The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-03-21

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Colonel Pelham, at Fort CyEer, had
been transferred from Fort Reno,
where there were no Indians. and as
matter Of fact had never come In
contact with hostile red man. Scouts
sent out returned with the news that
the Indians had already murdered lso-
lated pioneers, but they were almost
charged with lying. Sergeant Lyons
and his six men, who were the guard
for the woodcutters on the mountain
side, two miles away, came in with the
wagons and the sergeant reported be-
Ing fred on and of seeing a war party
numbering at least 200 reds. The colo
mel heard him out and then sneeringly
said
ut seems that have been sent here
TO command a lot Of old women and
towards, and ought to be sensible OF
the distinguished honor. Sergeant
Lyons. you will at once return with
the guard or Ill prefer charges Of cow
ardice."
Very well, sir" replied the sergeant
as he gave the salute Wood guard,
fall In. Right face. Forward. march"
The seven marched back to the noun
tain alone. Scouts and settlers crowd
ed up to the colonel and told him
plainly that he was sending the men to
death, but he commanded silence. The
citizens employed as woodcutters re-
fused to go out again. and they were
stormed at and insulted The under
officers stood grouped together and
spoke among themselves. but they
dared not address the colonel He had
repulsed them over and over. Not an
hour before he had said that in so far
as the Indians were concerned, he was
ready to make ten mile circle Of the
fort all alone.
Sergeant Lyons was just serving out
his fourteenth year, twelve Of which
had been passed In the Indian country
He had studied and fought the red
man and knew him for what he was
He could show four wounds. and he
had been made corporal and then SER
geant for bravery on the field. and yet
the colonel had charged him with be-
ing a coward He marched at the head
of his men at high noon. with gritting
teeth and dark face and realized that
1t was his last march. BY and by. with
a grim smile on his face, he gave the
word to halt, and then. pointing back
to the fort, he said:
''Men, take your last look at the old
place It's a rough old home but
we've been comfortable here. Before
the sun sets this day the reds will be
shaking our scalps from this spot at
our comrades looking over the stock
ade. We are going out on orders. and
they are to be obeyed and not ques-
toned. What is a soldier for but to
die? Private Smith, have you got
mother lIving?"
AYE. have that"
"You should have written her a good.
by letter yesterday. Private Williams.
you are widower with little daugh-
ter living with relatives in the east!"
.'That's true. sergeant"
''She'Il be told some day how you
were wiped out. The rest Of you are
single men. Thank God that is the case
with me Odds Is the difference wheth-
er we die today or year hence"
But there may not be any Indians.
suggested Private Naylor as he looked
from the mountain to the fort and
back
Private Naylor Is bit nervous and
don't blame him" said the sergeant.
with laugh. No Indians Why. my
bpg. I'll bet that there are fifty pairs Of
yes watching ns now from the thich-
IT. and powders Their owners are
wondering Why we are returning.
E'hey can't make it out why the seven
,f Us should be marching back to
Iealh. They'll be thinking there Is
Ioue triek Ii it. Don't get any false
lotlons into your head. comrade. IT'S
! dead man yon are It's dead we all
Ire. # ne started on the back track
low Il would be too late. Seven Of MS,
Ind It Will be a complete wipe out
The sergeant paused to look around
|Im. Is II taking last view Of earth.
na the others were silent. Then. aft
i couple Of minutes the officer went
BIZ
and now It's how we are going 70
". There's only one way Tor sol
|ler to pass in bis checks. It's for the
|onor Of the dag and bis regiment
Dhey'l| see the nght from the fort