Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-10-03
THE LAST OF B TROOP.

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orders were 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 i'll pity, lie knew tho his
tory of b troop, and he realized that
any connection with it must cast n
shadow on the career of an officer.
Had ne been in command of the de-
partnent he would have recommended
that the troop be consolidated and its
name lost on the rolls. The loss of
the live men gave the colonel anxious
thought. No one could be held to
blame. Tt 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
"a 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. fear they
will be unprepared for an attack and
will all be wiped out"
"And you will send B troop out to
head the Indians off" eagerly ex-
claimed the lieutenant.
'If you could reach Panther Gap.
thirty miles away, before the hostiles
get ahead of you--"
81 would push on after them and
hope to save the settlers. 1 can be
ready in thirty minutes"
The colonel was O man of forty
five-the lieutenant not yet twenty
three. The older officer looked out Of
the open window upon the sandy
desert shimmering in the hot 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-whether his men would
stand by him-if it would be the last
OF u troop or the turn of its luck. He
was both soldier and man. AS a
soldier he desired to give q soldier a
chance; as man he feared to send
out boy like that where it needed
an experienced head.
You know the 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 60. L 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
sell, and but for the hoodoo he would
not have hesitGted in this case. Dis
spirited men-.an officer who had
never seen a hostile redskin-a hoo
doc which had walked at q company's
heels like ghost-it would simply be
sending out moro scalps for the war
party. He shook his head and de-
clded that tho scout must ride hard
and fast, but ride alone, and warn the
pioneers of their danger.
81 beg CT you've all beg of youl"
pleaded the lieutenant, with tears in
his eyes. Cavalry is needed to head
those Indians Off 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 hundred Of the Indians" said
the colonel.
But we will turn them back, Sir
we will fight them!"
"And if they are too many for Won q"
u know the history of the troop,
sir, said the boy in trembling tones.
1t has lost almost seventy men by
desertion, suicide and skirmish. 1t
has not lost a man in real fight.
They shall say of it in the next three
days that it has won a fight or been
wiped out. I would rather be lying
dead there on the sands than to con
tlnue to serve in troop which has
not single victory on its banners!"
You may so, said the colonel. eff
1T IS mistake, then God help me!
Turn those Indians back and I will
recommend you for promotion; if they
are too many for you"
linen you VIII know 1t by the buZ-
yards lowering over the battlefeld."
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 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 ould be slower.
"There goes the last of B troopl"
whispered every soldier left behind,
as the troopers rode away, and as they
said it they instinctlvely looked up at
the flag as if expecting to see it at
half-inast.
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