The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-01-16

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TO see they were up against some new
devils invention and they broke
ranks and fed terror stricken, while
we dashed after them and killed ana
slaughtered everything within range
80 Of the rs Indians were killed out
right and ten more of them remained
behind, too desperately wounded to
escape. And that same was the first
of weary siege Of peace we had for
some time after, for the revolver had
struck new and unknown terrors into
the hearts of the savages.
But just about then there came
other fish to fry. Trade with Mexico
had sprung up and bandits began to
waylay the traders and got pretty bad
in the country so that Hayes went af-
ter them He found that the Mexicans
had 80 men to our Is, but he resolved
to whip them, nevertheless. In the
middle of the night-our horses were
left behind-we trailed toward the
stronghold Of the outlaws, trusting to
surprise to make up our dearth of mum.
bers. The MeMcans, not suspecting
danger, had retired even without set
ting a watch, and the first thing they
knew was when we were among them.
Strengthening right and left before they
could as much as draw their weapons,
for the reason that if we ever let it go
that far we would have been over
powered at the close range, where
accuracy of fire was no longer a
strong factor on our side alone. We
killed % out of 30 men that night, for
we had not the means to bother with
prisoners, and we got every horse
owned by the band.
Likely you have heard of the Next
can lancers- the chaps provided with
that graceful but useless weapon up
on which they hoped to spear us like
so many swine Many a good man the
MeXicans lost before they learned that
the lance was no fit tool with which
TO approach an American equipped
with his faYorite weapon. The enemy
never had more chance with the lance
than the Indians had with their bows
and arrows. Before they could come
near enough to make use of their toy
they were toppled off their horses like
so many ninipins before the skill of
an expert bowler.
Il accompanied Capt Hayes on mis-
raid against the notorious priest-leader
Of MeXicans-Padre Jarante-in all
the history of outlawry perhaps the
most skilful in the business of fight
ing and deyiltry. We chased after the
leader for two days, and, without
knowing it, passed him, so that when
we got to San Juan he was behind us.
But we were tired out for want of two
nights sleep, and we stripped our
horses and ate and went to sleep, new
er expecting trouble. Our body of men
was safely housed under a roof, but
we had five men out on post, as a
mere matter of precaution for we sus-
pected that laramie did NJ mean to
escape us, but intended to give fight
About sunrise we were awakened by
warning shouts and cries anI firing
of shots. We grasped our revolyers
and carbines and fastened to the win
dOWs. The five men on the outpost
had stood their ground and had gone
under-One, lying wounded on an ell
bow, was still pouring a CALLING fire
into the ranks of the enemy until the
butt of rifle was laid over his head
Three times the padre charged us, and
three times he was repulsed by our
fire, and the third time he was keeled
off his horse, dead. We had emptied
a great many saddles of MeXicans that
day, but no sooner was the fight over
than one of the spies brought word
that 600 Mexicans were on the march
toward us. The captain examined his
ammunition supply and found it run
alarmingly low, and decided the 600
were more than we could safely bite
off and chew, and we retreated.
"All of these were interesting fights.
but the most desperate, | think, came
when one of our lieutenants, Edward
Burleson, was ordered to hand one Of
our Indian prisoners over to the au-
thorities at Fort Mcintosh. l was in
the party detailed to accompany the
lieutenant and on the way back, near
ing the Nueces river we spied a couple
OF Indians. I was also one of seven
chosen by the lieutenant to capture
the Indians, while the remainder of
the detachment continued along the
road. The red fellows, however, had
set trap. Steadily the others Of our
command proceeded, leaving us TO
settle with the pair discovered, until
finally we were out of ear shot Of one
another. We dug bravely after the