The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-01-04
- How ] Found the Indians =.
By CANA; M ANco.
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~ XIX

them. 1 could still see them; but they
evidently had not seen me yet.
I turned now, and going back at a
gallop, passed the butte, then kept on
down in the ravine to where it entered
the small timber that fringes the bank
of the creek, then got into the timber
and kept on to camp; but before I had
got there had to.1ide out into the
open again in order TO cross a ravine
that could not cross at the creek.
Going into camp I found every one
at supper, OF dinner rather-we only
ate twice DAY when on the march
this way. I told the Captain had his
Indians out here waiting for him.
Are you sure now that they are
Indians, and not buffalo:" he asked.
You remember that stampede we had
after the buffalo last fall?'
Yes, Sir; but did not send you
after the buffalo. I know an Indian
when see one" This was a slap at
the Sergeant, who had sent. him after
the buffalo.
The Indians were not in sight from
here, but picking up his field glass he
and went up on higher ground and 1
pointed the Indians out to kim. He
just leveled his glass at them, then
called out, Saddle up, aud pack up.
Do it in 4 hurry, now.
The saddles were on in hurry, the
men having to leave the rest Of their
dinner here Oh the grass. Then leav-
ing the pack train to follow Up, we
started.
I told the Captain that the column
could aot take the route had taken,
the ground was too much broken, so he
bore of to. the left through a lot of
chaparral on our side of the creek, go
ing through at as fast gallop as the
bushes would let us. Then after going
a mile we turned to the right, and after
crossing the creek, he put us on front
into line and We went to the ridge at .
fast gallop; but the Indians had left.
It was nearly dark, but few Of us
secuted to the front but could see moth
ing of the Indians. Then going back
to the nearest point on the creek, we
went into camp again for the night. the
Major saying that lie would hunt up
those fellows tomorrow; he knew now
where to look for them.
The men were in bad humor. They
had lost half their supper. I had lost
all of mine or thought I had; but the
Major sent orders down to the cook to
get me mine right away; and while
was eating it the men kept up their
growling-they knew what was going
to happen when they saw me leave
camp to-day. I never was sent any
where but 1 found Indians, or their
trail, or some other blanked thing.
Why did not fire a shot at the IL
dams when 1 saw them. then let them
90 to Hades and not get the troop out
after them? We have not lost any
Indians; We lost our supper, all right,
though.
I let them keep at this for while,
then said, That will Go now. Adjourn
this debate and hunt your saddles for
the night. don't want to have to hunt
i rope and q tree 70" any of you. l
found those Indians because / was
sent to find them. and had not found
them when I did they would have
found YOU tonight, and you would
have lost part of your horses, if you
have not lost any Indians This
settled it; could run one of those men
up to the nearest tree, tie him up to
it by the wrists, then report it to the
Major when I had 90 ready to do it.
l was Senior Corporal then, but did far
less of this tying-up than any non-com.
we had did, and these men would obey
ne far quicker than they would some
of the others who We're continually ty-
ing them up for anything or nothing.
Next morning, while we remained in
camp here, the Major sent q sergeant
and detail over to examine the place
where the Indians had been. They
came back in an hour and reported
that there must have been at least
thirty Indians there. judging from the
trail they had made when leaving, and
the men brought back an old broken
rawhide lariat and worn-out pistol
holster. These the Indians had thrown
away: but the sergeant had new
butcher knife and its sheath that had
been lost by some of them. The troop
going over now started to follow the
trail, but after 4 few miles it ran out,
the Indians having split up. They
were going in every direction now ex-
cept toward us. This was done to pre-
vent us following them; We might
have followed any single pom. track.
of course, but it would not lead US
anywhere.
We secuted through that country for