Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-02-17

LONEAg N1a TIC ~ OAAn5 cdhk 10 tAGy
went. The colonel looked blank. and
500 men laughed, and the Indians al
most ceased their fire as they wonder
ed what was up.
Now, dudes" said the sergeant as
they reached cover, 'this is no making
love to a red headed girl ON the We
randa Of a summer hotel. We've got
to hold them Injuns of this flank If we
die trying. You've got a chance to
show what you're made of. and durn
my buttons If | don't plug the first man
who looks to the rearl'
For answer the Jims sang a verse
Of a war ballad and then dropped down
Just as the Indian bullets began to sing
about them. The sergeant cursed and
muttered, and over on the line. half a
mile away, the major said to the colo
mel as the singing reached their ears:
ibid you eyer know the like Of that7
I'm afraid this minstrel show business
will end in u being ianked."
But even as he spoke. the muskets
got to work and ratified away SO rapid
ly that there seemed q score instead
Of half a dozen, and the c~oloneIs face
lost its look of anxiety. A force Of
thirty Indians were sent down against
the half dozen, but they could not get
nearer than a certain line. There was
an open space to cross, and every red
skin who tried 1t was tumbled on his
face. When there was shooting to do,
Az Ta,.1 Hr,nl~1nG Iaw~t, 20 ~ Nrhnfr
there came a lull, one of them would
strike up a song, and the others would
join in the chorus. The sergeant sought
to hush them. saying that songs did not
belong to Upton's tactics, but they
sang the louder and sang him down.
The Ninth had got itself into q hole.
II was not strong enough to drive the
enemy from its front, and were 1t TO
attempt a retrograde movement the In
dams would be encouraged to swarm
out in full force. The officers saw the
situation before the men did, but when
the latter became aware of it there
was 4 lutter along the line. 1t might
have been more than a %iutter, and the
coloneps heart was in his mouth and
his teeth set hard when from the Jim
Dandies over on the flank came the
rousing chorus of -John Brown" 1t
stopped the 1utter. Some men laughed
and some swore, but the song led their
thoughts into another channel.
Again the Indians pressed down on
the left flank. They had discovered
that only half a dozen men opposed
them and that to win the flank vas to
win the battle, but even with five to
one, owing to the nature of the ground,
they could make no way. The Jims
were shooting to kill when they were
not laughing or singing, and the ser
geant watched them closely and NUT
tered to himself:
give been down on these dudes along
with the crowd, but blast my eyes if
/ ever saw purifier fighting. / guess
I've got to take back what I've said.
Say, now, but what's the matter over
in the center?'
The matter was that a company was
being withdrawn to reinforce the
right, but the movement caused uneasi-
ness and a slackening of the fire. Men
were beginning to look to the rear and
breathe heavily and the Indians to ut
ter whoops of emulation and make
ready for a rush when the six Jim
Dandies, who were temporarily out Of
1t, leaped up on the rocks and began to
sing a topical song. 1t was new to
most OF their comrades, and the jolly
afr caught on at once and started
cheers all along the line. Two hun
bred men joined in the chorus. and
they were singing yet as the colonel
perfected his plans and ordered a for
ward movement. There was a grand
charge and a rout. and the Ninth had
not only extricated itself, but won a
victory to be proud of.
splendid move Of yours. colonel"
said the major when the fight had been
won.
"But | couldn't have made it with
out the singing. Tell Captain Barnes
10 send his sis Jim nandias to mel
want to thank 'em personally. A dude
glee club beats artillery all to pieces at
fighting Indians"