Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-01-16
CHAPTER XIII.

And now indeed came for Marshall
Dean time in which he could see
divided duty. A camp of wood-chop
pers in one of the deep, sequestered
valleys of the mountains had been sud-
denly set upon by a host Of mounted
Indians that seemed, like the warriors
born of the dragons teeth, to spring
up from the earth, and yelling like
fends bore down upon the little guard.
Happily for the woodchoppers, but I'M
luckily for Lo, the commander was a
cool-headed veteran of the late war
who had listened time and again to
yells as frantic and had withstood
charge after charge ten times as de-
termined. Most unluckily for Lo the
Infantry company was armed with
the new Springfield breech-loader,
and when the band came eXultantly
on, having, as they supposed, drawn
the fire when full four hundred yards
away, they were COMPOUNDED by the
lively crackle and sputter of rifles
along the timber in front of them, top
ping many dashing warrior to earth
and strewing the ground with slaugh
tered ponies. That charge failed, but
they rallied in furious force. There
were only 40 soldiers; they had
500 braves, so on they came again
from three different points, and again
did Powell's sheltered blue-coats scat
ter them like autumn leaves before the
storm. Thrice and four times did they
essay to stampede the soldiers and
sweep off their own dead and wounded,
and each time they were sound1y
thrashed, thanks to cool courage and
the new breech-loaders. And Red
Cloud, cursing his medicine men, drew
off his baffed braves and the hills that
night resounded to their vengeful war
whoops and echoed back the wailing
Of the Indian women mourning over
the slain. "All well enough so far,
lads" cried Folsom, when he heard the
news. "Machpealota is unmasked. It's
war to the knife now, so for Gods sake
send all the troops you can muster to
the aid of those already up there in the
Big Horn. Next time he hits he'll have
ALI the Northern Sioux at his back,
you mark my words!''
But, who the devil is John Folsom?
said the bureau again. Arrest Red
Cloud. Bring his band in prisoners,
were the orders to the agents, and the
agents called for troops to go and do
their bidding. It's one thing, as I've
had occasion to say before, to stand
off with breech-loaders a thousand In
dians armed only with old percussion
cap muslets, squirrel rifles, bows,
clubs and lances; it's another thing
for soldiers armed even with the best
hn bob L,
Indian position and arrest an Indian
chief. There were not soldiers
enough north of the Platte to do it,
and the war department knew it if
the bureau didn't. Hence the muster
ing in force along the river, and the
mounting in hot haste of perhaps ten
more troops and companies, nowhere
near enough for the work in hand,
but all the nation had within
months march that could possibly be
spared from other work and work
more important.
And there was wrath at Emory,
dered to send all his transportation to
Frayne forthwith, and all his remain
ing troops except one of foot. Dam
nation! I've only got two companies
of FOOT" he screamed, in the shrill
trebel Of piping senility. "And they
meth to rob me of my cavalry, too!
&c troop is ordered to be held IN
readiness for special service"
The transportation, consisting of
three wagons and two ambulances.
with the somber company of infantry,
started next day, however, and Dean,
with eager expectancy, kept his men
in camp, cooked rations ready, am
munition pouches filed, arms and
equipments overhauled and in perfect
order, horses examined and reshod,
ready for the word that might come
any minute and carry him-he knew
not whittier. Folsom and the girls
had to drive back to dinner without
him. Despite the permission sent by
the colonel, he would not leave his
troop and go in town. So back they
came in the soft moonlight and spent
long, lovely summer evening with
him, while the band played melodious-
ly in the fort inclosure, and the stars
twinlkled over the peaks of the
Rockies in the southern skies. Fol
som spent the hours wiring to Omaha
and conterrinG with such officers as