Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1898-09-03

That there might be no cavil about II. .
a trooper hung himself IN the barracks
that night Thus five more men were
wiped of the rolls within a week. and
the troop reduced 20 thirtytwo. The
Indians had no sooner wreaked their
vengeance on the unfortunate four
than they disappeared and none were
seen again for long weeks. II was as
If they had come 20 assist at the hnal
determination OF the troop. When
the news reached the east a captain
who had been assigned 20 b and was
about 90 leave Chicago. began pulling
wires. and in about three days his
orders we're revoked and he was sent
elsewhere The officials az the War
Department seemed 70 recognize the
h0odoo.
The colonel az Fort Brown had re-
ceived the young officer half IN well
come. half in pity. he knew the his
tory Of b troop. and he realized that
any connection with 1t must cast a
shadow on the career OF an officer.
Had lie been in comman of the de-
partmeut he would have recommended
that the troop be consolidated and ITS
name lost on the rolls. The loss OF
the Eve men gave the colonel anxious
thought. No one could be held Go
blame II was simply one OF the IA
tahties which hal SO persistentiy pur
r sued the troCp ?. One day he got news
which Determined him on a certain
( step. and he sent for the young lieu
tenant aad said:
, a scout is IN with the information
s that a band Of hostiles Is headed TO
, Browns Valley That Is where III
s pioneers who came along stwo week
ago were going 20 settle. fear the.
Z will be unprepared for az attack an
I will all be wiped out.
n And you viii send Z troop out I
head the Indians OFF, eagerly e.
a claimed the lieutenant
IS IF You could reach Panther Gay
e thirty miles away. before the hostile
L get ahead of you--"
p Il would push on after them an
n hope 70 save the settlers ! can
Y ready in thirty minutes.
> The colonel was man OF fort.
II fve-the lieutenant not yet tweut.
.e three The older officer looked out
" the open window upon the sane
v desert shimmering IN the hot sun az
III thought OF the long ride-the fg
III which must surely take place Th'
Do he looked at the boy and wonder
2. how he would carry himself IN b
b. first ba,tle-whether his men Won
"a stand by him-if IL would be the Ia
IN OF troop or the turn OF IS luck.
was both a soldier and a man. A.
ell soldier lie desired 10 give a soldier
ht chance; as man he feared 70 Sc
ne out a boy like that where It need
70 an experienced head.
lis You know the hoodoo, " whisper
ast the lieutenant The troop Is SLOW
he bus surely being wiped OF the face
10 the earth. The men are objects
pity and sympathy, and have aim
Of become children. Let me go. Y
either win a victory or It will be
last Of the troop"
rou The spirit Of the old soldier =
The stirred. He had given many yo'
old soldier opportunity 10 distinguish IA
led self. and but for the hoodoo he wo
eel not have hesitated IN this case. !
,wn spirited men-an officer who
de- never seen 4 hostile redskin-a
Vet ADO " uACu AAltNt " A4hCNA az q NNt-- 20
oeo- heels like u ghost-it would simpi.
The sending out more scaips for the
ling party He shook his head aud
ned cidsd that the scout must ride
ton aud fast, but ride alone, and warn
rom pioneers of their danger.
Is of Il beg Of you've al beg OF y
ice pleaded tie lieutenant. with tear
,im. his eyes. Cavalry Is needed 10
saw those Indians of. II the settlers
Z OF wiped out it will be said that
le TO thought Us towards and were afra
as il order rs out.
ned. There will be thirty-two Of
hap and a hundred Of the Indians,
seek the colonel.
ates. But We will turn them back,
hree we will fight them"
been "And if they are too many for y
were II know the history of the Il
when sir" said the boy in trembling 4
were 'It has lost almost seventy me
were desertion. suicide and skirmish
lied. has not lost man IN real
,cape They shall say OF IL In the next
gain. days that it has won night OF