Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-01-01
A MOUND OF ROCKS.
IT MARKS THE LAST RESTING PLACE
OF A SQUAD OF CAvALRYMEN.

Fatal Imprudenco of IA Young Army ON
Ger Inexperienced In Indian Fighting.
A Search For Missing Cow Cost the
Lives Of Thirty-one Soldiers.
"There is pile of rocks probably 90
feet in length about nine miles from
Fort Laramie, in Wyoming, which
marks the last resting place of a detach-
ment Of cavalry, said retired army
officer the other day. "In passing it
many times have always experienced
a peculiar sensation, for the poor fellows
who lie buried there came 20 their death
through the overzealous ideas of a
young West Point officer, inexperienced
in Indian fighting. You know it was
only the other day that a young officer
in western Colorado came in conflict
with some game wardens while engaged
in running the Uintah Utes back 90 their
reservation in Utah. Caution comes
with age as much in the army as in civil
life.
cit was in 1853 that old Fort Lara
ME held garrison of two companies
entirely too small for the post in those
lively days, when the Cheyennes and
| ArapahOes, Sioux and Pawnees were
rowing around the country at war among
| themselves and occasionally pitching
into the whites who were crossing the
| plains. 1t was the year when Brigham
Young with his band Of Mormons was
travelling oct TO Salt Lake from Nauvoo,
| Ills. They camped one night about nine
| L, I
band Of Indians had established their
village during the hunting season. The
next day they marched into the fort and
reported that the Indians had killed one
| Of their COWS. The commandment at The
post promptly sent young lieutenant
out for an inspection, giving him 30
cavalrymen.
at was the lieutenant's first commits
sion for active duty. and he felt the
great importance Of the mission. He de-
termined to discover who killed that
COW or perish in the attempt Entering
the Indian village, he rode at the head
of his detachment up to the chiefs tepee
and began his investigation. Turkey
| Feather, the chief, declared that no COW
had been killed. The lieutenant insisted
that the Mormons were one COW short
and demanded that the guilty Indian be
brought out. Several subchiefs were
called up, and they likewise disclaimed
any knowledge of the COW.
1.-THE young lieutenant insisted upon
having scapegoat delivered over to
him and pulling ont his watch he dra-
matically announced TO Turkey Feather
that he would give him just five min
utes in which 10 deliver up the guilty
Indian, at the expiration of which time
he would fire upon the village This
made Turkey Feather indignant, and he
retired to his tent in disgust. Without
thinking Of the consequences the young
lieutenant, having given bis word, felt
! himself bound 10 carry it out and ac-
cordingly when the five minutes were
up he gave the order TO fire. The In
dams greatly outnumbered the little de-
tachment and in their anger il was the
work Of few minutes 60 lay low every
man in that small band, including the
young lieutenant.
During the night succeeding this
massacre one surviving wounded soldier
picked himself up and managed to make
his way to the camp nine miles dis
tant, where the story was told. The
commandant at the post at first was in
clined TO fee from the country with his
limited force, believing that the Indians
would surround the garrison in the
morning 20 obtain revenge. While the
commandant was planning way of es-
cape an Irish private named McGrath
approached the captain and roundly
swore that he had never run from an
Indian in his life, and he did not pro-
pose to do it at this time. His display
Of grit had such an effect on the captain
that he decided to stay and give the In
dams a warm reception should they APP
proach the post. The entire garrison
went on picket duty that night, the
women taking arms also and going out
TO the picket line. About noon the next
day, the Indians not appearing, the cap
tain sent trooper toward the scene OK
the massacre TO learn what the Indians
were doing. The trooper cautiously
made his way 20 the scene, only to dis
cover that the Indians, frightened at
what they had done, had packed up and
disappeared over the plains. The vic
Tins of this unfortunate massacre were
buried where they fell, and that mound
of rocks, visible 10 this day, was erected
over their common grave. "-Denvez
Cor. New York Sun
F---------
Rough on the Sentry,