The Scout and Ranger
by James Pike · English · Gutenberg #41995 · 700,314 chars · public domain (US)
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Title: The Scout and Ranger
Author: James Pike
Release date: February 3, 2013 [eBook #41995]
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Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SCOUT AND RANGER ***
[Illustration]
THE
SCOUT AND RANGER:
BEING THE
PERSONAL ADVENTURES
OF
CORPORAL PIKE.
OF THE FOURTH OHIO CAVALRY.
AS A TEXAN RANGER, IN THE INDIAN WARS, DELINEATING WESTERN ADVENTURE;
AFTERWARD A SCOUT AND SPY, IN TENNESSEE, ALABAMA,
GEORGIA, AND THE CAROLINAS, UNDER GENERALS MITCHELL,
ROSECRANS, STANLEY, SHERIDAN, LYTLE,
THOMAS, CROOK, AND SHERMAN.
FULLY ILLUSTRATING THE SECRET SERVICE.
TWENTY-FIVE FULL-PAGE ENGRAVINGS.
[Illustration]
CINCINNATI & NEW YORK:
J. R. HAWLEY & CO.
1865.
Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1865, by
J. R. HAWLEY & CO.,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States
for the Southern District of Ohio.
DEDICATION.
TO
MY LATE COMRADES IN ARMS,
THIS BOOK
Is Respectfully Dedicated
BY THE AUTHOR.
PREFACE.
Whatever aids in illustrating the spirit of the late great struggle,
through which the nation has so successfully passed, must be of interest
to the American reader. The occurrences of the late rebellion will ever
form a study for the free citizens of the Republic, of far deeper
interest than those of any other event in the world's history; and few
will be content with the perusal of mere outlines, or of battle
descriptions, however vivid, but which are only repetitions, though of a
magnified type, of what the world has witnessed at almost every decade,
since the dawn of civilization; and hence they will search out details,
and incidents, which will lead them into the spirit of a conflict, to
which they are indebted for their national greatness, material
prosperity, and civil and religious freedom; and those incidents may be
as readily learned in connection with the career of the Private Soldier,
as with that of the Major General.
The simple but touching narratives of one who has survived the horrors
of a rebel prison; or the little hillock which covers the remains of one
of the murdered victims of rebel cruelty, are far more perfect
illustrations of the civilization of the ruling classes in the South,
and the malignity of their character, than the whole career of the
ablest of our commanders.
Thousands of incidents in the life of every soldier, were they recorded,
would be invaluable in illustrating the history of the late war; but the
mass of these will soon be forgotten, and the actors themselves fill
unknown graves. Men who, in any other era, would be singled out, and
known as heroes to a whole nation for their gallant deeds, will pass
through life as but one of millions, and must rest content with a
general tribute to the great mass.
We are now to have a national literature, as well as a national
existence. American writers of romance and the drama, will no longer
seek the antiquated regions of Europe for scenes and heroes; America has
supplied all that is necessary to the most vivid of pictures; and no
pen, even though the plot be fiction, need ever exaggerate in incidents
or descriptions. He who tells the simple truth, narrates more of the
strange and the heroic, than could be conceived by the fertility of a
Dickens, or a Dumas.
The writer of this narrative, throughout, has adhered strictly to facts,
without any attempt at embellishment. The wild chases after the
Comanches; the stern duties of war; and the hardships of prison life,
have left him little time to cultivate elegant diction, and as he has an
abiding conviction that unvarnished truth is ever more acceptable than
high wrought fiction, he is content with the simple narrative, which is
spread before the reader in the pages which follow.
THE AUTHOR.
HILLSBORO, OHIO, June 21, 1865.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
MY FIRST EFFORT AT SEEING LIFE--A TRIP TO TEXAS 19
CHAPTER II.
MY FIRST INDIAN CAMPAIGN 33
CHAPTER III.
MORE ADVENTURE--MUSTERED OUT 57
CHAPTER IV.
WITH THE RANGERS AGAIN--BUFFALO HUNT--A LONELY JOURNEY 63
CHAPTER V.
ANOTHER LONELY RIDE--FRONTIER FEUDS 82
CHAPTER VI.
MORE ADVENTURE--MEETING AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE 86
CHAPTER VII.
KICKAPOO CAMPAIGN--INCIDENTS 95
CHAPTER VIII.
INDIAN WARFARE--SCALPING--CANNIBALISM 101
CHAPTER IX.
SCOUTING--A WHITE CAPTIVE 112
CHAPTER X.
COL. JOHNSTON'S COMANCHE CAMPAIGN--A GREAT FAILURE--FRIGHTFUL
SUFFERING OF THE RANGERS 118
CHAPTER XI.
KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE--SECESSION 136
CHAPTER XII.
TYRANNY AND PERFIDY OF THE SECESSIONISTS 145
CHAPTER XIII.
OUT IN THE WILDERNESS 151
CHAPTER XIV.
FAREWELL TO DIXIE 155
CHAPTER XV.
IN THE UNION SERVICE--THE KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN 173
CHAPTER XVI.
AFTER JOHN MORGAN 189
CHAPTER XVII.
RECONNOITERING MIDDLE TENNESSEE--SCOUTING AS CAPTAIN
BONHAM OF THE FIRST LOUISIANA CAVALRY 196
CHAPTER XVIII.
TRIP TO DECATUR--LIVELY ADVENTURES 208
CHAPTER XIX.
CARRYING AN IMPORTANT DISPATCH TO GENERAL BUELL 227
CHAPTER XX.
RECONNOITERING BRIDGEPORT--TAKEN PRISONER--MY TREATMENT--CRUELTY
OF THE REBELS 235
CHAPTER XXI.
ARRIVAL OF WOUNDED FROM FREDRICKSBURG 249
CHAPTER XXII.
