Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1897-12-28
OUR YOUNGEST SOLDIER.
Inc dents Of ths Pine. Ridge Cam
>.aissts paign in 1900. u0

EDf,4H9 rs pt'tSA ~ ASN' o tiH
tgI aCSG,s ------lr--4----t Z" ~
little l2syeaf-old' johnny Robin
son, son Of Lieut.. Robinson, of the
Seventh cavalry, il probably the
youngest lad WHO ever fought witha
regiment against the saYagcs Of the
western. plains he accompanied his
father from Fort Riley when the Sew
en,h was Ordered into the field in
1870. 1t was mol thopght at the post
that ihoreeEoud pc ac9mpaign, as
winter was cQuinS oplGud there was
little forage for The Indian ponies.
before leaving The post Johunie was
armed witbea small Winchester rifle,
knife and a regular Colts revolver.
When he,troopsisct out oll this long
march to reinforce the Ninth cavalry
and Second infantry at TinejRid5e,
this boy, dressed. in long boots q
blouse andIidng trousers rode beside
his father at the head Of the lattcr's
company SEA .MolJ q talt
For over a msnthl.Iohnnie entered
zealmlsly into itIIe. dairy routine of
camp life lIe'al@aysw Yin the drills,
Slam battles and fatigue marches.
When II last the Seventh was ordered
TO Wounded Knee to intercept Big
Foot, Johnnie. pneh against his pro-
test, w8S left behind 1t was just
as well that tic child of the regiment
did rot accompany the troopers, for
the world knows of the fearful car
nece which cusucd. Thirty-fvc Of
the troopers were killed outright and
nearly 200 Indians fell before the
guns ofthe enraged troopers.
On the following day the Seventh
WIS again ordered ont to dislcdgc the
Sicux. who were burning and pill
la~ing The country just cast Of the
c~~ney Johnny begged so success
fully ~ be permitted to accompany
his Gather that ihc latter yielded, but
c,nlionnd the LEI 10 remain with the
hGs8;tal eprrs should the troops be-
came crGagcd a brjsl; ride over the
bluCs Brought tho Seventh intn a
sort of hasin CircIing upon the
ercs's 81 the ridges were d score eff
Rrulcs in war paint, their feathers
fyihq yfltlt IN the brisk morning
air. Thcif nunJber increased every
rNr3c,.t. and a. is Their custom when
rUmcg'G2DH. stronger, than their foe,
thcy bcTap t@..narrawlhf clrcie pn5il
thp tr0QroTs cnHld ser nothing but a
whnIbi~ d nfi color swirlihg pbo1t
them, the wells Of the 'saysses bcing
lusctm;rllqy rattiinG fire of MUS
IcT+v 7.a .sr s1afs1A }tH-58 fl.diiAl
fhe t946iig We're now ordered 10
rh2rSe LiGJit. eR9hinSqn's company
hring one IF lbP FIRST to BECOME aft-
ivrIv cr0arcd. For nearly an b9ur
tbo battle ragged furiously, thesiIn-
diars hcirg reinforced from time to
time until they threatened the life
pf the entire regiment Just then
Tie llack Troopers. Of The Ninth, who
lad heard the. below of the big
IlNlchkiss guns, came to the rescue
nf,hhnir,w hite comrades in arms md
Eithoairin rfng cheersweptrthe ridges
Nf itte Warriors land Spared what al
8f8S fifhet lffcattned TO he another
T1YS ,Big,i1qrh,ta massacre Z. = ? :, /, ~ =, a 4
.5'Wbcp. theg'lnqisps had fed Lieut.
TnlipSQH. IlpQWdPff7 begrlmed q and
N8aFyg FstqFq8 iosthe. ambulanQes
Id jnok After sd,ohnnies He was moi
there. and nowhere on efeld could
the fasaaer see theGgeangstera sFap to
the napfh Acknowledgements giving Puit
shit t6bbandidf stubborn Sioux, ane
thithQF,tha aaxigus heptenant rode a
r. gallQpss lTheq eaFbines were lstll
rrackingEiShb morrily, when a shril
voice coming througlt the smoke anc
dgina snbw'said ~ isl3a43 n37J hfi
5sIFeFe Fam, papa" 7ih Al',on
II Nas g6hnnie. With his hands
alta salute he approached his father
The barrebof his rifle still hot from
heatv firinmmod ,4 VI ~. n-i.Ilf
E'oriover1an hour the lad had beer
in The frstsline1of slSirmishers, flrlnt
and loading with ALI the GOODNESS !
not the accuracy Of a veteran. rh'
only complaint Johnnie had to MAKE
an the march back to Pine Ridg'
was that his little rife had become
ehoked from TOO rapid firing. Fha
night the youngster went to sleep u
his bunk. his weapon being slnpg il
TWO straps above bis head . alsissa h
Dnringstlisg Ggbt;ope trooper wa
killed arId,se others wounded; IN
dhAiafi 70 us 6nott1 obs, pcaEN bQl
0sgib,, 3con Iishi br disabled III ths