St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-12-18
The Rangers Story.

I'm 1858 was commanding the from.
tier battalion OF state troops on the
whole frontier, and had my camp on the
Deer Fork of the Brazos. The Comanches
kept rading the settlements. They would
come down quietly, working well into
the white lines, and then go back a.run-
ning-driving stolen stock and killing
and burning. thought | would give
them some OF their own medicine. con-
cluded to give them fight took two
wagons, one hundred Rangers, and one
hundred land thirteen Tahuahuacan
Indians who were lriendlies. We struck
a good Indian trail on a stream that led
up to the Canadian. We followed it till
it got hot. camped my outfit in such a
manner as to conceal my force, and sent
out my scouts, who saw the Indians hunt
buffalo through spy glasses. That night
we moved. sent Indians to locate the
camp. They returned before day, and
reported that the Indians were just now
a few miles ahead, whcreat we moved
forward. At daybreak, | remember,
was standing in the bull-wagon road
leading to Santa Fe and could see the
Canadian River in our front-with eighty
lodges just beyond. Counting four men
offghting age to lodge, that made a
possible three hundred and twenty
Indians. Just at sunup an Indian came
across the river on pony. Our Indians
down below raised yel-tbey always
get excited. The Indian heard them-it
was very still then. The Indian retreated
slowly, and began to ride in circle.
From where was could hear him puff
like deer--he was blowing the bullets
away from himsell-he was medicine
man. heard five shots from the layers
with which my Indians were armed. The
painted pony Of the medicine-manjum
ten feet in the air, it seemed to me, and
fell over on his rider - then five more
layers went off, and he was dead. or
dered the Tahuahuacans outlu front, and
kept the Rangers out Of sight, because |
wanted to charge home and kind OF sur
prise them. Pretty soon got ready and
gave the word. We charged. At the
river we struck some DOGGY ground and
foundered around considerably, but we
got through. We raised the Texas yell,
and away we went. never expect again
to hear such a noisc-l never want TO
hear it-what with the whoops of the
warriors, the screaming OF the women
and children, our boys yelling, the shoot
ing, and the horses just mixu' up and
a stampedin' around" and the Colonel
bobDed his head slowly as he continued.
zone OF my men didn't know buck
from squaw. There was an Indian
woman on a pony with FIVE children. He
shot the pony-it seemed like you
couldn't see that pony for little Indians.
We went through the camp, and the
Indians pulled out, spreading fan-like,
and we a.running them. After long
chase concluded to come back. | saw
lots OF Indians around in the hills When
got back, found Captain Ross had
formed my men in a line. What time in
the morning is it?' asked. Morning,
hell says he, it's one o'clock And so
it was. Directly Isaw an Indian coming
down a hull near by, and then more
Indians, till it seemed like they want
ever going to get through coming. We
had struck bigger outfit than the first
one. That first Indian he bantered my
men to come out single.handed and fight
him. One after another, he wounded hive
Of my Indians. lordered my Indians to
engage them, and kind OF get them down
i'll the fiat where could charge. Alter
some running and shooting they did this,
and turned the Rangers loose. We
drove them. The last stand they made
they killed one of my Indians, wounded
a Ranger, but LETT seven OF their dead in
a pile 1t was now nearly nightflll, and
| discovered that my horses we're broken
down after Fl citing all day. l found it
hard to restrain my men, they had got
so heated up; but gradually withdrew
to where the fight commenced. The ln-
dian camp was plundered, In it weIound
painted buffalo robes with beads hand
deep around the edges-the finest robes l
have ever seem and heaps OF goods
plundered from the Sante Fc traders.
On he way back noticed dead chief,
and was for moment astonlshed to ind
pieces o flesh cut out of him; upon look
ing ar Tahuahuacan warrior saw a
pair OF dead hands tied behind his saddle.
That night they had canniba least.
You see, the rahuahuacans say that the
first one of their race was brought into
(,,pN TM