The state herald., 1915-01-15

eignt again! My manu- trembles az
write of 1t.
Into that terror-stricken, fieeing mob
the naked warriors came. hacking with
tomahawks, slashing with knives. bat
tering with clubbed guns. The snow
was red with blood. covered with dead
bodies. 1t was massacre. know not
how got out of 1t, but fought back
from tree to tree, firing az l halted.
loading as I ran. There were others
with me, cool-headed fellows, and we
held the painted demons back until
hundred Of US, or more. gained the
opening by the river. where the regu-
lars and artillery were. But the saw
age hordes, infuriatsd by victory,
drunk with slaughter, vere at our very
heck. They lined the edge of the
woods and poured in deadly volleys.
There was no sound now. no yelling
only the incessant rattle of firearms,
as they crept from log to log, and
tree to tree, slowly drawing closer.
They filed of to either side and
hemmed us In, the river alone protect
ing our rear. Through the clouds Of
smoke we caught glimpses OF their
fitting figures, distorted. horrible. Of
faces striped black and red, of waving
feathers, and brandishing arms. Never
before or since have l seen Indians
hight as they did that day-rushing to
the charge, leaping straight at US
through the smoke, and firing with
deadly aim into our very faces. They
shot US down with no rest, no cessa
ton, no time in which to breathe.
Twice they took the guns, swarming
forward with fierce rush that flung
us back. and crushed the gunners un-
der foot. But they we're in the open
now. and we could see. with bayonets
and clubbed rifles We charged home.
driving them back to the woods. There
they held US, while from every hollow
and grass patch. every tree and fallen
log, their rifles spat fire. The bands
OF my gun few of, and / picked up
another; was out of powder and ball
and took them from n dead body. The
dead lay everywhere, alone, in heaps;
cries of the wounded rose above the
din. We charged over the bodies.
crunching them under foot, seeking
TO reach our invisible foes. They
would not stand, would not meet US.
Helpless, bleeding. dying. confused by
many orders, we fell back. yet still
retained line, and fronted that blaz-
Ing wood. Frightened. panic-stricken
men were everywhere. running and
shrieking in terror, seeking vainiy for
some means of escape from the savage
Gordon. Indians crept forward under
the smoke to scalp and mutilate the
dead and dying. Horses from the ar
tillery and stan. breaking loose,
charged wildly about trampling living
and dead alike under their feet. Won.
en-. camp followers. were wedged In
the mob. their shrill screams piercing
the mad uproar. Only the regulars
stood intact, a thin blue line. with
here and there among them a few mi.
litamen who kept their heads. About
the guns. not dozen povder-grimed
artillerymen remained. Not an officer
OF the battery was left: not one Of the
regulars unwounded.
I heard St Clair storminx I'M and
down behind us. swearing and shout.
Ing orders In his high. cracked voice,
yet took no time to glance toward him.
The smoke settled down upon us In
a cloud: We fought blindly. in the dark,
hardly certain but We stood alone. |
was beside Butler when he was struck,
and helped drag him aside out OF the
rout Then ! saw st. Clair. and. as l
stopped \ second. staring into his face
TO be sure OF his identity, an officsr
rushed up through the smoke cloud.
knocking me aside. everything forgot.
ten but his urgent message.
General ST. Clair" he cried, "xs
must get out of here. sir. My men
cannot stand Ave minutes longer, II
thA, lin. breaks II will COS, every life.
For Gods sake. let US 60"
"Yes-yes, Colonel Dart.. bu, how
is II to be accomplished. sirr So.
those fool cowards.'
Darks swept his hand out 10 N.
south In sudden gesture.
"rher, 10 only one way, sir-th~rc
by tho road. can hold tho regulars
steady: they'll cover the rear. and
give the others a chance. ono nercs
charge forward with the bayonc< will
drive those devils back. and op-n thu
way. May try II, sirr'
"Ay. try H. Hold III lead them
myself. Herr. Simmons. cauiey. lash
those skuiksrs into the road ther-,
whiic w- clear = path"
npranE forward with tho others IN
response 10 s~ift ordev. ws made
III. woods and plunged into their
shadows There was a iinres, mad
struggle face to face. bayon~ts and
clubbea murse,s. knivos and toma.
hawks. St Clair. on an artillery horns.
led the way. W. swept the front Of
tho broad road clear. III. inipetuosi,y
OF our Reckless ehars, forcing tho
startled saysges into full retreat
Then We dropped TO our knees, loading
and nrins TO hold the advantage. p..
hind US. into the open road. Hurg-d IN,
mob of panicstricken men. lighting