The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-08-19

blood relation Of the Colonels, his POI
sition would have been made so I'M
comfortable in one way and another
that he would have been forced to re-
Sign.
He not only drank too much to keep
his dignity and maintain the respect
due an officer. but was fault-fnding and
tyrannical. and was given to med
ding with petty affairs which were
none of his business. Capt. Bowers
excuse fer getting down" on Private
Green was that the recruit was impu-
dent and arrogant. When this was
slfted down II was found that he had
questioned the soldier regarding his
past life and the reasons which had in
duced him to enlist, and this curiosity
had been by no means satisfied. He
may have been little stiff In his re-
fusal, rs was bis right under the cir
cumstances, but his refusal to unbosom
himself made the captain his enemy,
and for months he was prosecuted
man. Few officers descend from their
pedestal to mag" an enlisted man, but
Capt Bowers did it to his own shame
and to the scandal of the post. That
he was an enemy of Private Green
made all the sergeants and corporals
down on the man, and as q conse-
quence he put in more days in the
guardhouse than In his barracks. 1t
was the general belief that the recruit
was trying his best, and that he was
by no means given fair show. Capt.
Bowers knew that this was the feeling,
but that only made him the more per-
slstent in his course.
After three or four months something
happened which should have made the
captain change his program and feel
that he owed Private Green n debt of
gratitude Companies b and d were
scouting along the eastern edge of the
great Staked Plains of Texas In search
of Indians, with whom we were then
at war. At noon one day the two COM
panies separated to beat up both sides
B men were suddenly charged by about
! 100 Indians who had been concealed by
fringe of bushes. The troopers were
taken by surprise, but made a good
| fight of it. and after ten minutes beat
off their assallants. In their first rush
the Indians surrounded Capt. Bowers,
who was Il few yards ahead of his CON-
pany, and they sought to make him cap
| tive instead Of killing him. But for the
action of Private Green, who dashed
forward to the help of his officer while
all others were confused for the mo-
ment, the Captain would have been
! taken.
1t went down In the military reports
that the new man killed three redskins
with his own hand. and all his com
rades declared that he saved the leader
of the troop. For the next two or three
weeks there was cessation of the nag
glngs, but the fact that he owed his
| life to the man he had prosecuted ran.
killed. in the Captains breast, and after
a while some excuse was found fol
sending Private Green to the guard
house in disgrace. The man made VI
his mind that he was being bounded
and that life would be made miserable
and he decided to desert. 1t Is probable
that the sentry on duty at midnight
winked at the escape from the guard
house. but II was unfortunate fol
Green that he should meet his captain
face to face before he was clear of the
grounds. So it came about, and Capt
Bowers seized and sought to detaiT
him. In the struggle he was knocked
down and rendered unconscious for {
time. and next morning the chase aftel
the deserter was taken up and pushed
with great energy. The country wa:
secured for days and days, but Private
Green had disappeared like a shadow
A month after the assault and deser
tion Company b was ordered out alon'
for scout over the same ground as be
fore. with orders to pick up the trai
of any small war party and follow |
up vigorously. Such trail was fount
leading straight out upon the sand.
desert. but 1t had not been followe,
above two miles when the troopers raj
upon large force Of Indians in am
bush behind ridge of sand and wer
badly cut up and scattered. Capt
Bowers horse was wounded at the frs
volley. and mad with pain and frigh
dashed off to the west and could not b
checked. The troop broke up under tn
fire of the Indians, and after sufferln
heavy loss made back to the fort 1