The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-12-23

- One Christmas Day in the early 70's a captain in the First Cavalry re- ceived an order to march his troop 300 miles to take part in a Modoc ln- dian war The men left in light march lng order instead of comfortable wag- ons where one could stow a tent or blanket, The snow was deep when they started
 At night the men scooped the snow from the frozen ground, few boughs were scattered and all stretched them- selves beside the smouldering logs. In the morning the frozen lash ropes were thawed out, packs were adjusted, and the troop moved on. Horses will wade through snow two feet deep by alter hating the lead, but beyond that man must break the way.
 The troop at times marched armpit deep in the snow, dragging unwilling horses, and often halted to rescue a comrade or horse from absolute bur- ial The cattlemen along the route lived in cabins often fifty miles from the nearest neighbor. The troop made the trip in a little more than two weeks. The soldiers missed their Christmas holidays to drive few In- dians from their country SO that the cattlemen cou!d. ranch their wild steers. ...g~- .-
 That was not the only time that a Christmas dinner was spoiled by the Indians. The day before Christmas at Pine Ridge Agency, South Dakota, in 1890, "a battalion of the Ninth, Cav airy moved out at trot to intercept band of Indians. which had escaped from one of the commands, The en- listed men of the Ninth Cavalry are negroes, and no one loves good Christmas dinner more than a negro trooper.
 They made a night, march with their ,I~ o;x, 1 fiffrY hardly a pleasant way to spend Christmas eve. The battalion reach ed Harney Springs on December 20 The Indians were much surprised to learn on Christmas Day that troops were within six miles of their camp A night march of fifty miles was toe much for them. The march was cold one At times the temperature dropped so far below zero that the mercury could not register it.
 ON TRAIL OF THE REDSKINS.
 On the morning of December 16. 1890 at 1 o'clock, Company D, of the Twen- ty-second Infantry, at Fort Lincoln. N. D., received orders to proceed al daylight to the Upper Cannon Ball River@and ito, look out for the Indians who had broken away after the ki1!- ing of Sitting Bull. The company left the post at 6:30 a. m.. and march ed to. the sChanta Peta creek, a olS- tance of twenty -four miles. On De- cember IT it marched to the north fork of the Cannon Ball River, dis, tance of thirty miles. The following day it marched up the Cannon Ball fol twenty-six nk 'es ito Taylors ranch On December g 1t marched down the Cannon Ball, distance of eight miles and established camp.
 That evening news was received that a company of soldiers was surround. ed by Indians, in the Cave Hills. anc at 7:45 D. m. on December. 23. the com pany started out to their assistance making a forced march of sixty-three miles to New England City, whict was reached at o'clock on Christmas morning, making the march in twenty nine hours and fifteen minutes. The same day it left New England City for the Cave Hills, but learned, abou' four miles out, that the command was safe. The men missed their Christ mas dinner, but felt compensated bJ learning that the soldiers were not victims of the redskins. Christmas day was dreary one al Fort Phil Kearny in 1866. This was four days after three officers ans fifty men of the Eighteenth Infantry had been massacred by several thou sand Indians $ On December 2l, 1866, fifty enlisted men of sCpfnpa nies A, C. E. F, and Fl lunder Capt. VuflliaisA Esex terman anc Lieut. George w. Grummond, and ac, compapiedt by. Capt. Frederick H | Brown, were sent out from the for to relieve a wood train, which was re- ported attacked by Indians. The de tachment came up with and attacked