The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-08-25

We knew we would be surrounded and
| wiped out" by superior numbers. Never
| theless, the Colonel did Teconnoiter for
some 10 miles, but learned nothing ex-
cept that that was an unhealthy locality
for Texas Rangers.
We now de> troyed all our baggage and
cooking utensils-evcrything save what
was absolutely necessary to preserve life,
| and started for Belknap. Tents, saddles,
pack saddles, everything that would burn,
was committed to the flames, while ket-
ties, plates and pans were broken, and
our axes buried in the Quicksand. AS
many of our men were now without
horses we were compelled to adapt our
selves to circumstances
BY the order of march the footmen
moved first and the cavalry close upon
| them, and in this manner we made our
| way across an immense plain, which
| seemed to be one solid city of prairie
dogs. A few of these animals were kill d
| and eaten, but cur ammunition was nearly
exhausted, and conseQuen ly no shot was
| fired unless under the most pressing cir
instances.
This section was almost entirely desti-
tute of water, and we suffered intensely
| from thirst. Indeed, the whole yIain was
one broad, barren waste, and over it at
least 100 miles of our journey lay. The
SufferlngS of the men were SO great that
on the second day after the disaster the
mutiny, the soldiers demanding to be al
lowed to scatter, and it required all the
address of the officers to prevent them
from dispensing over the plain in search
of water and food Mai Fitzhugh threw
himself down and begged that someone
would shoot him, and thus put an end to
his misery, while Capt Wood sank down
exhausted and urged us to 20 on and
leave him to his fate
How different the conduct of men when
in like trying circumstances. Mai. Fitz-
hugh gave way TO despair, while his
brother Gabriel, suffering equally, only in
creased in resolution as difficulties
thickened around us. Capt. Wood was a
large, muscular man, yet he sank down
while others of far more slender mold
marched onward with reSolute and rapid
step.
WATER AT LAST.
We had not gone far out on the plain
before we discovered that we would be I'M
able to traverse it, for lack of water and
we were once more compelled to seek the
banks of Red River Here water would
be plenty, but the route over which we
were to travel was covered for miles with
sharp, finty rocks and pieces of isinglass,
and in addition was extremely hilly and
our feet would suffer fearfuliy from the
travel on the stones and sand while our
eyes were infamed by the reflected rays
of the sun. But we had no choice. We
could not die from thirst
Before we had reached the river / was
almost famiShed for water, and coming
upon a bluff of saltrocl< at least nine feet
thick, beneath which was a sort of cavern
filled with cold brine, l plunged into it =,
clothes and all, and was enjoying bath
when Col. Johnston rode up to me and
directed me to 60 in a sOutherly direction
t IL found water, and then to fire a signal
gun; and as a companion had John
Socie, the truSty Cherokee, with a horse
and several canteenS to bring back water
to the famished men.
About seven miles from where left
the Colonel i came to a creek on the
south side of Red River, and when reach
ed it my thirst was raging to such a de-
gree that l jumped into the water, drink
ing my fill, and then rolled in the cooling
wave with as perfect an enjoyment as
pleasure can afford. After | had
taken time to collect myself discovered
that had been drinking bitter water; but
hoping that further out into the stream it
would be better, / wadcd in, but found
that there it was salt.
This was discouraging, but on remem-
bering the condition of my companions
and the necessity of relief, / started to
swim over the stream, hoping to find a
spring on the other side. AS l proceeded
| continued to taste the water, for the
double purpose of ascertaining it's quality
to my surprise and qualification, when
reached the middle of the creek l found
that it was sweet.
Instantly i returned to the shore and
commenced firing my gun as signal r
the exhausted command to make one
more effort to rally. l discharged my
piece a number OF times and at length had