Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-02-21

osaAPTER xxxM
The Last Stand.

he afternoon when that compact col.
umn OF cavalrymen moved silently
forward down the concealing coulee
toward the more open ground beyond.
Clusters plan was surprise, the sudden
shifting Of that village in the valley
from the rear by the quick charge OF
his horsemen. From man to man the
whispered purpose travelled down the
ranks, the eager troopers greeting the
welcome message with kindling eyes.
1t was the old way of the Seventh.
and they knew it well.
With Custer riding at the head Of
the column, and only little to the
rear of the advance scouts, his adult
ant Cook, together with a volunteer
aide, beside him, the five depleted
troops filed resolutely forward, dream
ing not of possible defeat. Suddenly
distant shots were heard far off to
their left and rear, and deepening into
Q rumble, evidencing a warm engage
nent. The interested troopers lifted
their heads, listening intently, while
eager whispers ran from man to man
along the closed files.
Reno is going in, boys; it will be
our turn next"
CLOSE up! Quiet there, lads,
quiet" officer after officer passed the
word of command.
Yet there were those among them
who felt strange dread-that firing
sounded SO far up the stream from
where Reno should have been by that
time. Still it might be that those
overhanging bluffs would mufie and
defect the reports. All about them
lowered death in dreadful guise. None
among them saw those cruel, spying
eyes watching from distant ridges,
peering at them from concealed "a.
vines; none marked the rapidly mass
ing hordes, hideous in war-paint,
crowded into nearby coulees and be-
hind protecting hills.
It burst upon them with wild yells.
The gloomy ridges blazed into their
startled faces, the dark ravines hurled
ct them skurrying horsemen. while.
wherever their eyes turned, they be-
held savage forms leaping forth from
hill and coulee, gulch and rock shad.
ov. Horses fell, or ran about neigh.
ing; men flung up their hands and
died in that first awful minute Of con-
sternation, and the little column
seemed to shrivel away as If consum-
cd by the fame which struck 1t, front
and flank and rear. 1t was as II those
men had ridden into the mouth Of
hell.
Yet 1t was scarcely for more than a
minute. Men trained, strong, clear Of
brain, were in those stricken lines
men who had seen Indian battle be-
fore. The recoil came, swift as had
been the surprise. Voice after voice
rang out old familiar orders, steady.
ing instantly the startled nerves; dis
dpline conquered disorder, and the
shattered column rolled out, as II by
magic, into the semblance of q battle
Hne.
It was magnifcently done. Custer
and his troop commanders brought
their sorely smitten men into a posi-.
don Of defense, even hurled them
Gheering forward in short, swift
charges, 50 as to clear the front and
gain room in which to deploy. Out Of
confusion emerged discipline, conn.
Aence, esprit de corps.
Safe beyond the range Of the troop
ers light carbines, the Indians, with
their heavier Rifles, kept hurting q
constant storm Of lead, hugging the
gullies, and spreading out until there
was no rear toward which the harass.
Cd cavalrymen could turn for safety.
One BY one, continually under heavy
Ore, the scattered troops were form.
% Into something more nearly re.
Sembling q battle Calhoun on
he left, then Keogh, Smith and
Yates, with Tom Custer holding the
extreme right Thus they waited grim
y for the next assault.
Nor was It long delayed. Scarcely
had the troopers recovered, refilled
their depleted cartridge belts from
nose Of their dead comrades, wher
ne onslaught came. The soldier,
waited their coming. The short
esoWn-barrelled carbines cleaned 1,
% lsvel In the sunlight, and Their
eelohed forth the message Of flame
INTO the very fs ss Of those rockies.
Aorssmen.' II was not in flesh snt
6lood to bear such q blow. VITA
screams Of rage, the red brave.
swervsd to left and right, lesvin,
many dark, war-bedecked figure y
ing dead behind them, and many ,
Hderless pony skurrying over tn,
: prairie. Exultant over their seeming
" successful repulse, the men lunl
themselves again upon the earth
their cheers ringing out above tn,
:thud Of retreating hoofs.
I'VE can hold them here, boys, unit
Reno comes" they shouted to saol
other.
The skulking red rihemen crep
ever closer behind the ridges, drivinl
their deadly missiles into those rank
exposed In the open. To the command
OF the bugle they discharged tw,
roaring volleys from their carbines
hopefM that the combined .sount