The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-03-30
A Story Of lh1 Old army.
West Point Cadet Who Became
the Chief OF the kavaioes.
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OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
There is a story of the old army tha
has become a sort Of sacred possession
like its old songs and customs, vague
and of uncertain origin. 1t is one that
YOU will hear IL you happen into 8
group of officers now past or approach
ing the retiring age. The somnolent
effect of tobacco will turn the drift OF
day dreams in it's direction and there
is no holding it down if a bottle is In
attendance The tale concerns one
bison" Mclean.
Mclean was sent to the military
academy at West Point from southwest
Missouri. The class he joined has be-
come famous for the names Of several
of its members. The name Bison
was given him by George B. Mcclellan
because of McLean's long black hair
and immense size. The Missourian
was poor student in his classes, and
that he managed to stay at the acad-
emy for three years at all was on ac-
count of his superiority in riding and
drill work. His life in the southwest
had trained him in firearms, and no
cadet at the Point could equal his
records on the target range. He was
not popular man, for, in addition to
being dull, he had a sullen tempera-
ment and moments of ungovernable
passion. One cold, bitter winter night
he disappeared. With one exception
this was the last time any of his class
mates saw Bison" Mclean. His skates
were missing, and SO a search was
made for him in the river, His family
saw that search was made for him in
New York. The books OF the academy
recorded him missing, and he was for
gotten soon in the preparations for
the war with Mexico.
The was was fought and ended. The
tide OF emigration to the west follow
ing the opening of the new territory
and the discovery of gold in California
made new duties for the army. 1t was
necessary for emigrants to travel in
reat wagon trains for their mutual
fotection and the hussars were busy
Mdlng them their aid, or avenging
neir wrongs. Garrisons were placed
nSanta Fe and at several points in the
southwest to keep the Indians of the
trails passing through Magon Mount
gap. Gen. w. S. Harney was in CONF
mand OF these forces and had such men
hlt Carson in his employ as scouts |
major Sumner, afterward a major gen.
Taly and the father Of Col. 8. s. Sum-
neF DOW military attache in London,
way Ten. Harney's right-hand man.
1alV IN the fifties he was sent on a
scogf With three troops Of dragons
tuipaen the Datil and Tularosa
aYes. While he was mounting a rise
!ne Datils the Dragons came sud-
rsmy on a band of 500 Navajo Indians.
Tug American troops prepared to fight,
u'une indians halted and raised their
.Sus : with the open palm of peace.
nv explained that they were after
.pEnes. with whom they were then
'ssins one Of their predatory wars.
= remarkable thing happened.
.aosaef rode out from the band and
aclns them gave a sharp command.
,aa lSs braves formed in troops of about
Nv saca and marched past as If at
The amazement of Major
.uner \. seemed to please the chief, for
save another command. The In
n. mn. turned sharply, changed from
NJ n.o column and then back into
49, another sharp order and they
su IN line by the entire COM
~. "aere q thunder did you get all
.I ~! eried Major Sumner.
~. se tour times this many drilled
s the chief replied, and. drop
Mtle venom, well use them,
a.. ps, when it comes to fighting
..ees' h. We have great war chief
- taught us these things"
aiseo his hand as a signal and
ppeared. ~ '' anu
sumner made an official report S
incident. He did not forget to '
~ !. addition to the foregoing, that c
a hs,a,os he had seen were armed e
American rifles and lances of \
V A. manufacture. Jefferson Davis '
en secretary of war. He had I
loush OF the southwest in his ex- +
In the Mexican war to know q
aordinary 1t was TIA. Indians 7