The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-10-23

We had not rode our horses fast
and they were in good shape for
a long run, We felt confid mt they
would take us into camp. We COM
menced to let them out a little anu
for the next mile or so they did
not gain on us any. Then commenced
the race proper. We could see by
the way they were coming, they had
got down to about their best gait.
They were not all in bunch. They
had strung out their line until it was
half mile long. Their fastest horses
were gaining on us but we were not
doing our best yet, We had saved
our horses for hard run on the last
half ofour journey. We were aware
of the fact when their numbers IN
creased enough. thew would become
bold and would endeavor to crowd
us into confusion, burt in that they
We're mistaken.
BY this time those having the fast
est horses had came up to the In
of the time. They had some kind
Of hurried consultation and they
divided up into three squads. those
having fast horses went out on the
right and left flank. 1t was evident
they thought to pass us and cut US
off and there was some prospects OF
its bothering us a little later on. We
were then about three miles from
where We would take the jhad Of the
canyon to go down to our camp and
that would take us almost east for
half mile or more and that would
give the SQUAD on our left hand a
chance to hit us hard, as they came
up to the CANYON. But there was an
other canyon farther to the east, al
though 1t would give us little long
er run to make the head of this can.
yon and there we would have
straight course south so we cOnclud-
ed to change our course then and as
we turned east they saw we were
on to their game and thew tried hard
to head us off from making this can
ycn but as we had not rode our horses
hard enough to wind them in the least
we thought we would show them what
We could do. We made the head Of
the canyon and left them loosing
ground after we turned east to make
the run for the head of the canvon
thew cot I'D very nice scheme. About
half of them started for the canyon
We were first going to take. they
thought to meet us where the two
not far from our camp. we thought
that would be very nice as we had
come TO the conclusion to open the
fight at the head of the canyon
knowing that would give our camp
all the warning they would want that
there was fight on our hands.
Brought Indians to Halt.
When We came to the head Of the
canyon we came to a halt and faced
about and waited for them to come
just as close as we wanted them to.
about three hundred yards. We sat
on our horses and gave them six
shots with our long range guns. We
brought the whole band of fifty or
sixty Indians to standstiH. We did
not think their coming to a standstill
was all because they were afraid of
us but because they wanted to- give
the other SQUAD time to get ahead Of
us. We will see how that came out
later on. After firing our six shots
we turned around and started down
the canyon. After going down the
canyon two or three hundred yards or
so, We turned around and saw them
just as they came to the head of the
canyon and we gave them four more
shots just to let them know we were
still thinking Of them and also to let
our camp know they were following
us, we then turned and rode our
horses hard to make the place where
the two canyons came together
knowing that M or Holbrook would
| meet us there.
We were not quite there when We
| heard volley Of shots fired by the
major and his squad, We rode I'D
| just in time to get shot at the In
dians as they turned to go back up
| the canyon. We hurriedly explained
| to the major the situation and he
thought best to fall back to the camp
and make our camp as strong as we
| could in so short time and give
them all the fight they were looking
| for and by order of the major we fell
! back to the camp and that camp vas
a great surprise to Pete and myself.
The major had carried out that old
| saying in time of peace prepare for
war. He had the soldiers working
! on that camp all day and it looked
more like a fort than a camp but
with all the improvements we thought
We could make it stronger, we went to
| work with will and not any too soon.
| Before dark we could see Indians on
| all the high places. We worked until
after dark that night, we kept
strong guard. They did not make any
strong demonstrations against US
| There were but few shots fired but
| all night they were throwing fire sig.
| nails and as that was their way OF
| telegraphing we knew they were
| sending messages to all the Indians
in tn country. AS the Indians at that
| time were not SO well supplied with
! long range guns we knew they would
have to come at quite close range be.
fore they could inflict any great
amount of damage On us but the coun-
| trv was mute Toueh and the river
| bottom was not wide enough to give
them a chance to crawl close to our
camps. When morning came it was
evident they had been reinforced as
| they were on both sides of the river
and it was evident by their actions
they We're making all preparations to
| starve us out. We were only shoot
! ing when We was quite sure of get.
ting our man. as we wanted to save
our ammunition for long seige