The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-05-03

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tell the major to withdraw his line and
fall back on NE stockade," was the
order-and with lump in his throat
the young officer mounted again and
started. He was a pet in the garrison,
only in his second year Of commission.
They saw him gallop through the gate,
saw him ride gaijantly straight for the
curtaining ridge beyond which the
smoke was rising heavily now, saw
him breasting the slope, his orderly
! following. saw him almost reach 1T,
aad then suddenly the prairie seemed
Il, let fire. The foremost horse reared,
/ pf1nged and went rolling over and
over. They saw-plainly saw through
/ their glasses, and a shrek Of agony
and horror went up from among the
women at the sight-hah dozen paint-
/ ed savages spring out from behind the
ledge, some on pony back, some afoot,
and bear down on the stricken fern Of
the slender young rider now feebly
striving to rise from the turti saw the
empty hand outstretched, imploring
mercy; saw iabbing lanees and bran
dished war clubs pinning the helpless
boy to earth and beating in the barred,
defenseless head; saw the orderly
dragged from under his struggling
horse and butehered by his leaders
side; saw the bloody knives at work
tearing away the hot red sealps, then
ripping CT the blood-soaled clothing,
and, to the music Of savage shouts OF
glee and triumph, hacking, hewing,
mutilating the poor remains, reckless
Of the bullets that came buzzing along
the turf from the score of Springfields
turned loose at the instant among the
loopholes Of the stockade. 1t was 500
yards away in the dazzling light Of the
rising sun. Old springfelds did not
carry as do the modern arms. Soldiers
OF those days were not taught accurate
shooting as they are now. II was too
far for anything but chance, and all
within minute or two the direful
tragedy was over, and the red warriors
had darted back behind the ridge from
which they came.
''My Godl sir, gasped the officer
who stood at the side of the awe
stricken post commander, II believe
it,s Red Clouds entire band, and
they've got our poor boys surrounded
Can't we send help?"
Send helpl Merciful heaven, man,
who's to help us? Who's to protect
these poor women and children If we
20? | have but two companies left.
4 It's what those fiends are hoping
have been planning that I'll send out
| my last man to the aid Of those al
ready gone, and then they'll dart In
on the fort and what will become Of
these2'
Great drops of sweat were pouring
\ down the colonies face as he turned
and pointed TO the huts where now,
clinging to one another in terror,
many poor wives and children were
1 gathered, and the air was filled with
the sobbing Of the little ones. Up
from the stoclade came two young
officers, their faces set and rigid.
their eyes blazing. Sin Gods name,
colonel cried the foremost, 'let me
take my men and clear that ridge SO
that our people can get back. One
charge will do it, sir"
But solemnly the commander up
4 lifted his hand. Listen, said he, the
battle Is receding They are driving
our poor fellows southwark, away from
u.s. They are massed between them
and us. It would only be playing into
their hands, my boy. It's too late to
help. Our duty now is here
But good God, sirl I can't stay
without raising hand to help.
beg--I implorel"
go back to your post at once, sir.
4 You may be needed any minute. Look
there! Nowi"
| And as he spoke the colonel pointed
to the southeast Over the scene be-
yond the divide to the south hung the
bank Of pale-blue smoke. Out on the
slope lay the CHASTITY remains Of the
young adjutant and his faithful com
rade, who, not ten minutes before, had
\ galloped forth III obedience TO their
orders and met their soldier fate. Out
to the southeast the ridge fell grad
ually away into the general level Of the
rolling prairie, and there, full thou
sand yards distant, there suddenly
darted into view three horsemen,
troopers evidently squirting madly
for home.
They've cut their way through!
THANK Godr almost screamed the
spectators at the parapet. But their
exultation died an instant later. Over
the ridge in swift pursuit camea dozen
painted feathered braves, their pc
MES racing at lightning speed, their
arrows and bullets whizzing along
the line Of fight. The horse Of the
foremost trooper WAS staggering, and
suddenly went plunging headlong,
sending his rider pprawling far cut
on the turf. He was up in second
dire peril nerving him to desperate
effort. His comrades veered at his
cry for help and glanced back over
their shoulders. One, unnerved az
sight Of the dashing foemen IL pur-
suit, clapped spurs again, and bending
low, rode madly On. The other, gal
liant fellow refined about In wide,
sweeping circle, and turned back to
meet his running comrade. They saw
him bend to lend helping hand, saw
him bend still lower as three Of the
Indians leaped from their ponies, and,
kneeling, loosed their rifles oil at
once; saw him topple out Of saddle,
and his stricken horse with tapping
Erein, trot aimlessly about moment,
before he, too, went houndering in
his tracks; saw the other soldier turn
to face his fate by his dying comrades
side. fighting to the last. overwhelmed
and borne down by the rush Of red
warriors. Strong men turned aside
An agony, unable to look on and see