The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-04-26
Warrior Cop
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from Laramie, on the long march OF
the Platte and over across the sage
covered deserts, a strong force Of foot
and dragons; and up from the Sweet
water, far to the southwest, came this
venturesome little party Of ten,
bringing the much-demanded money
and all the while, with his far-riding.
tar-seeing scouts in every direction
I Machpealota. perched IN the noun
tains back of the building post. warily
watched the dispositions and daily
work. and laid his plans accordingly.
Not a warrior was permitted to show
himself near the stockade, but in a
sleepless Gordon. five miles out, they
surrounded the Gap, Not a messenger
had managed to elude their vigilance
By day, not one had succeeded in slip
ping into the little camp by night.
Yet with every succeeding morn the
choppers and fatigue parties pushed
farther out from the stockade, IN grow
ing sense Of security, and the Indians
let them come.
Full week before the Laramie col
umn could possibly reach the noun
tains, however, Red Cloud was warned
OF their coming, their numbers, and
composition-so many horse soldiers,
so many ''heap walks" Upmolested.
the squadron from Fort C. r. Smith.
the Big Horn River post, was permit
ted to retrace its steps. In fancied
safety, born of confidence in that won
derful new breechloader. the little
command at the Gap was lulled to in
difference to their surroundings. Then
sending large numbers of his young
men to round up buffalo toward the
Platte, but keeping still his stern and
vengeful eye upon the prey almost at
his feet, the red chief made his final
and fatal plans.
There came cloudless morning
when the cavalry troop escorted a.
young officer up the rocky heights to
the west, finding everywhere indica-
tions Of recent Indian occupancy, but
not redsldn barred their way. With
out opposition of any kind, without so
much as a glimpse of the foe, were they
permitted to climb to Signal Rock, and
from that point, with powerful glasses,
the officers swept the glorious range Of
foothills, the deepvalley of the Tongue,
the banks Of the Piney and the Crazy
Woman, the far-spreading upland
prairie rolling away like some heav-
ing ocean suddenly turned to earth,
east and southeast to the dim horizon,
and there they saw, or thought they
saw, fun explanation Of their recent
freedom from alarm Of any kind.
There to the south, full thirty miles
away, the land was OVERLAND by dull,
heavy, dun-colored cloud, and trav-
ersed by black strealss or blotches that
were recognized at once as running
buffalo. Red Cloud and his braves
then were drawn away in search of
other game, and, light Of heart and
foot, the troopers trotted back to the
waiting stockade, to meet there late
that evening, as the weird tattoo of the
drums and lfes was echoing back from
the rocky heights, the first messenger
through In nearly fifteen days-a half
breed Sioux from distant post along
the Platte, bearing written message
from Recommending officer at Frayne,
which the veteran commandant read
with Infinite comfort:
Seven companies Of infantry and
three more troops Of cavalry are on
the way and should reach you by SAT-
urday week. The general seems thor
oughly alive to the situation, and we,
too, are hoping for orders to move out
and help You give that Internal old
scoundrel the thrashing he deserves.
All has been quiet hereabouts since
that one party made its dash on Hal
Folsom's ranch. OF course you know
tho story or y4,zette, and of course Red
Cloud rust have known that Burning
Star was head devil In that enterprise,
though Chaska was the victim. 1
take much comfort in the fact that 1t
was who sent young Dean and his
troop round by way OF the Laramie.
Folsom and his people would have
been murdered to a man II | hadn't,
and yet hear that absurd old ass at
Emory put Dean in arrest for not
coming directly home. Pecksniff
should have been retired ten years
ago-for imbecility.
s'yVe had tremendous storm In
the mountains to the south two days
age and courier has just galloped
out from Emory, inquiring for news
Of Dean. 1t seems he was sent with
big sum Of currency for your quarter
master, and ordered to slip through
by way of Sweetwater, as Red Cloud
was known to be covering the direct
road. Somehow II leaked out before
he started, and gang Of desperadoes
gathered to jump him at Canyon
Springs, The storm jumped them. for
two of their dead and dozen horses
were rolled out on the fats. Dean
must have got through all right, for
Bat saw their trail fifteen miles above
us. OF course, he'll have to make
night marches; but, unless Red Cloud
gets wind Of his coming and corrals
him, he should reach you almost as
soon as this. Michel, the bearer, has
your dispatches and orders Retained
copies are here. Good luck, old man,
and nav we meet within the fort
night and wind up Red Cloud once and
for all Time"
This was all, but more than enough.
Riding night and Gay in wide detour,
Michel had made his way to the late
" beleaguered spot, and what be
brought was Joyous news, indeed.
Within the corasng week the post
would have no more to fear. Within
day OF two the contractors, then,
x.o.,1A hava their money and that