Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-05-28
A MOUND OF ROCKS.
IT MARKS THE LAST RESTING PLACE
OF A SQUAD OF CAvALRYMEN.
Fatal Impr1dence Of Young Army ON
Ger inexperienced In Indian Ticht!n:
A Search For Missing Cow Cost tn.
Lives of Thirty-one soldiers.

Ger Inexperienced In Indian Iichtin.
Search For Missing Cow Cost tn.
Lives OF Thirty-one soldiers.
There is a pile of rocks probably 90
feet in length about nine miles from
Fort Laramie, III Wyoming, which
marks the last resting place Of deiach.
ment OF cavalry, SAID a retired army
officer the other day. "ln passing it
many times ! have always experienced
a peculiar 'cnsatlon, for the poor fellows
who lie buried there came 70 heir death
through the overzealous ideas Of a
young West Point officer inexperienced
in Indian fighting You know il was
only the other day that young officer
| In western Colorado came in conflict
with some game wardens while engaged
| In running the Uintah Utcs back 10 their
reservation IN Utah. Caution comes
with age as much III the army as in civil
| life
1T was in 1853 that old Fort Lara.
mie held a 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 bis band Of Mormons was
travelling out 10 Salt Lake from Nauvoo,
Ills. They CampeG one night about nine
miles from Fort Laramie, near where
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
1t was the lieutenant 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 10 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 a scapegoat delivered over to
him and pulling out his watch he dra-
matlcally announced to Turkey Feather
that he would give him just five min |
utes in which TO 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 70 his tent in disgust. Without !
thinking Of the consequences the young
lieutenant, having given his word, felt
himself bound 10 carry it out, and ac-
cordingly when the five minutes were
up he gave the order 10 fire The In
dams greatly Outnumbered the little de.
tachment, and in their anger it was the
work Of few minutes to lay low every
man in that small band including the
young lieutenant
During the night succeeding this
one surviving wounded soldier
picked himself up and managed 70 make
his way 20 the camp. nine miles dis
tant, where the story was told. The
at the post at first was in.
clined TO flee from the country with his
limited force believing that the Indians
would surround the garrison in the
morning 10 obtain revenge While the
commandment was planning way Of es
cape an Irish private named McGrath
approached the captain and roundly
,wore that he had never run from al
Indian in his life, and he did not pro-
pose 10 do it at this time. His display
4 grit had such an effect on the captain
hat he decided % stay and give the In.
ilans warm reception should they ap.
1roach the post. The entire garrison
vent on picket duty that night, the
women taking arms also and going ont
% the picket line About noon the next
lay, the Indians not appearing, the cap
ain sent trooper toward the scene of
be massacre 10 learn what the Indians
we're doing. The trooper cautiously
made his way 20 the scene. only 10 dis
over that the Indians, frightened al
What they had done. had packed up and
disappeared over the plains The vic
inns Of this unfortunate massacre were
uried where they fell, and that mound
f rocks. visible 10 this day, was erected
yer their common grave. "-Denve,
'or New York Sun
he Tried 1t Second Tiune.