Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-04-18

BISMARCK, n. D., April 1S.-ln tn
spring of the year 1867 Company ID
4th U. S. Cavalry was stationed a
Fort Mason, Texas, and in May re
ceived orders to move to Fort Chad
bourn, Texas. Fort Chadbourn was
located on Oak creek and was one Of
the military posts established before
the Civil war. and was abandoned or
the outbreak of the war.
Scarcely had the company arrived
at Chadbourn when orders were re-
ceived to proceed to the main fork OF
the Concho river, to act as escort to
herds of cattle across the Staked
plains to the Pecos river. The main
outlet for stock in these days was up
the Concho river; thence up Kickapo
creek until the plains were reached;
thence across the plains to the Pecos
river, and up the river to New Mexico
where the stock would be wintered
before being driven to California.
On the arrival of the escort the
herds We're found waiting and no time
was lost until the start was made.
The season had been very wet and
water was found until the plains were
reached. Before starting to cross the
dry plains it was the custom to re-
main at the last water until the stock
had drank it's fill, and then start in
the afternoon; drive until about sum
down when short stop would be
made for supper and then a continual
drive would be made until the Pecos
was reached. which would be some
time during the following day.
Danger was always anticipated
when the river was reached, as
Indians from Old Mexico would often
meet the herds there and take what
they could get and make for Mexico.
This time the point was passed.
without trouble; though several
herds had been captured there
a short time before. The escort
travelled up the river one days march,
where it remained in camp for an
other day to give the herds a good
start from the danger point.
During the afternoon of the second
day there arrived in camp several
wagons of emigrants en- route from
New Mexico to Texas. It was the
custom of the men in the party to
stand guard by turns at night over
the stock. The night before their
arrival at camp one of the men after
being relieved, in attempting to get
INTO his wagon. shot himself through
the shoulder from below. They were
without medicine and knew little what
to do for the wound, so they did
nothing. We We're greatly dap
pointed when we found the escort had
no physician with it. The nearest
physician being at Fort Chadbourn,
some two hundred miles away, and
the route there being through a
dangerous Indian country, without any
s. ttlement On the way. Camp was
broke the next morning and the emf
grants decided 10 keep in touch with
US as long as possible for protection
from Indians. The days march was
down the river until the trail was
met thence east to Castle mountain
Where 1t arrived about three D. m.
Inc distance marched being twenty
nve miles. On arrival at Castle noun
tain the wounded man begged that
some one remove his wounded arm,
thinking by so doing the mobilization
would stop. This was considered i'm.
practicable. The question then was
no" to get him to Fort Chadbourn?
his own team was played out and the
command too small to divide with
safety to each. 1t was decided to take
two cavalry horses and let two soldiers
rae IN the wagon, with one man. who
agreed to go along and act as nurse.
u is true. no one scarcely expected
.na' tnls small party would ever make
tne trip and come out alive. but tho
cnance must be taken. and taken il
was. "on ~
"A start Was made at 4:3O in the
AFTERNOON. "A reserve camp had heon
lett on the Concho river about ono
hundred and twenty miles distance
ana TINS 1t was hoped to reach tho
,ollo"lng night, where fresh men and
nurses could be procured and the trim
70 Cnadbourn continued. When tho
party was about to leave camn everv
soldler bid the two comrades eood
w. never expected to see them again
Inc parting was actually sad and
Inc more so in the ones who ware
70 remain than those who were r.
make the trip. At daylight the next
morning the soldiers, who had both
1allen asleep, were awakened bv tho
stopping of the wagon, when If was
FOUND the horses We're drinking from
small lake of water It was then
known that the dreaded plains were
crossed. Here the wagon was cleared
out or the dirty blankets and worms