The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-21
PRIVATE HARRIGAN'S PET
By SERGEANT DALE.

offered, and Company B congratulated itself
on being rid of no account
There had been peace with the Indians for
year, but two weeks after sHarrigan's deser-
ton disquieting reports began to come in.
Bands of bucks were breaking away from the
reservation every day to join the renegades
in the mountains, and as they cut across the
country they murdered lone settlers and
played havoc with ranchhouses. The troops
at the fort were under arms and ready to
ride at a moments notice, but the reports
were SO conflicting that the officers were per-
picked. The hostiles seemed to be moving on
every side.
There were only B and C companies, with
eighty men to a company, to hold the Tort,
guard the stage routes and protect the settlers
for twenty miles around, and the best that
the colonel could do was little enough. It
was when the hostiles had worked clear
around to the west and were menacing fifty
pioneer families scattered up and down Plum
valley that he determined almost to strip the
fort of its garrison and make a swift dash.
This determination was fastened by a writ
ten message brought by halfbreed from one
of the pioneers, who pointed out the way to
strike the hostiles a deathblow while they
were unprepared.
One hundred and sixty men of the garrison
were ready to ride out Of the gates at sun
rise one morning when a loud caWing was
heard overhead, and all looked up to see Pri-
vate Harrigans crow crcling around. They
saw, too, that the bird had tag tied to one
of its legs, and they called to one another
to make no hostile demonstration.
AS if holding itself to blame Fer it's mas
ter's deserton, and fearing punishment, the
bird refused to permit itself to be caught
for some time, but was at last seized by an
agile soldier and the tag placed in the hands
ofxthe colonel 1t proved to be a penciled
note In the handwriting OF the deserter. Ha;-
rigan's chirography was In an exclusive pat
tern. and he spelled his words to save as
much time as possible, but his message was
deciphered at last, and the result was a sud
den change of orders. The men were dis
| mounted and stationed about the fort to repel
an attack, and every idler was pressed into
service. Reduced to fair English, Harrigan
had written:
I am with the people in Plum valley. We
are intrenched and giving the reds hell every
time they show up. We hold 'em off
without help. If you get word to the con-
trary, don't you believe it. Red Bird and
800 bucks are In ambush in the big thicket
at the crossing of Wolf creek and if you leave
the fort they will attack and murder every
BODY; l send this letter by my crow. Feed
The message brought by the halfbreed had
been ruse to leave the fort undefended.
To test the matter, the colonel sent out $50
| troopers and had them make a half circle
! and return to the fort under cover. An hour
| later Red Bird moved up with his warriors
and attacked, never doubling that he would
carry the fort with a rush. But when the
! fight ended in his wild flight he left over
eighty dead behind him. The check paral-
yzed him until troops could be pushed into
| the field to finish him.
Over In Plum valley, as 1t came to be
| known later on, the deserter hiding out in
| the thickets, had been the first to discover
| the advent of the hostiles. He had gobbled
g. horse and ridden from point to point to
| collect the settlers and had then taken com
mand and made defense to be recorded in
| history
| The scare was over when Deserter Harrigan
| reappeared. He came walking into the pos:
| one day with his crow seated on his shoulder
and, marching straight up to the colonel's
! office he saluted the gray-haired officer
| Colonel Taylor, it's Private Harrigan come
| back to be tried for desertion."
go to your quarters ordered the colone
| as he looked at him.
| But I deserted, colonel
Nonsense! You had twenty days fur.
! lough'
And the swipe gave the sergeant on thu
jaw?"-
| Never heard Of it."
| And the crow, sir?''
He has the liberty of the post and shall
| have his rations at my own quarters. Bout
| face! March,