The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-09-01


be the last OF the troop"
The spirit Of the old soldier was stirred
He had given many young soldier oppor-
tunity to distinguish himself and but for
the hoodoo he would not have hesitated in
this case. Dispirited men, an officer who
had never seen hostile redskin. a hoodoo
which mad walked at company's heels
like ghost--it would simply be sending
out more scalps for the war party. He
shook his head and decided that the scout
must ride hard and last, but ride alone,
and warn the pioneers of their danger
II beg OF you've all beg of you"
pleaded the lieutenant, with tears in his
eyes. Cavalry is needed to head those
Indians OH. II the settlers are wiped out,
it will be said that you thought us cow
ards and were afraid to order us out.
There Will be 80 of you and 400 of the
Indians" said the colonel
But we will turn them back, sir; we
will fight themp'
"And If they are too many for your"
II know the history Of the troop, sir,
said the boy in trembling tones ut has
lost almost 20 men by desertion, suicide
and skirmish. 1t 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. would rather be lying dead
there on the sands than to continue to
serve in q troop which has not single
victory On its bannersp'
"Ycu may co. said the colonel. eff it
is mistake, then Ged help mel Turn
those Indians back, and will recommend
you for promotion. II they are too many
for you''--
"Then you will know 1t by the buzzards
lowering over the battlefield
Halt an hourlater the 80 men OF troop
rode out Of Fort Brown and headed across
the desert to the south. They were one OF
the arms of a v. fine apex was Panther
gap. AS they moved along one arm the
Indians 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" whis-
pered every soldier left behind as the troop
ers rode away, and as they said it they in
stinctively looked up at the flag as If ex-
pecting to see it at half mast.
The troopers had received that order
without enthusiasm. They knew they
were to make hard ride and that a fight
was probable, but they were neither ex-
ultant nor respondent Like the Arabs,
they shrugged their shoulders and whis-
pered "Kismet. They were in the hands
Of fate, and fate was likely to be against
them. With scarcely farewell and with
never look over their shoulders they
rode away, two by two, and it was not un-
til long after dark that the boy officer at
the head drew reip and ordered the camp
for the night Before they slept he said to
them:
"We shall be up and away at the first
signs of daylight. Men, listen to me- We
are riding to reach Panther gap ahead Of
war party Of 100 Indians. We shall get
there first and beat them back or die fight
ing. I have promised the colonel this.
You have had one disaster after another un-
til your fellow soldiers sheer and pity and
wonder If cowardice is not at the bottom
Z of it, do not believe it is. believe ev-
cry man of. you to be game, and we will
win victory which shall place the old
troop at the front''
A cheer burst from every man, the first
cheering heard in Troop B for years. Each
man drew himself up more proudly, each
man muttered to himself that if need be
he would die in his tracks. Their mind
worked even as they slept and when day
llSIlU CttluC Oll6 OllCCI lCOhSu 1AOLh AacO w
face and wondered at the change. There
was an eagerness to make him glad, a per-
sonnet to make him proud. Breaking
camp as soon as it was light enough to see,
the troop rode at gallop until 1nidfore-
noon and reached the gap ahead of the.
hostiles Only a short hour, though. Their
horses had not yet ceased blowing when
the advance of the Indians was made out.
De-, WOO
Panther mountain, and it's southern end
debouched into Browns valley, five miles
away. The boy officer knew nothing of
war, but common sense and his veteran
sergeant suggested a breastwork across the
entrance to the gap. One was constructed
of rocks and logs and stones, and it was
hardly finished before the skirmishers OF
the war party were firing upon it.
No man will ever read what is called
cunningham Defense without his
pulse quickening One hundred and TWEEN
ty three Indians pressed forward against
force of 80 troopers, commanded by a boy
Three different times, once on horseback,
the Indians charged right up to thu breast
work, but each time were driven back
with slaughter. The defenders did not
escape death, however. When the last
OilcA 90 Wdc pCfUOu OesOAj S&o~Ae
were stretched out on the rock soil, and
there were but "a to fall back for mile
and build another breastwork. This move
was necessitated by the Indians working
up the sides of the mountain and securing
flank fire. The second breastwork was
evacuated next morning for the same rea-
son, and mile in the rear of it another
was built. When this had to be sban-
doned, only ten men were left alive.
When fanked out Of their fourth de-
Tense, there were only five men. One OF
these was sent to the valley for help, but
was headed off by the Indians. OF the
other four, of whom the boy officer was
one, they died at the fifth breastwork-
died with carbines in their hands after
firing their last cartridges, and died with
cheers of defiance on their lips. or the
war party SO were killed or wounded, and
it was turned back. One day trooper
was seen coming on foot across the sands.
He lurched and staggered as he walked.
Soldiers ran to meet him and assist him
into the fort. He had been without food
or water for two days. The colonel looked
at him for long time without speaking.