The National tribune., 1901-05-09

At the battle of Bethesda Church, Her
ron was overcome with the heat and hard
marching, and was placed in an am
bulance and taken to the rear for a sho t
time. As he was returning to his Iegi
ment, Heron noticed Gen. Grant and
staff sitting on benches in front OF
Bethesda Church. ready to have Their
pictures taken. Heron was extremely
anxious to have his picture taken, and
Stepped behind Gen. Grant when the
photographer gave the signal for all to
t'look pleasant" Heron is of the opin
ion that he is the only one now living who
had his picture taken in the group.
SERVICE on THE PLAINS.
After the surrender of Gen. Lee, the
SD Pa, marched to Washington and par
ticipated in the Grand Review in June,
1860. Heron was mustered out al Har-
risburg, Pa, July 3, 1865, and re-enlisteI
in the 9TH U. s. Cav. A short time there
after the regiment was ordered to New
Mexico, but the order was countermanded
when the regiment reached Kansas.
The regiment established its headquar-
tiers at Fort Dodge, military post on the
old Santa Fe trail, where for several
years the troopers were engaged in scout
ing after Indians.
At that time Kansas was overrun with
Indians, and it was necessary to keep
scouting parties in the field continuously
As the Arapahoes, COmanches, Apacf es,
Kiowas, Cheyennes and Dog So die s.
became exceedingly bold and attac ed
every wagon train sent out from the 20 t,
the commanding officer organized from
among The soldiers a company of 80 scouts
and dispatch couriers, placing them under
command Of Lieut.. Tom Wallace.
KIowA CAMP.
Concerning his experience as a men ber
OF Walace's scouts, Comrade Heron
SAYS:
About the first real scrap l had with
the Indians after being selected as Cne of
Wallace's scouts, was when a small band
Of Indians came into the fort one day
under flag Of true. They reported that
they held some white women as captiyes
and offered to trade them for some powder
and lead.
"The commanding officer made a daal
with them, but the Indians stated that he
would have to deliver the ammunition at
their camp, about GO miles south of the
fort. Two wagons were brought up and
loaded, IL OF Wallace's scouts being de-
tailed to accompany them as an escort and
to bring back the women.
we Travelled for three days without
seing any signs Of Indians, exceut tho e
of our own party, when we came to a
high hill close TO Mulberry Greek. The e
/ saw the most beautiful sight | ever W.T.
messed. The whole kiowa tribe, sever al
thousand in number, were camped on the
creek, half mile away. The sun was
setting n the west and we were facing
the east.
Hundreds OF young bucks, On their
ponies, were drilling on the prairie, max
ing a scene which none of us ever for
got. There were about 300 lodges, or te-
pees, all painted as only an Indian C uId
decorate them. while off on the distant
hi In TAsT TFt - cfrfs
grazing. Right here let me say that l
have seen the Russian cossacks on the
Volga, and while they have the rep ton
of being the finest riders in the world
they did not begin TO compare, for fine
horsemanshiP, with the American Indian
of 30 years ago.
Gas we halted and took in this sight,
q bugle call was sounded clear and dis
tinct in the Kiowa camp, and 800 young
warriors jumped on their ponies, the
charge was sounded, and they came
dashing towards us. On they came, keep
ing as straight line as any soldiers /
ever saw.
"When about 500 yards from us, and
inst as we were reaching for our carbines,
the bugle again sounded. The Indians
filed to the right and left of US, half on
each flank, and escorted US into the center
of their camp.
eve then unloaded our wagons, and one
Ono was IT years of age, the other about
IA. They had been captured near the
Texas border, and had been with the
Ktowas for some time.
According to the story told us, the
father-a man by the name of Box, the
mother and their four children were re-
turning to their home when they were
overtaken by a band of Indians, on a
hunt. The Indians killed Mr.. Box be-
cause he refused TO surrender. and the
youngest child was taken by the heels and
its brains beaten out against tree
The mother and the three children
were taken to the main camp and there
held as hostages. When we were on the
way back to Fort Dodge, the girls told Us
that their. mother and their little sister
were captives among another tribe-the
Apaches. We felt confident that we would
soon get them, for the Indians word oop
hear Of the trade made and would bring
In the mother and child
when we got back to the fort. Gen.
Sheridan was there. He had been out on