Evening journal., 1904-11-23
"A Broken Tribe


In May. 1853. when Colonel Saun-
ders was sent into the Big Wichita
mountains OF Texas with 200 men and
artillery to open a military road, the
Comanche Indians were at the zenith
Of their power as tribe. Their chief
was Eagle Feather, and he boasted
that he could defeat any force sent
against him.
Five days after the soldiers set out
on their march the Comanches to the
number of 500 met them on the Chico
river and the soldiers took possession
Of a plateau and prepared for battle.
Eagle Feather, assisted by a white rene
gade soldier, planned for a grand
charge Of his lancers that should in
sure victory at once.
At a given signal his whole body Of
warriors charged. It began when his
first line had approached within half
a mile of the soldiers making ready,
and the ground was clear Of all OBJ
structlon and as level as a floor. The
Comanches knew nothing OF the pres
ence Of the artillery until it opened
FIRE. After a single round Of grape the
guns were silent and gave place to the
muskets. The charge was checked and
the slaughter something terrible. Fif-
ty-three warriors and seventy ponies
were left behind when the force drew
of and returned to the spot where the
big chief had posted himself to watch
and direct. He was screaming with
rage and chagrin when his broken
ranks retreated upon him.
When the lines were formed again
every warrior was in them, and the
chief placed himself at their head.
Such warriors as had been dismounted
advanced on foot, and some of the
wounded were tied on their horses.
Again the soldiers waited until the
yelling horde had come to close quar-
ters, and again artillery and musketry
belched forth a murderous fire. II
was a lesson no tribe Of Indians ever
forgot. In FIVE minutes every warrior
who could get away had retreated
leaving the ground heaped with dead
and dying.
Colonel Saunders watched the
movements OF the red men closely and
anxiously, and he soon discovered a
new plan Of attack.
It would be made on foot, and the
lances would be abandoned for rifles
There was a ravine about a mile to the
east Of the soldiers position, and o
| portion Of the Indians would be GER
tain to advance under cover OF that
while others would advance from the
west and south. The fieldpieces were
planted to cover points where a rusi
might be expected, and the lines were
aligned anew. Three kegs Of powder
were taken down the ravlne and de
posted among the rocks as torpedoes
and everything was ready by noon.
It was half an hour later when thu
Comanchcs divided into three com
mands and moved to the attack. Th'
renegade had taught them how 4
march on foot, and they came on al
most with the step of infantry. i
Eve minutes the fight was raging hotl.
on all sides, and as the Indians bega
TO work up the ravine their fire bega
to do considerable damage They col
centrated it on the artillery. and SauI
ders soon had Ave or six men killed q
wounded.
There was no rush on the part Q
the redskins Their plan was rathe
TO make long fight OF II. There wa
constant fighting for over three hours
both sides having more or less shelter
The white men proved to be the bes
shots, even though armed only wit
muskets. and by and by the Indian
got tired of their waiting game
1t was finally seen that Il large bod
Of them was gathering in the ravin'
and it was easy to see that the objeC
was rush. one Of the guns wa
turned upon them. and when the she
with which it was charged explode
it exploded two of the kegs Of pow
der. How many were killed an
wounded none could say, because tn
explosion hurled down the high bank
and filled the ravine for a hundre
feet.
The calamity in the ravine ended II
attack on the part Of the Indians, an
Saunders at once assumed the aggre
sive. He opened on the herd Of poni'
left Just out OF rife shot and with tv
discharges of the guns scattered
When the redskins attempted TO bunC
in any considerable number he opens
on them with shell, and such ponies /
galloped within musket range we
brought down by the soldiers.
Eagle Feather had more than enoul
before the sun went down. Once
rallied his warriors as If for a last de
perate charge, but they were so tho
Oughly whipped that they refused
charge. AS darkness fell he began b
retreat over the prairie, and he ma,
no halt until reaching his village,
hundred miles away.
None of the Indian dead was I
moved, and only few of the wounds
were taken away. Two years late
when peace came, Eagle Feather a
knowledged his losses, and he had 4
figures down close OF his ponies
lost all but a hundred. OF his warrio
he reached home with less than q
They were the flower OF his flghtil
men left behind, and had his loss talk
in only the war ponies it would ha
been n severe blow. Enough lane
and rifles were picked up to load
wagon, and they were the best wea