Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-10-03
How He Won His
Spurs and His Wife.

lOrigi,al

Years ago, when Indian fighting was
in vogue, Il party of army people, Major
Hildreth, his wife and daughter: Cap
tain Kelley, his wife and two children:
Captain Nye and Lieutenant Chapman.
started to transfer from one post to
another.
There was no transportation availa-
BILE. except an army wagon drawn by
mules. 1mprovised seats We're put in.
besides plenty of provisions, and an
other wagon containing arms, ammuni-
ton and some quartermaster stores
that We're awaiting transportation was
also got in readiness. The
dant proposed to send Il small escort.
but the officers, who We're young,
agreed that the four of them, besides
two drivers, a cook and a wagon full
guard would have been thought of had
not an Indian outbreak been considered
imminent.
During the trip Nye was obliged to
witness the constant devotion Of Chip
a to Marcia Hildreth, which was
excruciating since Nye had long
worshiped her in secret. But when the
party had half finished the journey
something occurred that fixed the at
tention Of all on a common danger.
Coming to an eminence On II of the
foothills, a party of 200 Indians was
seen below, and from their appearance
and actions it was evident that the
1--1.@ol o-{J,,o,I- I,l aoo,-l Du,o,,
caught sight Of the wagon and raised
a warwhoop.
Major Hildreth. the ranking officer,
possibly because he saw certain death
staring his wife and daughter in the
face, collapsed. Nye cast his eye over
some show of defense, Below was n
wooded valley. Suddenly a light came
TO the soldiers eye, the light of genius
for war. He began to give orders as if
he were commanding his wv troops.
He took the wagons down into the val
ley. Of his six men he posted two on
one flank, two on the other, while with
the other two he proposed to hold the
center. Each flank vas protected by a
rocky facade. while the center, through
which RAJ a creek, was comparatively
narrow. The wagons, with their con-
tents, and the women and children
were stationed behind a rock in the
rear. Nye briefly explained his plan of
defense. Marcia Hildreth insisted on
taking a rifle at the front, but Nye told
her that she could be Of more service
as his aid-de-camp. transmitting or
ders, information and ammunition.
Nye judged that the Indians. having
seen the wagons, would consider them
part of Il train. Army trains are al
Ways furnished With a guard, as the
redskins we'll knew. AS to the
strength of this guard they were igno-
rant. His plan was to make them
think by scattering his force that it
tiously against his center. looking out
for an ambush. and received a quick
scattered fire from three rifles. Sew.
eral of the advancing party fell. Their
they drew off to make a detour to the
right, but there they received anothc
NOAiCN ~ patty o1ill W SiiN i1iS XIV
with a similar reception.
Meanwhile the hopes of the party OF
standing off their enemies for at leaS'
some time grew stronger. The excel
!ence of Nyc's plan had become appar
ent. The party had ample ammunition
and provisions. and the mountain
stream afforded water. What the.
dreaded was either a rush of all thu
Indians together or that they would
make q wide detour, get in the whites
rear and discover their weakness. A!
some counteraction for this latter dan
ger Marcia Hildreth volunteered to g
far on the right and make a maske
defense. She took her mother With hel
and Mrs. Kelley and her fourteen-yea!
old son went to the left.
Nye felt a ghost of a hope in thi
move. for he was sure that the IL
dams would try for his rear. He wa
right. y small party of bucks wen
around to the right. They We're dis
covered by Marcia Hildreth, and tw
rifle shots rang out from her position
The Indians. convinced that their enc
mics We're sufficiently strong to Pre-
tect every eall point, now sat dow
for Il regular siege.
For three days Nye held his littl
) army. consisting of a few men. W.
!, men and children. together. or. rattle
separate. and wherever a redskin trie
! his foe he felt sure that he had met
sufficiently strong force. At the Ell
of the third day the Indians, suppose,
ly impatient of the delay and KNOWN
that other "onqueSts which they COZ
sidered easier awaited them, trotte
away.
' The whites did not know how maj
: Indians were killed. OF their ow
number Chapman was mortally woun
] ed and one of the drivers killed on
!, right. These were the only casualties
The fame of Nye's exploit reache
: Washington. He was advanced rapid
e and soon given an Independent cor
e mand. in which be kept all the reput
ton he had gained. besides adding
y it materially.
t Marcia Hildreth was devoted to h,
wounded lover during the rest of tt