The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-01-11
he branches had to be broken off. We

| the branches had to be broken off. We
had no axe; we never carried one on
pack mule then. and there is hardly
anything that can be carried on him
that is needed oftener. When l had
anything to do with the pack trains
il after years ] always carried at least
one axe in leather sling and spade.
While riding through the rain today
We we're continually passing small
lunches OF cattle. They belonged to
ranches away east Of us and had wan
dered out here.
Nearly every cow had different
brand, some had none at all. They
were still tame and would let man
ride close enough to examine them,
but further west could be found thou
sands of them that we could not get
within mile Of; they had been born
wild Crawford would examine every
bunch we passed; he wanted to see it
any Of them had his brand on, he said.
This was what had brought him and
us here; he had seen no Indians, but
wanted a cavalry escort so that he
could come out here and look up his
and his neighbors' COWS.
| These men would not think Of COM
ing out here alone. If they did they
would have no trouble in seeing all the
Indians they wanted.
| l noticed the Major watching Craw-
ford while he was engaged in taking
the census Of these cows, and l knew
| that if Crawford did not find Indians
! in a day or two he would hear from
the Major. The Major had risen from
the ranks and could swear not only
like the proverbial trooper, but like
half a dozen of them. He dare not
curse an enlisted man, and never did;
he would stand a chance of being
| court-martialed if he had, CT else have
to give the man he had cursed an
apology in front of his troop. 1t was
given to me by another officer in the
presence of the Colonel once, after
har reported this officer for cursing
me. But the Major could curse a
teamster or citizen guide, and he often
did, and 1 expected Crawford to get
the full benefit Of the Majors expe-
rience in the line Of cursing before he
was a. week older When in camp
| Crawford kept down among us. He
would not go near the Major unless
| he was called, and we kept him busy
blowing about the Indians that he had
killed. I had found out from him that
he had been in the Confederate Army
of Northern Virginia, Lees army, and
I had been in the Army of the Poto-
mac at the same time, 50 got him
started telling about the time that
I'VE uns had fit you uns," and we put
| in some hours fighting the War OF the
Rebellion over again.
The weather had cleared up this
| afternoon and gave the ground
| chance to dry. I had been thinking
| that would have to sleep tonight
seated on my saddle with my back to
| a tree; 1 often had to sleep that way.
We carried no bed blanket; we were
not allowed to put one on the horse;
| would not put it on anyhow; l never
| carried anything on him l could do
without; did not want to make a
| pack mule out of him, then ride him.
It had been good weather when we
left the post and no one had an over
coat along with him. I had a rubber
! ccat, though few were worn then.
Soon after dark tonight we were
gathered around the fire and Crawford
was giving us an extended account OF
the Indians he had killed ''before the
war'-he had not got to the ones he
had killed after the breakup yet.
When he was about in the middle OF
this interesting narrative the sentry
on post outside of the horses fired a
shot. We picked UP our carbines and
rsn out to form line out beyond the
herd. Crawford had followed me with
his rifle and l thought he had fallen
in line until heard noise behind me
as l stood in line in my place on the
left. Looking around I saw Crawford
| down on his knees here among the
horses, with his hands pressed to-
gether; he was busy praying.
1 wanted to tell him to postpone
that prayer and fall in here and shoot
a few more Indians but I was not in
command. There was sergeant here
who ranked me, and had begun to
give orders he would soon let me know
that he was here. The Major had not
got out here yet. He had been outside
of camp somewhere when the shot
was fired, and came running out now
and almost fell over Crawford. What
he said to Crawford need not be re-
peated here. His remarks would have
to be principally in dashes If they
were recorded. None Of them could be
mistaken for prayer, though.
We satisfied ourselves that there
we're no Indians out here now, nor
had there been any here lately. The
sentry had fired at bunch OF COWS
without challenging, as he had been
told to do; it was dark, and he could
| not see them. We went back to the