The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-11-28

A disbanded soldier of the south, and
still young, I went, like many another to
Texas seeking work and in 1869 1 was
employed by a man named Charlton, as
reamster in a government wagon train
of which he had charge as wagon master.
Charlton had been an old Texan ranger
in the ante-bellum days and was an ex-
peIgsnced frontiersman. and although
his train had been attacked by Indians
several times they had always found
him so well prepared that it was found
impossible to csEch him mapping.
we used to haul supplies from the men
head of ths railway at Marshall, to the
different frontier posts in the west and
northwest, hundreds of niles distant.
Tt tran e)nsls.s. ten six-mule
wagons and was splendidly equipped,
Charlton taking great pride in its APPEAR
anee, and the toamster who neglected in
anyway MS team was .mms d.ately dis
charged. a.1
In the summer of 1870 we were hauling
supplies to Fort Griffin on the Clear
Fork of the BRACES. At Fort Worth we
heard rep,irts of many Indian dCpreda-
tions and Charlton began drilling the
drivers in the formation of corral, and
once day for several days he would
ride back to US on his sorrel saddle-mule
and shout: "C.rral boys" when me
first teamster would swing around in a
half circle TO the right, the next in d
half c.acle to the left and SO on, Until
the train was packed in two parallel lines
the wagons close together and the
tongues meeting.
When we reached Jacks boro we were
told that the country was full Of small
m3rauuing PARTIES of CemancheS and
Kiowas; that the stage from Grif1il had
been attacked at Salt Creek, the driver
and a passenger killer, only the week
before. The commanding offieer al Fort
Eiehardson offered to furnish an esc0rt
Tor the train, but Carlton declined 1t
ard We continued on.
Tile second day out from JacSsooro
about 2 O'Clock we were travelling over
beautiful treeless rolling plekrie, when
We Net an ambulance containing Gen.
Sherman with an escort of ten cavalry
men. He stopped long enough
to ask the wagonmaeter what
tiration and then drove on. was
driving in the lead that day and about
half an hour after The an bulancs, had #
us, Charlton, who had been riding about
300 yards in advance, mounted the ridge
on his front. l saw him halt and sud-
yell Corral CORRAL! smautly boysp' A
certain ring in his voice told US some
thing was up tbs time sure, and the corral
was rapidly made.
"Unhook and hitch your teams to
wheels. BE lively, Indians, Indians
and let's of en- said the wagonnaster.
After hitching the teams we began
throwing out sacks of flour and boxes
of crackers and as wen as we could we
barricaded the ends of the corral. Zach
man then seized his Spencer repeating
carbine and revolvers and took the sta
ton assigned him by Charlton.
Up to this time not an Indian had been
seen, but the cres, of the ridge in our
front was dotted here and there by small
round objects like rocks which we seon
perceived to be the heads of a party of
Indians who were watching our move
ments.
Presently these rode up on to the ridge
and shock their lances at the train, they
wsre soon followed by more until mist
less than 200 Warriors were gathered
about the chief who appeared to be a
large and powerful man.
AS the nlarauding parties usually did
not exceed more than fifty msn we at
once saw that we wtre confronted by
a powerful war parry led by some cele-
brated warriCr.
Men, said Charlton, ut is barely
possible that we can stand that outfit
off; but recollect you are fighting for
your lives, and don't waste your ammu-
milton when they come, wait ilI you get
a good bsad on them"
1t was apparent that the chief was
haranguing his warriors by his ssti-
culat.ons, and giving them thsir instruc-
tions. When he had finished he waved
his hand and in two long lines they 1cie
down toward the train. When about
within range the lines separated, one
moving to the right and the other to the
left and commenced to circle us, the chr
Gle, quickly contracted until fully within
range whan We found ourselves surroun1-
ed by a ring of fire. Each warrior was
lying alongside his pony and nothing of
him could be seen but his foot around
the -cauite of his saddle and his head un-
der his horses neck. Some of our mulss
were wounded and broke away and some
killed, but the teamsters lying under
and in their wagons so far had cscap
injury
Hold your fire until they charge, men,
and then give it to them for all yicu'rat
wcuth,". called out Charlton. We had
not long to walt the flash of miIigor in
the hand of the chief was sesn and in
answer to it, THE Indians turned and
dashed yelling at the train Thsn every
man raised up and volley after voMey
was sent into the advancing Eavag5s,
tumbling many of them from their sad
dies and killing q number of their
poneys. After this reception they drew
off and gathered about the chief who
with about a dozen others, had r. manned
where we first saw him, on the ridge.
In this charge we had two m:n wound
ed the wagonmaster severely (his thigh
being broken by balD and one slightly.
1t was suggested that we turn the
mules loose in the hope that getting them
the Indians might leave us. The wagon
master shook his head, but SAID we might
try 1t and Scon the mules Were carf5er-
ing over the prairie pursued by party
of warriors. After a short delay our
hopes we're dashed by seeing prepara-
tions being made for another attack.
They came on just as before only this
time they did not wait long but charged
at once, riding close up to the wagons.
They were met with a h5. fire, losing
many men and horses and again drew
off.
Our loss was severe, two men killed
and another wounded.
For the third time The Indians chalged
and this time they would not be denied
they. dashed right up to the wagons and
poured a murderous fire over the berast-
works, but so stubborn was the resist
ance that they again retreatsd.
1T was SCION seen that the struggle as
Co. oannernG1 home