The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-09-08

As the rebels from the other side OF the
Arkansas, comma nded by Gems. Cooper and
Stand Waite, had been threatening our
communications with Fort Scott-having
lately made a raid into the road and cap
tured our mail from the Norti-it was
found advisable TO reinforce the escorts
sent from Scott with the large supply
trains To us: and for that purpose Col.
Phillips usually sent about 800 Indians mp
the road to meet the trains whenever he
was notified of one starting from Fort
Scott. of which he was kept informed by
messengers. The distance from Fort
Scott TO Fort Gibson was called 16O miles
by the old military road.
On one of these trips in the latter part
OF June. G'. detachment of the Sd Indian
regiment. under command of Maj. John
Foreman, had been sent up the road to
meet train and strengthen it's escort. The
rebels had sent a force up the road also.
just behind Foremans, to lay in wait at
Cabin Creek. 100 miles from Gibson, for
the train. and take it in.
As the big outfit was nearing the enemys
position, on June 30, small reconnoiter-
ing party of rebels had been sent out be-
yond Cabin Greek as far as Timbered Hill.
about 10 miles. TO ascertain the force OF
the trains escort. the number of wagons.
order of travel, time they were making.
etc. When the rebel party reached the top
of wagons. quite near. crawling along
through the open prairie on the other side.
Fearing that they had been seen by some
of our men. the rebels then rode back down
the road towards Cabin Creek till clear of
the hills and out of sight of the train men.
and then turning off the road took Il circui-
tous route through the prairie grass around
to the rear of the Timbered Hill: then
dismounted. and leaving their horses in
charge of one man: they crept up to the -op
of the hill overlooking the road. and there.
secreted in the timber. they had an ex
cellent and near view of the train and es-
cort as it moyed along the road past, and
just below them.
The spies thought themselves so securely
hidden. and being anxious to get all the
Information they could. concluded to re-
main and watch the train until the entire
outfit had passed: and they then intended
to cut across TO the timber of Cabin Greek
only little way west of them-cross the
creek. and. with their valuable informa-
ton, hurry down the creek to their own
command which was living in wait in the
timber at the further side of the crossing of
Cabin Creek where they intended to make
the attack.
This party of rebel spies. though COM
posed of half-breed CherokeeS. did not dis
play the usual shrewdness of the Indian
in concealing their own trail, else they
would have kept clear of the road which
our men We're To travel. ] never heard
any explanation or excuse for their utter
want of caution. They probably knew bet
ter next time. 1t was repetition of the
old. old story-they saw their blunder
when too late.
Maj. Foreman. with. his Indians. was
acting as advance guard to the train and
when they came over the hill and saw the
tracks of the rebels horses. they took I'D
the trail and kept close watch of the
tracks. which they knew We're made by
rebels, because. on account of the scarcity
OF horseshoe nails i'm the Confectionery.
they only used three nails on side i'm
shoeing. where our horses were always
shod with four nails on each side of the
shoe.
0ETSPYING THE SPIES.
When Foreman's advance guard had
reached the point where the rebel party
had turned out OF the road, they were out
OF the range of observation of the spies.
where they were secreted ON top of the
Timbered Hill. watching the train; and
therefore the rebels did not see that Fore
man halted for a few minutes, detailed a
party 10 drop ont of the column and cOa-
Time following that trail-which was very
plain az il turned off the road onto the
dewy grassland then the advance moved
on as before.
This party traled the rebels around
to the foot of the hill. just i'm rear Of their
their horses. The man i'm charge Of the
horses. on seeing our Indians approaching
fred shot 10 warn his comrades of their
danger. and abandoning the horses he was
holding. made n run for the Cabin Greek
timber, and succeeded in making his es-
cape. The spies. on the hill, hearing the
alarm. ran toward their horses. but found
themselves cut off by our men, and had
TO surrender as prisoners.
Maj. Lipe the was a private soldier in
the rebel seryice-Major being his Chris
tan name not his tite), was one of these
prisoners taken. Gle and his wife were
afterward neXt-door neighbors and init
mate friends of my wife and me at Fort
Gibson) Mage. as we called him. told
me about this affair afterward.
Lieut.. Parsons, of the Sd Indian. who
was in command Of our Indian party who
traiied and captured the rebels. also gave
me al account of it, and mentioned the
fact that il was with great difficulty that
he prevented his men from killing Mage
1-ipe and the other rebel prisoners, after
they had surrendered. although the
therokees of the two parties We're mostly
old acqualntances 1t seems impossible
for one of these Indians to forgive even
one OF his own people when once they are
arrayed on opposite sides in war.
Mage Lipe was shortly afterward re-
leased, but preferred 10 unite with the
Union army rather than go back to the
rebels. and therefore took the oath of allie
glance to Uncle Sam. Fearing the vindic-
tiveness of the Indians being a half-breed
himself, and knowing well their unforgiv-
ing disposition, he prudently declined TO
trust himself among his own tribesmen,
and instead Of enisting in one of the In
dion regiments he took service in the 14tb
Kans. Cav, where he served till the end
of the war.
After the capture of the party of rebel
scouts by Maj. Foreman's men, as above
stated. the train, on the morning of July
j, 't3. moved on to Cabin Creek where
our men encountered the rebels i'm the tim
her ar the crossing and after sharp lit
tie fight, in which the rebels were whipped
and driven off the train then proceeded
on its way to Fort Gibson, which they
reached without further trouble This
was called the first battle of Cabin
Creek TO distinguish it from another en-
gagement C64) M same place.
The month of July 'G3. was probably
one of the liveliest months of the war
We didn't fool away much time or am
munitiOn shooting off firecrackers or blank
cartridges. or listening to spread -ea gle
speeches those 4th of July days during
the war. that ] remember: though more
patriotic men never lived than our boys
in blue of that DeriOd (.unS thar wore