The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-03-04
HCWILOST MY SCALP.

lecture among those Unacquainted
with my history as to the manner in
which l happened to lose my scalp.
Among many of my Intimate friends
some of whom regard the subject
as delicate and never alluded tn it
in my presence 1 feel that there must
be more or less curiosity to learn the
particulars, and to crafty that curl
osity | have concluded to write them
| out.
When a young man-in 1851 was
stationed at fortEarrah, which was
then a squadron frontier post, in what
is now Western Kansas, and my du-
ties principally consisted in mounting
guard in garrison and in scouting and
in posting pickets between company
headquarters and Ash creek, tribu
| tary to the Arkansas River, where a
small settlement was located andwhich
| was about twenty four miles west of
Fort Zarrah. | was brevet second
lieutenant then and had twenty men
IN my section, corporal and a scr
geant besides two hunters or scouts,
all Of whom were mounted and armed
as we'll as soldiers could be in those
days United States troops were not
s. well equipped then as they are now.
When a cavalry man had Wager II
fie, a pair of huge hor5o-pistols, a sa-
bre and one hundred rounds of car
tridges he was considered fully ready
for scout or campaign duty.
1t was toward the latter part of No
yember, 1858, that l went to Ash creek
for the last time Captain Marshall
S. Howe, since Colonel of the Third
United States Cavalry, a very rigid
disciplinarian. but brave man, was
then commanding Fort Zarrah, and
more capable officer could not have
been selected from the entire army.
Indications of approaching Indian
troubles had been apparent for some
time, and just before we rode off Capt.
Howe enjoine1 the strictest vigilance
and instructed me, in case | discovered
any fresh signs of marauding bands
Of Utes or Kiowas, to apprise him of
the fact at the earliest moment.
The road from Fort Zarrah to Ash
creek led across undulating prairies
covered with withered herbage and
prickly cactus. About half way We
encountered herd of buffalo, which
SO impeded our progress and delayed
us for such a length Of time that we
did not reach our destination until
late in the afternoon. Our picket post
was located six miles west of Ash
Greek, on the east bank of Pawnee
Fork, where we had created a com
Portable and commodious block house,
with square tower on the north end,
rising some twenty five feet above the
roof OF the building, and from the up
per loop holes of which the sentinel on
duty commanded an extensive view of
the surrounding country, including
the two ranches on Ash creek. These
ranches were owned by Messrs. Bent
and Maxwell, both brave, venturesome
spirits who, tired Of restraints Of civl
lization, had gathered together few
reckless trappers and hunters, and pre-
Stunning upon the protection which the
military post and environment of Ear
rah afforded, had erected adobe build
ings and were rapidly transforming
the rich virgin prairie into productive
fields
| was to remain at the Pawnee Fork
one month, at the expiration of which
time Lieutenant Ruggles. of company
X, Fifth United States infantry, since
distinguished as a major general in
the Confederate army, was to relieve
me and | was to return to the garrl-
son.
Picket duty is at all times the most
unpleasant to which a soldier can be
subjected, and when it is prolonged to
a months duration it becomes intoier-
able. The weeks passed drearily a
long aud, except an occasional visit to
the ranches of Messrs. Bent AMI Max
well, there was nothing to relieve the
monotony of our daily life. Our hun
ters went out every morning to return
as regularly in the evening to the
block house with their animals we'll
laden with game of every description,
but they brought no intelligence of
predatory bands of Indians skulking
in the vicinity. Their reports each
day allayed all apprehensions, if, in
deed, I had any, of an attack frnm the
redskins
On one of my visits to the Ash creek
ranches, as L was riding leisurely "a
long, L found large Mexican dog of
the half wolf half shepherd species,
which had evidently travelled a long
distance, and with little or no food Oh
the way. HIS famished condition a
reused my sympathies, and taking
some hard tack and jerked venison
from my haversack' dismounted,and
although he was little shy and sus-
picious of me at first. he at last took
the food from my hand, and soon we
were the best Of friends. | loved dogs
and horses then even more than like
my pipe and cane now. The dog fol
lowed me 10 Ash Creek-I named him
Roland and when l returned to
| Pawnee Fork, in the evening, he came
with me, He was my inseperable
companion thenceforth in the block
house and in my rides. High living
improved his looks, and SO attached to
me had he become that 1 am almost
inclined to believe he vas jealous of
my bestowing the least attention up
on the soldiers of my commnnd.
Almost another week had passed as
monotonously as the preceding ones
and we were beginning to make prep.
aratiOns for our return TO Fort Zarrah
when, on the evening of the 9Th of
December, we were somewhat alarmed
at the non arrival of our hunters. The
sun had set behind bank of dark
threatening clouds, which swept east
with fearful rapidity, and soon the
storm was upon Us with all its strength
and fury. Those who have never wit
messed a cyclone on the plains or in
Western Kansas know but very little
Of the force of the elements. Rain
storms ont there are always accompa
MED by high winds, which often ter
inmate In hurri cane. andso frequent