The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1898-10-01
THE LAST OF B TROOP.

orders we're revoked and he was sent
elsewhere. The officials at the War
Department seemed to recognize the
hoodoo.
The colonel at 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 it must cast o
shadow on the career of an officer.
Had he been in command / of the de-
partment he would have recommended
that the troop be consolidated and it's
name lost on the rolls. The loss of
the five men gave the colonel anxious
thought. No one could be held to
blame. It was simply one Of the fa-
talities which had so persistently pur-
sued the troop. One day he got news
which determined him on a certain
step, and he sent for the young lieu
tenant and said:
ga scout is in with the information
that band of hostiles is headed for
Browns Valley. That is where the
pioneers who came along two weeks
', ago were going to settle. Ifesr they
will be unprepared for an attack and
will oil be wiped OUT
s'And you will send B troop out to
head the Indians OFF, eagerly ex-
claimed the lieutenant.
eff you could reach Panther Gap,
thirty miles away, before the hostiles
get ahead of you--'
Z would push on after them and
hope to save the settlers. I can be
ready in thirty minutes.'' %
The colonelswas a man of forty
fVe-the lieutenant not yet twenty
three. The older officer looked out Of
the open window upon the sandy
desert shimmering in the not sun and
thought of the long ride-the fight
which must surely take place. Then
he looked at the boy and wondered
how he would carry himself in his
first battle-whethcr his men would
stand by him-if it would be the last
of B troop or the turn Of it's luck. BE
was both a soldier and man. AS a
soldier ho desired to give q soldier a
Chance; as man he feared to send
out boy like that where it needed
an experienced head.
ssYou know tie hoodoo," whispered
the lieutenant: "The troop is slowly
but surely being wiped off the face Of
the earth. The men are objects Of
pity and sympathy, and have almost
become children. Let me go. 7 will
either win a victory or it will be the
last of the troop!"
The spirit OF the old soldier was
stirred. He had given many a young
soldier opportunity to distinguish him
self, and but for the hoodoo he would
not have hesitated in this case. Dis
spirited men-an officer who had
never seen a hostile redskin-a hoo
doc which had walked at company's
heels like a ghost-it would simply be
sending out more scalps for the war
party. He shook his head aud de-
cided that the scout must ride hard
and fast, but ride alone, and warn the
pioneers of their danger.
"I beg of you've all beg of you!"
pleaded the lieutenant, with tears in
his eyes. ''Cavalry is needed to head
those Indians of. If the settlers are
wiped out it will be said that you
thought US towards and were afraid to
order us OUT
"There will be thirty-two of you
and q hundred of the Indians" said
the colonel.
''But we will turn them back, sir
we will fight them!'
sAnd if they are too manyfor you?"
sI know the history of the troop,
sir" said the boy in trembling tones.
cit has lost almost seventy men by
desertion, suicide and skirmish. It
has not lost man in a real fight.
They shall say Of it in the next three
days that it has won fight or been
wiped out. I would rather be lying
dead there on the sands than to con-
tinue to serve in troop which has
not single victory on its bannersy" .
s'You may go, said the colonel. eff
it is mistake, then God help me!
Turn those Indians back and I will
recommend you for promotion; if they
are too many for you"
3Then you will know it by the buz
yards lowering over the battlefield"
Half an hour later the thirty-two
men of B troop rode out of Fort
Brown and headed across the desert to
the south. They were one Of the arms
of a V. The apex was Panther Gap.
As they moved along ore arm the In
dians would move along the other.
The Indians had nearly days start,
but their route was rougher and their
pace would be slower.
"There goes the last of B troop!"
whispered every soldier left behind,
as the troopers rode away, and as they
said it they instinct1vely looked up at
the flag as if expecting to see it a.
half-mast.
The troopers had received that or.
der without enthusiasm They knew
they were to make hard ride and that
.asn, :.