
of the holiday and the unexpected duty
for the garrison, ''the rules were sus-
pended") a long column Of cavalry
wound away tarough the simmer of
the snowy moonlight and disappeared
from sight along the fats below the
post. Fenton and Wayne, with four Of
the six troops, had ridden down stream
for ten mile march. His object was to
bring Big Road, with his little village,
warriors, women, children, ponies, dogs.
dirt and all, within the lines of the
reservation of Fort Frayne Once there
even cowboy dare not molest them and
no self appointed sheriff could impose
his authority. With all Thorpe's blus-
ter Fenton felt reasonably assured that
even in 30 turbulent corner Of Wy
oming the hustlers could not muster in
force sufficient to warrant an attack
that night.
Big Roads braves were few in num-
Der, but they were fighters to man.
Their sins, like those Of all their tribe
and kindred tribes, had long since been
forgiven them by Uncle Sam, and 1t
was not for his vassals to keep up the
feud. Rare, indeed, are the cases when
the soldier has long cherished grudge
against the Indian. The Twelfth had
fought like devils after the murder, as
they could but regard it, Of their beloved
colonel, but when the opposing band had
finally surrendered and accepted the sit
uation all rancor speedily died away.
IT seemed to the regiment, therefore,
q perfectly natural and obvious thing
that it should hasten forth to protect
this little remnant from the revenge Of
the whites. Laramie Pete, with all his
faults, was frontier hero whose popu.
larity was second only to that of Thorpe,
and at the latter's call, from far and
near, cowboy, ranchman, miner and
prospector would hasten to join forces
under his leadership, and in "a hours or
less he could count on 500 determined
followers, fearless as they were reckless,
and defiant of any law that was not Of
their own devising.
In the selection of his troops Fenton
had been governed by the time honored
tenets of the Twelfth. Leale's men,
having returned but a month before
from tour of detached service, escort
ing government survey through the
lands of the Shoshones far to the west,
were therefore the ones designated to
remain in charge Of the post, being sup
ported by what was left of the so called
Indian troop-Crow Knife's company, a
band Of swarthy cavalrymen that took
Uncle Sans clothing, pay and rations
with avidity, and even to his drill and
discipline, so long as it was new toy,
but little by little the innate sloth and
restlessness Of the savage nature pre-
vailed, and, one after another, noncom-
missioned officer and private, the Sioux
soldiery had been discharged until nearly
all were gone. Of the dozen that re-
manned, however, were some Of the
noblest specimens of the race, men,
who, like Crow Knife, seemed deter
mined to rise above the apathy Of the
past into some position of power and in
fuence for their people in the future,
and it was almost unspeakable grief to
these that they should be told that they
could not 60 with the command.
Yet Fenton's decision was wise ore.
Ever since Big Roads messengers
white Wolf and Pretty Bear) dashed
into the garrison at 8 o'clock, claiming
the intercession Of the Great Fathers 8
soldiers, the excitement among the rem
nant of the Indian troop was furious.
For a moment it looked as though they
might cast off their uniforms and, turn
ing out in breechclout and paint and
feathers, indulge in a genuine old fash
ioDed war dance on the parade. They
were wild to get their arms and horses
and to gallop to the succor Of their kins-
men down the valley, but the lieutenant
commanding was cool hand, and, aided
by the persuasive talk Of one or two
older warriors, measurably quieted the
disturbance. Then, as most Of the men
on guard begged to be allowed to 60
with their comrades, seven Of the In
dams were distributed among the three
reliefs, and Leale's men filled all the
other gaps. It was about 80, as his
been said, when the column marched
away. It might be back before Christ
mas night. 1t might not he back for a
week. No one at the moment could say
because, even now, Big Road could have
broken camp and started with his whole
village on night march for the fast