The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-27
Especial Dispatch to The Timss.)

WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 2G--lt is an
interesting coincidence that the first call
upon General F,itzhugh Lee, since he as
sumed command Of the Department OF the
Missouri, should be for the suppression
OF an Indian uprising on the Indian Ter
ritory border, exactly the same strip CT
country where, about forty years ago. the
General engaged in his last active battle
as an, officer in the United States army
General Lee was shot by Indians and
severely wounded during that engage
ment.
In 1855 General Lee was a Second Lieu
tenant of cavalry and under Major Van
Dorm, who. In after years, became a Gen
eral in the Confederate army, tojk Fart
in the Comanche war in Northern Texas
and the western part of the Indian Ter
ritory.
Fifty years ago campaigning III the
territory was a different affair Hen
rietta, now at a junction of two railroads.
did not exist. The nearest outpost OF
civilization was Fort Sill and Fort Gibson,
to the northeast. This territory, now in
the Department Of the Missouri. was
ttlen in the Department of Texas Under
Major Van Dorm the cavalry started out
to chastise the Comarches VINO had been
committing depredations in that territory
They rna-ctled over the present site OF
Henrietta crossed the Red River, and
pitched their tents on the south side o.
the Wichita Mountains, west OF Fort
Sill. Here they met the Indians. and in
the fight which followed killed over fifty
of them.
WOUNDED WITT AN ARROW.
II that engagement General Lee was
wounded with arrow. which passed
between the ribs on his right side and
faS n
2O0 miles on a mule litter, and gadiiE
nearly caused his death. The General
entertains a lively remembrance OF that
trip over the plains.
A mule litter was one Of the institutions
OF the old nrnly. and was used as auNltf-
airy to the ambulance. 1t possessed the
merit of being easily made and was fairy
effective To make it, two poles We're cut
about sixteen feet long. Between the
poles placed three or four feet apart,
Stats were nailed as in LADDER. iea'lhS
four feet at each end OF the poles pare
Anger holes were bored in the top of the
poles and saplings were bent In the form
of wagon bows, reaching from one poie
to the other Over this tent canvas was
thrown to afford the wounded man Shei-
ter On top of the Stats was placed L
mattress composed OF blankets AT the
end OF the poles, where the Stats were
left off, straps were attached which were
designed to be suspended across the BACK
of Il mule. The man was placed upon the
litter with his feet forward and his heao
below the canvas, directly under the head
of the rear mule
DRAGGED BY a MULE
When General Lee was being carried
from the fight in one Of these filters the
horse-fles were bad. and one OF them had
persistently bothered the surgeons horse.
Finally it lighted on the rear litter-nlhe
and the doctor struck at it with his WHIP
The mule jumped backward, while the
forward mule walked on. The result was
that the hend of the litter fell TO the
ground This scared the forward mule
and it ran away. dragging the litter seve-
raj hundred yeards across the prnirie, uE-
til the troopers could capture it. Internal
hemorrhage was induced by the fall. and
when the surgeon got to Gen Lee ne
thought his chance for recovery slim But
he got well and as sound as dollar.
It was right over this same ground thai
he made his last campaign On the soil o.
the United States. as an officer In the
United Suites army