The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-12-10
CHAPTER XIV.
Tho Battle on the Wabash,

mo Battle on the WABASH.
He had not even assigned me to
service: simply turned me adrift to go
where pleased. This implied insult
cut me to the quick, yet, now that l
had taken the measure of the man, /
cared little enough for his good opin-
ion. Very we'll, l would choose my
own service them would go back to
Oldham and his Kentucky militia. He
was of fighting blood, If his face spoke
| truth, and his command was stationed
where they would feel the first shock
of attack whenever it came.
Oldham received me gladly, and
about the fire that night told of my
reception by St. Clair.
well, warned yer, Hayward" the
colonel commented, chuckling. %
| know the bullet-headed old fool. l
| reckon he'll know more about Injuns
in day or two. Told yer he had his
scouts out, did he? Why, man, there
isn't one of 'em been ten miles from
the column since we began this march !:
isn't that so, captain? The old cock
| doesn't know tonight what's goin' on
| two hundred yards ahead of his out
posts" He got up, and stretched out
his arms. "And so, gentlemen, we
march for the Miami towns in the
morning. Old Cock-a-doodle-doo says
so. I'll wager years pay we never
get there. What! no takers? Well,
I'm going to bed"
Why should I attempt to describe
that drear battle on the east fork of
the Wabash? Many another has done
1t already, yet few tell the story as ]
remember it.
We were up ut dawn, but for no
purpose. so far as l could see, unless
1t was to idle through a leisurely
breakfast l had finished mine, and
| was smoking, cuddled close to the fire.
when the storm broke. Our outposts
could not have been hundred yards
IN advance, or else they ran without
firing a shot, for the-red devils burst
on US without slightest warning. /
heard hoarse shout of alarm. then
whoops and yells, such as would strike
terror to the bravest. l was on my
Feet gripping my gun in an instant.
l saw Oldham leap forward, roaring
out an order-then they came, pouring
out OF the woods into the open, a mass
OF shrieking demons, half obscured in
smoke, their rifles splitting fire. The
man beside me went down in a heap;
Oldham flung up his arms and toppled
over; l saw men stare, then turn and
run. peering back over their shoulders
with eyes full Of horror. threw up
my rifle and fired; sprang back, racing
for a tree, loading as l ran. Men
were everywhere. frightened, scream
ing mob. / saw officers strike them
with their swords, cursing them as
towards. But nothing could stop the
panic: they fought to get away, they
struck with clinched fists, they bat
tered a path for themselves with
dubbed muskets; they became fiends
from terror, every semblance of men
lost. God! may l never see such a
sight again! My hand trembles as /
write Of it.
Into that terror-stricken, fleeing mob
the naked warriors came, hacking with
tomahawks, slashing with knives, bat
tering with dubbed guns. The snow
was red with blood, covered with dead
bodies. 1t was massacre. l know not
how got out Of it, but l fought back
from tree to tree. firing as l halted.
loading as l ran. There were others
with me. cool-headed fellows, and we
held the painted demons back until
. hundred Of VI. or more. gained the
opening by the Rye. whero tie ypgD
hQ ~ Akfi31G1 I'm H2k ~ SD