The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-05-27
NY FIRST CAMPAIGN.

At Fcrt Yuma, i'll the southwest c2r-
ner Ct Arizona, iifc had long beHn mca-
otcnous, 50 We heard with l:lcaA pleas
ure that several bands e Apaches had
dumped" their reservations ard We're
On the warpa:h. Preparations W'@rH at
once begun IL anticipation Of expected
orders to round the Indians Up. Soon
we received the orders by telegraph,
and ct once toci; the field.
Tho other officers Of my troop were
either on leave CT on detached service,
so I was temporarily III command Of
my troop I had graduated from the
Military academy but IL short time be-
fore, and had been Gil but few scouts.
Still had seen enough field service to
make me quite confident CT my ability
to c oi:lmand my troop.
The number Of hostile Indians w;;:s
reported at about 30, divided into sev-
eral bands. As the direction which they
had taken was nGt definitely known, it
was considered best fer the troops to
separate, as :. single troop could easily
capture a band of the hostiles, or even
the whole lot in case the bands should
unite while by separating the chances
of striking the trails would be greatly
increased.
hailed this plan with delight, for as
long as my troop was with any ore Ct
the others, I, being tho junior officer,
could merely obey the orders given to
me. But alOne I would be free to c-1ei'-
else my ingenuity.
Visions Of sacccss rose before me.
Here was al carly chance to Wa FAM.
ard perhaps d bravot IS al Indian fl::ss5;
er! was alone, and would plan the
capture I intended TO make. Old so,'-
geants with q trocp are fond cf giving ad-
vice to the youngsters just out CT the
academy, but I would make the'A u2l-
derstand that they need not attempt
that with me!
Nv route was toward the northeast.
We proceeded rapidly, searching eager
" for Indian signs, through q desert
covered with cactus Of many varieties
Snakes, tarantulas, centipcds and other
similar creatures abounded.
For two days we did not see the
slightest sign Of an Indian trail, and
began to fear that was not to have a
chance to win my spurs. But on the
morning of the>third day we struck al
Indian trail, and my hopes rose. They
were short lived, for the trail was an Old
one. We soon lost it and resumed our
march in the original direction.
Next day. soon after al hours halt
for dinner, the scouts reported al Indian
trail. I hurried forward to inspect 1t. 1t
was a verv plain one, and even to my
rnpracticed eye it was evident that the
band was much larger than we had ex-
pected to meet. [ concluded that the
several bands must, by L preconcerted
plan, have concentrated at some point.
was delighted at this. for instead OF
capturing one band should capture ali.
Without loss Of tine gave the nee
essary instructions, took precautions TO
avoid falling into an ambush :;nd gave
the order to advance Old I.:tli...!1 hT:,l1-
ers say: IF ycu sec Apache signs, be
very careful; if you don't see signs, be
much more careful 4" If the Indians SIS
pect they are being pursued, they Will
destroy, as far as possible, al signs OF
their trail Thaclearness Ct the trail we
were following assured ae that the H.
dians were blissfully unconscious CT our
presence.
The scouts, however, were directed to
remain near the column and III order
not to Lose any Of the credit Ct the cap
ture I followed close on their heels We
moved rapidly, ard til" trail grew
warmer every minute. We We're at the
most not over two hours behind the
Apaches.
1t was growing dusk, and began to
fear that we should not come up with
them that night, but would be forced to
90 into camp at dark The country had
become rolling, 50 that we could not see
anv distance ahead, and this should
have made me mere cautious to avoid al
1UQUUSI. OCt i Ni-Nt 11Ot ttiAt-N go 49,.
thing of this kind, fer still had no rea-
son to think that the Indians had any
idea we were close on their trail.
As we came over the crest Of a small
hill the scouts pointed out to me Il thin
line of smoke rising beyond the next
rise Of ground I at once halted and
dismountcd my command. Undoubtedly
the Indians had gone into camp unsus-
picious Of our approach.
could hear my heart beat with ex-
citement and anticipation, but i'll order
to lay my plans correctly it was neces-
sary for me to see the ground myself
After a amomcnt' hesitation ] concluded
TO take the first sergeant With me.
We tied punches Of grass Oh our heads
and then crept forward ten yards apart
until we came to the crest Of the OBJ
structing hill I peered over, drew has