Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-02-06
PLEASANT GROVE, Utah County,

While at American Fork the other
day, found the stream Of conversation
ebbing and flowing between the sena.
torial fight now on--and the battles ana
troubles with the Indians oil the long
ago, in the early days OF the settlement
of Utah; the latter subject was brought
10 memory, from the TACT that the Veter'
ans OF the Black Hawk war had held
reunion the night before.
"But father" said young lady adj
dressing veteran in my hearing, "they
did not have real engagement, now
did they2"
Eyes, mydear girl,we had all the engage
ments we cared for" and the iather
continued: "Your ideas OF an engage
ment are possibly swinging to and iro
between the achievement OF the ring on
your finger and the illustrations you
have seen OF the bloody fields oil Shiloh,
Murfreesboro and Gettysburg Oh mol
No such engagements as those, my
daughter, we were but few in those
early DAYS. We had an engagement at
Gravelly Ford. and then the affair at
Grass valley, in which one of our COM
rades was killed. Yes, we had many
engagements. just of as great moment
TO us as to the vast numbers oil men
engaged in the struggles you have seen
portrayed in the illustrations. All they
had to give was their lives, and ours,
like theirs were risked in the defense oil
the right.
81 well remember being called out by
our commanding officer, to take com
pany OF men, and go into the mouth OF
the canyon above our town, to recover
the body of young man, who had been
slain by the Indians. Before gong into
the canyon brought my men into line,
to inspect their arms, and out oil the
twenty.one men, there were only three
guns among them that were reliable ana
really fit Tor service. The balance were
shot guns and old time worn muskets.
After doing some scolding, | ordered
my men to deploy as skirmishers and adj
vance.
ave had not gone far when some
turkey buzzards were observed flying III
small circles above the bluffs on the
other side of the canyon, to our right.
We knew the rest; and there we found
the mutilated body of the young man.
Never shall forget the sight or the
smell OF that poor body-scalped and
disiigured beyond recognition. We
bound tine body upon one OF our horses
and carried it through the hot sun back
to the Borrowing parents. The iather
would not gaze upon the liieless form
saying, 4 know how he looked when he
lett me, will not lose that memory OF
my boy
task Mr. there, ii he was not in
one, when a small slight boy, that made
him think thick and FAST" and the father
OF the girl pointed to man who stood
by listening attentively.
The party addressed was a spare-built
man, who would not weigh an ounce
over one hundred and thirty pounds, and
from appearance about fifty years of
age. 80 that affair."" said he, twas
more happy stroke Of wit on my part
than an engagement but at the same
time, it was serious enough for me, a
slight built boy OF fifteen, to contend
with an Indian all alone. But my adven.
ture is OF no consequence, in comparison
to the deeds related last night"
"Never mind" returned the elderly
man, tell it TO my daughter. In my
opinion, while the numbers to make up
an engagement OF sufficient value to
make a Gettysburg were not there, still
as much cool bravery was manifested on
the occasion as was shown in any part
OF the field on that terrible day. Tell it
John"
swell it is over thirty years back, -
said the younger man, "and was work
ing for old Steve Mott or some OF the
Chipmans, herding over on the west
mountains; and OF course being the
boy, had to pass back and forth from the
herd to town here very oitcn, for sup.
plies, or with messages from the men,
when they were working over there,
''On the occasion referred to, the
camp was out OF matches and tobacco,
and was sent TO town late one summer
evening on old Steve Motifs young race
mare, with strict orders to come back
early the next morning with the much
needed articles. So the next morning
found me on the back OF the gray mare
proud as a peacock-as passed the
boys OF my acquaintance, who, knew,
envied me in seeing me on the fastest
mare of the north end OF the country.
In the height of my joy, it was all ]
could do, to restrain myself from giving
shout, and letting the mare out in a
burst OF speed. | controlled myself as
best could, little thinking OF the race
that was before me. But as felt the
movement OF the muscles OF the fast
mare rode, so supple and ready for
the spring, ii | would only let her 20, my
young blood went coursing through my
veins, and felt the force of the old say
ing, The outside of horse Is good ior
the inside OF man.
"Passing on with my matches and
tobacco in my hand, done up in a red
cotton handkerchief, / soon passed
through Lshi and its farming land on the
west, and gently galloped my mare up
the ascent towards the divide which
separated me i1csn Cedar valley. AS !
was riding up cut o. the big hollow /
came face to face with an Indian.
mounted upon a pretty lair pony. i
knew the Indian, and also had 4 very
poor opinion OF him, as he had once re.
ceiyed severe beating from one OF the
men OF our camp for stealing; and
didn't like him a Bit
"We rode w side by side, AMI COM
menced talking, | tancied he looked
quite sullen and cross. | felt a little
scared OF him, nut did not let on that |
was. He knew was going to the herd,
and seeing the little bundle IN my haud.