The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-28
KANSAS NEWS.
Fort Scott Man Explains His
Pension Increase.
John A. Reed Saved Government
About 100000.
IN AN INDIAN RAID.
IN AN INDIAN RAID.
Ran Gauntlet Under Fire From
Savage Red Men.
Happening in the Short Grass
Land Years Ago.

Fort Scott, Jan. 28-The Monitor
says:
Fort Scott, Kan, Jan. %, 'O4.
Editor of Fort Scott Monitor.
Sir:-As I have been asked a number
Of times since my pension bill was al
lowed why I was allowed $50 a month
while other men in my condition were
only drawing $24 to $780, in answer to
which I submit to you the following:
On January IT, 1864, I was stationed
with my company at Fort Larned, Kan.
then known as the plains of western
Kansas. AS that country was infested
with Indians, we were sent there to
do post and escort duty. At the time
mentioned there were at the fort COM
pany H, Twelfth Kansas infantry, the
First Colorado battery, the left sec
ton of the Ninth Wisconsin battery
and a part of the First Colorado cav
airy. There were several thousand In
dams camped at different places within
a few miles of the fort. They had been
in a threatening attitude for several
months. On the 18th of July, 1854,
at about noon, there were between p
600 and 5000 around the fort. Without
q moments notice they began firing at
us. At the same time they stampeded
all of the horses belonging at the tort
except those belonging to the Ninth
Wisconsin battery. Their horses ran to
the corral when the stampede began.
After a sharp fight the Indians were
driven back. Fort Iarned was the end
Of the Leavenworth stage route; also
the Kansas City stage line had sta
ton there. That line ran on through
to the Pacific coast. The stage from
LeavenWorth was due on the 18th at
8 a. m, and Paymaster Major Hunt Of
the regular army was expected on that
stage with money to pay all the troops
in the west, which would take about
800, 900.
Fort Zarah, on Walnut creek, east
from Larned, was IS miles. A camp Of
perhaps 1000 Indians was within a half
mile of the road, 25 miles from Larned.
Another large camp of Indians was
about five miles below Larned, on
Pawnee creek, on which the fort was
located. The road running east passed
within about two miles of this camp,
between the fort and that camp was a
high point then called Lookout, and
since the country has become settled
known as POtter's Point. On that was
an Indian spy and the Indians could
be seen in nearly every direction from
the fort.
Captain J. W. Parmeter, now of Ola
the Kan, was in command. He called
for volunteer to go to Fort Zarah to
save the paymaster and the mail from
falling into the hands of the Indians
that night. No one seemed to be willing
to make the run. was working IN
post bakery at the time. Our orderly
sergeant, Anthony Wiley, now of Spring
Hill, Kan, said to Captain Parmeter
that if there was a man in the fort that
would take the chance it was John
Reed, so the captain sent for me, told
me what he wanted. I told him I had
never seen a place too dangerous for me
to try to go. We all knew that I must
pass the large Indian camp before they
got word Of the outbreak or 1 would
never get by. I told Lieutenant Croker
that if he could have a certain horse
ready in fifteen minutes I would try it.
At p. m, with the mercury at 104, I
started. AS soon as I left the fort the
spy on Lookout point started for their
camp. I reached the top OF the ridge,
extending north from the high point.
There in plain view were at least 100
Indian warriors, running to the road to
cut me off. I saw that by keeping up a
good speed I could get past ahead of
them, so in I went Then the race and
firing began in earnest and for fifteen
miles, to Pawnee Rock, with the bullets
knocking up the dust and sand all
around me- 1t was simply a test OF
horsef1esh
At Pawnee Rock they gave up the
race. Turning on my horse waved my
hat and hallooed as loud as I could.