The Tupelo journal., 1915-08-20
An Indian
Stratagem
By DONALD CHAMBERLlN

unusual attention throughout the coun-
try were the Custer massacre and the
Modoc war, during which General
Candy was subjected to the traditional
treachery of the Indians and murdered
while in council with them. Today all
that has passed.; the white pan has
swept over the continent from the Mis-
souri, to the Pacific as he had swept
from the Atlantic to the Missouri.
In one Of those Indian wars of later
days a little Indian boy was captured,
and since there was no practicable way
to return him to his people, he was
taken to the headquarters Of the com-
mand In Fort 4. There he was treated
SO kindly that he grew to love the
white people.
Tommy, as the boy was called, how
ever, Inherited the nature Of his red
forefathers. He loved to hunt, to ride.
to live put in the open air. and a time
came when he employed that talent for
strategem, for which the Indian has al
ways been distinguished.
This came about when the force at
the fort, including the women and chill
dren, were in peril of their lives. The
Indians, who had been showing signs
Of r~estiveness, suddenly broke away
from all restraint, and settlers came
running into the fort, saying that they
were burning and massacring the
whites. 1t was soon learned that they
were advancing to attack the fort
Everything was got in readiness to re-
ceive them, but when they came 1t was
in such numbers that it was evident
they could not long be resisted.
Fort r. was a two company post. n
at this time the enlisted men num-
bered little more than a hundred men.
The post was besieged by some 2.OU
Indians, and If overpowered 1t was GER
tain that every one in It would be mas
sacred. The commander. Major Mac
Rae, was chiefly concerned for the wo-
men and children. 1t was terrible to
think of his men being murdered, but
they were soldiers. whose business 1t
was to die. while the women and chill
! dren were noncombatants ana must De
cut down without defense.
ii Major MacRae knew that some thirty
milass~ate tie south Of him I2Sr
Accompanies of eesa WITH light can
elnon suitable for Indian warfare. The
2 commander Of this force. If news could
he carried to him. would come at once
to the relief of Fort r., and the saw
ages would not likely be able to
stand against the combined cavalry
and infantry and especially the artil-
lery. But the Indians had formed a
circle about the fort. and 40 messenger
could get through their lines. There
was a despairing %sternnesS on the face
of Major MacRae when Tommy APP
preached him and. saluting, as he had
learned to do from the soldiers. said to
him:
I'm take a message through to the
cavalry"
The major turned. looked at the boy
and said: You can't get through. No
one could get through" Then. think
ing Tommy meant that he would go as
an Indian, he added. They would tor
ture you for a renegade.
Il won't go as an Indian. Give me
the swiftest horse in the command"
There's not a horse swift enough to
escape their bullets"
''They won't shoot the horse. I'll
show you what | will do"
The major produced the horse. and
Tommy directed that he be bound to the
horses belly with his head %protruding
between the forelegS. A revolver was
thrust in the boys belt, and the bride
reins he held in his lands The major
wrote a few lines on a paper. and
Tommy put it inside his shirt
The major added to Tommy's de-
vice by sending out the garrison to
make a brief assault OIL the Indians.
Tommy Inc his horse being placed in
the center. During a fuSillade the boy
was let go, and a riderless horse was
seen by the red men to gallop away.
FThose Indians who were bearing the
brunt Of the attack had enough to do
to defend themselves. but others. see
ing a horse galloping away. gave chase.
Some of them could easily have shot
the animal. but no one thought Of do
ing so, desiring to get possession of him
for use.
The horse was SO swift that but few
Of the Indians succeeded in getting
near him. One redskin stood directly
In his way and threw up his arms to
STOP him. but Tommy, who wore spurs, |
dug them into the brute's belly and
came near running the mar down.
| When Tommy had nearly cleared the
circle an Indian suddenly appeared from
a thicket and succeeded in Selling the
bride. Tommy shot him dead with his
revolver.
This was the last of Tommy's adven-
| lures. After clearing the Indian circle
| he unstrapped himself. mounted the
horses back and did not stop till the
animal fell with him in the encamp-
~-.k 20 %1,1 noxo1ru HI ~ vo hic mas |