Evening journal., 1908-08-06
Heap Little Man.
Icopyrisht. isos. BY T. c. Mcclurs.I

Us NJ the close OF the civil war and
marched with us to the Indian country.
DE was ragged and dirty and wicked
tougher than any hummer the war pro
duced We all tried to make him bet
ter, bat failed. He was taken in hand
by General Custer, but with no better
luck.
Joe was allowed TO hang out. with as
and make the long journey to Fort
Leavenworth Ia our company. Some
Of the officers tried to bounce him. but
we Of the rank and file helped him to
get through. he wasn't old enough to
enlist, there was no show for him as a
bugler. and when we finally started
across the plains he was ordered 70 re-
main behind. We bade him g0odby.
but three days afterward he overlook
as, having a male Of his own. He was
also armed with a serviceable revolver.
The officers shut their eyes to his pres
enco for three or four days. and then
he was ordered back with some news
paper men and others. He then did q
thing to show that he was utterly with
out fear. Instead OF going back in com
pany he went ahead all alone. For two
days be kept ahead Of the command
and then rode back TO report a force Of
Indians gathered to dispute our prog
ress. He brought IN an Indian arrow In
his saddle and another in his mules
rump as proofs that he had been to the
trent. His information was acted on.
ana II was through It that we gave the
Sioux a good tanning.
Joe's display Of pluck made him
solid, so to soy. He was permitted to
hang about camp, and the company
tailor fixed hlm up a uniform. There
after he was one Of us IN a way, and
he paid for his rations ten times over
by serving the officers. when kindly
spoken to there was nothing he
wouldn't do 10 Oblige. When ordered
to do anything he WAS as stubborn a.
a mule. More than a dozen times he
went on scouts all alone. and twice b,
/
Indians he killed. II was for this tha
the Kaw Indian scouts we had with ul
named him Heap Little Man. There
wasn't a trooper in the brigade tina
wouldn't have contributed money L
send the boy back east into good hands
bat he wouldn't hear Of It. He couls
neither read nor write. but he knew thu
value Of silver and paper money an'
said that was enough for him.
The boy had a good voice for singinl
and had remembered the airs and word
Of a score Of songs, but when out o
camp and on the march he never sam
but one song, and that only the choru
OF John Browns Body" He'd sin
that over and ever until some OF tn
officers came along and bade him hust
The rest Of US might turn out for boot
and saddles at midnight cursing Ia
weather und the order, but Joe woul
turn out singing that chorus. We'd 2
into a fight cheering. but he nevs
cheered Instead you'd hear his shri
voice piping
GLORY. glory. halieluiahl
Glory. glory. halleluiahl
J Glory. glory. halleluiahi
, As we so marching on"
We tried to keep him out OF II
fights. but it was no use. He woul
disObey orders or break away fror
his guards. and when he MIXED IA
went straight to the front. He had
score to be proud Of, but no one eve
- heard him brag. He fought becaus
lighting was a part OF his prosramml
When oomplimented on his bravery b
gave no thanks in reply.
When we started on that wintg
Wichita campaign Joe was with n
We started out in a snowstorm. wit
the band playing The Girl Left b
hind NE" and Heap Little Man sinl
= ing the old chorus. Military hlstor
will tell you that the camps Of II
: Indians along the wichita were locate
before midnight and that Custer
command had 10 wait hours for breal
fast. The snow was two feet dee
5 and the night freezingiy cold. bS
). every trooper had to dlsmount an
stand by his hOrse. No moving-I
talking. Joe stood next TO me, and
= do not think be shivered once. Ov'
and over again in a whisper he san
= bis chorus and now and then let up
say that be hoped there were at leai
2 5000 Indians In the camp and that "
should have a good hght Of It. don
think there was a nan or olicer thel
that night that took things as cool
as that kid. He was the first OF
mounted as the whispered order can
along, and the band had scarce
struck up Garry Owen" as v
n charged than he followed it with b
slogan. We made a oomplste surpris
= but the Indians rallied after a bit on
put up a stiR defense. When It wi
s over and we were ordered into ia
for roll call Joe was missed. His nan
was not ON the roll. but we look'
around IN vain. Then he and otbe
were sought for. The fight had rag
up and down the stream fer two mile
but we found Joe within half a mile
=. where the headquarters nag had be-
set up and where the fight had be-
the hottest He was lying IN the sno
= with his dead mule not far ava
Around him were the dead bodies
three buck Indians and a squaw. i
latter had a rife ia her hands al
n had fought as weh as the men. ]