The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-01-01
CHAPTER XIII.

E>H&NE 4
~Oh. God My little ones"
There was silence and anxiety IN the
long range of winter camps about the
agencv The Twelfth were gone. no
body knew Just where; bat over 10 the
north. over toward those frowElnS bad
I.ands--au the more wild and treacher-
ons now that the snow had filled every
rift and crevice, for the Jagged surface
was one mass of pitfalls-other battal-
ions of horse were also gone, and the
yicilant watch over those Indians sun
clustering about their old Eaunts in the
valley was redoubled.. The heavier guns
of the field battery commanded the
smoky lodges, the lighter pieces were
away with the cavalry. The infantry,
r1ufied 10 their eyebrows, manned the
rifle pits and guard line and threw their
sheltering wings over the deserted
camps. For good or for III, the crisis
was az hand Whatsoever doubt had
existed as 10 the almost universal hos
fifty of the Sioux was banisheG by the
events Of the preceding week. The at
tempted ambush Of Sergeant Ellis, OF
Berriea's advance guard, the attack
ur,on the scouts and coariers at the Por-
cupine, and, lastly, the affair at the
Wolf, in which Brewster a second time
had gained distinction, all pointed IN
erringly 10 one conclusion: whatsoever
might be their assurances TO officials
high in rank, to agents whose power
would be at end were war to ensue, 10
self constituted trainers Of public opln-
ion, every soldier on the spot knew, and
well knew, that the Indians would be
peaceable only in presence of formida-
be force of bluecoats, but that nothing
but ambush and massacre awaited the
whites who ventured forth unguarded.
Up to this moment, however, of all those
gathered az the scene the only troops
which had had actual collision with the
Sioux were Of Berrien's battalion.
Far away south at the Pawnee old
KENYON had been doing his utmost to
still the anxious fears among the fami-
lies of the absent soldiers. There had
been lively excitement when the papers
arrived giving sensational details Of Ber-
rien's wound and of the affair at the
Porcupine, but it was as nothing TO that
which prevailed over the tidings of the
imminent peril in which Mrs. Berrien
and Winifred had been placed. That il
was lust ike Mrs. BerTien 10 insist on
Joining her wounded husband Al once
was conceded by all, but opinions diff
fered as to the propriety of her course IN
taking Winifred with her. This the
major decided by prompt assertion that
Miss Berrien doubtless refused to be left
behind And, being a very lovely
blending of the characteristics Of both
her pareats," said he, lit would have
been decidedly unlike Miss Berrien to
have stayed at home"
And then came the dread news that a
great band from the northeast, rein
forced by reckless gang of fanatical
young ghost dancers from the Bad
Lands, had broken away, and that all
the regiments had gone to head them off.
Far. without a fight, they could net go
The question was which regiment would
be the first TO meet them. Then the
next nights mail brought the next days
Tapers. and the Twelfth having swung
loose and being absent from the neigh
bOrhood whence were derived the items
on which correspondents based their re
ports and editors their comments, shared
the usual fate of the absentee. and hav-
jng sustained the only casualties and in
ficted the only punishments yet heard
of about the agency. was now coming IN
for its share Of the "toujours tort TO
which it was. Of course, justly entitled.
Kenyon first glared al and thea exploded
over a dispatch which read somewhat IS
follows:
"All hope Of bloodless solution Of the
difficulty Is now at an end Even the
most peacefully disposed among the res
ervati0n Indians are furious over what
they do not hesitate TO term the slaugh-
ter Of :heir clansmen in the three affairs
that have recently occurred. and it is an
open secret that at general headquarters
the gTavest annoyance Is felt over the
fetal overthrow Of carefully laid plans,
all caused by the injudicious conduct OF
certain hot headed officers of cavalry.
The friends OF White Wolf. the pTinci-
pal brave shot by Major Be-rien's
troopers, declare that he and those with
him were friendly and were only stri wing
TO reach the major with the news that
couriers Were coming, hoping thereby tC
earn something TO eat, for they were
cold and hung .,nen they were fired
on without warning, and even while
making signals of peace and Friendship
White Wolf was slain. Then the Brules
who were with them could not he re
strained and attacked the couriers III re
rense-
--As for the affair at Wolf creek after
the blizzard there is unspollen denuncia
ficn among the Indians. and the 'damna
ton Of faint praise IN other quarters ot
the conduct Of a cavalry officer present
The Indians declare they had gone out
only TO gather up their ponies. The sight
of the mules told them there must be Al
ambulance stalled somewhere in tn,
drifts. and they were eagerly searching
for it TO render succOr and aid vhe-
they were fired upon from ambush 10y
the lieutenant and his lnon. and two Ol
A4at4I lstiAlts MtL- A4A4tAA s.l2Nl G4lG hkNtl-
Indian shot through the Lee. The In
dams declare they could easily have
killed Major Berrien. but merely sirov,
10 defend themselves and explain. and
that had they been hostile they coalj
have finished the lieutenant AID MS it'll,
squad at the Wolf creek crossing lone
before reinforcements came. Altogether
there is something so plausible in then
statements that 1t is understood that tn,
conduct both Of tie major and at leas
one cf his subaiterns viii be made tbs
subject of official investigation.
well, well, well,- said Kenyon
"Thank God I'm not serving q grateful
nation in the heart Of the Indian coun
try. Its bad enough TO be shot ant
worse to be lied about, and that is al
the comfort there Is Il being cavalry
man, If do say il who am nothing bur
cross grained old crank of 4 doughboy
If this is what tho Twelfth is TO get fol
"a mere affair Of outposts,' what tn,
devil VIII he said Of them If they should
get into regular pitched battle: Here
Ar. Adjutant, dump that paper IN thl