The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-08-06
Exposed to the Withering Noun
tain Blizzard.
Cropping TheirWay Through
Narrow GOrges
In the Face Of q. Blast That All But
FrOze the BlO0d--A Fear.
full Ordeal.


land county regiment, published in the
Cincinnati Enquirer, is from the pen of
Frank Weller:
On the morning Of February %, 1858,
messengers arrived at Fl. Laramie with
the intelligence that a hostile band of
Indians were depredating the country
along the overland stage route in the
vicinity OF Fl. Halleck. The garrison
at that place was too small to attempt to
drive so large force Of savages back to
the mountains, and it was even feared
that the savages had designs on the post.
Colonel william o. Collins, of the l1th
Ohio Cavalry, commanding the district,
with his customary promptness, set out
at once to the relief of the post at the
head of a detachment of 80 men from
Companies A and @, all that could ne
spared from the garrison at Ft. Laramie.
Fl. Halleck was the the southmost post
of the chain of military stations built
and garrisoned by the Eleventh Ohio
Cavalry. It was situated at the base of
the Medicine Bow range, now called
Elk Mountain, 120 miles southwest from
Fl Laramie. The road, which was bare
ly marked by travel, passed through
barren, mountainous region, crossing
the Laramie Range through deep can.
yon at the foot of Laramie Peak. The
weather was extremely cold, and the
snow laid deep in the ravines and gorges.
but the men and horses had become &C.
customed to cold weather and the hard.
ships of winter campaigning in the
mountains, and no noteworthy incident
occurred until the command was within
one days journey of its destination. Its
progress had been slow, incumbered as
it was with two heavy army wagons,
carrying the rations and forage, and it
was not until the 9th that the last
camping place was reached, on Rock
Greek, about twenty. five miles from Ft.
Halleck. During that night the cold in.
creased, the wind rose to high pitch
and heavy snow storm set in, and in
the morning there was every indication
of the approach of one OF those terrible
mountain storms, or blizzards, which,
when raging at it's fullest force, nothing
animate can long Withstand. Save few
clumps of stunted red willows, there was
neither shelter nor fuel here, and realiz
ing the dire consequences of being
caught in such situation by one of those
devastating storms, Colonel Collins re.
solved to push on to Fl. Halleck, hoping
to reach to reach it before the storm
would overtake them.
Cold and hungry, and nearly exhaust.
ed by the fierce and unequal struggle
with the driving storm the command
reached Medicine Bow Greek about two
o'clock in the afternoon. Here brief
halt was made for rest, and Colonel Col
Inns consulted the men on the expedien.
| cy of going into camp until the fury OF
the storm was somewhat abated. A thin
growth OF willow and choke cherry
bushes lined the margin of the stream,
which afforded little or no protection
against the wind and snow, and was ut.
terly worthless for fuel. The post was
but eight or nine miles further on. and
it was decided that the only safe course
would be to reach it before darkness
should overtake them, and again the
weary men threw their benumbed bodies
into the saddle and renewed the furious
struggle with the raging elements.
| They could advance but slowly against
the storm, and every step was fraught
with peril. In crossing the more expos
| ed elevations the half famished and
nearly tagged horses would stagger, halt
and steady themselves against the blast
before they could proceed. Marching
and counter marching, growing more
drowsy and feeble the men struggled on
without any definite notion OF the loca.
ton of the post. Upon the approach of
evening they stumbled on the trunks of
some pine trees that had fallen from the
top of rocky bluff under which they
were passing. Several of them dismount.
ed and attempted to start fire, but the
snow laden wind, bowling and whirling
around and between the rocks, swept
away the fire from the lighted prairie
match, and all efforts to prevent 1t avail :.
ed nothing. Here Colonel Collins, whose
fortitude and hopeful words had encour.
aged and cheered the dropping spirits of
'nis men, overcome by the lethargy that
always precedes death from freezing, sat
down upon the ground and declared his
intention of remaining there to lest.
Night was almost upon them, the post
was somewhere near, and their only
hope was to reach 1t, and to reach 1t soon.
Unheeding his protest and threats Of
punishment for insubordination, he was
lifted into his saddle by main force. and
the command again advanced into the
teeth Of the fearful tempest. A few
minutes later John Griffith, gallant
young soldier Of Company 9, Whose
home was in Lancaster, Ohio, fell head.
long from his horse. He was incapable
Of helping himself, and was placed upon
his horse, where he was supported by q
comrade riding on either aide Of him.
At this juncture three or four Of the
most resoluts and best mounted Of the
party road ahead, to endeavor TO find
Tie post and secure help for their
dependent and pertaining companions.
STOPPING low in their saddles to avoid
the stihging snow, they urged their jadsd
horses into ieeble trot. Hardly had
they disappeared IN the eioo1n when
ysGnk Courtwdeht, another Lancaster
boy, Who he'd been reeling IN biz esddls
| IKE . drunksn man, tell 6om hig hosse,
| I6ovte were made 70 sxescioe bin, hut
! he cesld ssithes valk ~ soand, 80 y