OUT OF THE HOSPITAL--OFF FOR HOME 253
CHAPTER XXIII.
SCOUT TO WOODBURY--PLAYING REBEL SENTINEL--NARROW ESCAPES 260
CHAPTER XXIV.
GEN. STANLEY'S GREAT RAID--PLAYING AID-DE-CAMP--SCOUTING
AT HARPETH SHOALS 265
CHAPTER XXV.
AFTER JOHN MORGAN IN OHIO--WAKING UP THE WRONG PASSENGER 273
CHAPTER XXVI.
OFF TO THE HIAWASSEE IN SEARCH OF STEAMBOATS--A FAMILIAR
NEIGHBORHOOD--FEARFUL LEAP--AFFECTING INCIDENT 276
CHAPTER XXVII.
AFTER STEAMBOATS AGAIN--A MOUNTAIN NYMPH--BOB WHITE,
THE UNION BUSHWHACKER 286
CHAPTER XXVIII.
BATTLES OF DUG GAP AND CHICKAMAUGA 300
CHAPTER XXIX.
PERSONAL ADVENTURES DURING THE BATTLE 311
CHAPTER XXX.
WHEELER BADLY WHIPPED--A PERILOUS TRIP OVER THE MUSCLE SHOALS 317
CHAPTER XXXI.
RAID IN NORTH CAROLINA--REBEL COLONEL WALKER KILLED 329
CHAPTER XXXII.
BRIDGE BURNING EXPEDITION TO AUGUSTA 336
CHAPTER XXXIII.
BLOODHOUND CHASE--TAKEN PRISONER--DRUNKEN AND EXCITED REBELS 346
CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE WHIPPING POST--TORTURING NEGROES--STARVING OUR
PRISONERS--THE CHARLESTON JAIL--OUR OFFICERS VINDICATED 361
CHAPTER XXXV.
ADIEU TO CHARLESTON--ESCAPE FROM THE REBELS--ARRIVAL
IN THE UNION LINES 370
CHAPTER XXXVI.
THE NORTH CAROLINA CAMPAIGN--DOWN TRIP TO WILMINGTON--AT
SEA--DISCHARGED FROM THE SERVICE 383
CHAPTER XXXVII.
PERSONAL--CONCLUSION 391
SCOUT AND RANGER.
_CHAPTER I._
MY FIRST EFFORT AT SEEING LIFE--A TRIP TO TEXAS.
I have not the vanity to suppose the details of my career in life, other
than as it has been connected with the public service, would be of the
slightest interest to the reader; and, therefore, I shall not dwell upon
them. But I can not but believe that my adventures in that most
dangerous and romantic of all branches of the service--while acting the
part of a scout--during the late long and bloody war against the most
gigantic rebellion known to history, will be read with interest, not
only by the patriotic people of the loyal states, for whom my life was
risked, but by thousands in the South--violent rebels--who will, in
these pages first recognize me, in my true character, as a soldier of
the Union; though oft I have partaken of their hospitalities, and been
their familiar companion; and many a rebel officer will, in the
following narrative, for the first time learn that they have
communicated much valuable information to one who was in the service of
the nation against which they had arrayed the whole power, and chivalry
of half a score of powerful and flourishing states, extending from the
Gulf of Mexico to the thirty-seventh parallel of north latitude.
My career as a scout was commenced under Gen. O. M. Mitchell, who, in
1862, commanded the Third Division of the Cumberland Army; General
Mitchell, who united in himself the qualities of a noble man, a thorough
scholar, and a dashing officer, and whose death, before the nation could
well spare his services, caused a deep despondency to pervade every
loyal breast. When he was removed from command in Tennessee, I was
turned over to General Rosecrans; who, in turn, on leaving, recommended
me to General Thomas. I have also served with Gens. D. S. Stanley, George
Crook, Lytle, Sheridan, Grant, and Sherman; so that the reader will not
be at a loss to imagine that my term of service has been an eventful
one; and that vanity does not inspire me to write an account of those
wild and almost incredible adventures, which are naturally incident to
the branch of the service to which I was devoted.
But why engage in the dangerous vocation, and risk life, amid enemies
who, had they known my character, would gladly have suspended me to the
nearest limb? Say, like Shylock, it was my nature, and the reader has it
all. I had been well trained in such service, having left my home in
Ohio, long since, and migrated to Texas, where I was schooled as a
"Ranger" and hunter--the latter character being a necessary
accompaniment of the former, as the ranger draws little or no
subsistence from the government, but obeys the injunction of Scripture,
and takes neither brass nor postal currency in his purse, nor hard tack
in his haversack, relying almost entirely on his trusty rifle, for
subsistence, from the first to the last of his term of enlistment.
But why should an Ohioan, and a printer, be induced to migrate to Texas,
where civilization has but begun, and where men still fancy that there
is something diabolical in the process of producing books and
newspapers? In Texas--a land of contrarities, where all is abundance, by
the mere act of nature, or sterility beyond the power of art to
fertilize; where one only looks up stream for water; where rivers are
narrow at their mouths, and wide at their fountains; where the ground is
never dusty, though parched with drouth; where grass grows green in
winter; where neither the horse nor the cow can be tempted to eat corn;
where the widest extremes of heat and cold are often felt in a day; and
where the unfortunate immigrant, if he murmurs, or shows surprise, at
all he sees and feels, is at once pronounced "green from the states,"
and looked upon as an object of commiseration? Well, perhaps it is
strange that I should find myself there--but it is not more strange than
true.
I had been working at my trade in Jefferson City, Missouri, during the
winter of 1858-9, and in the spring resolved to go to Kansas, which was
yet disturbed by factions, and consequently the very place for one fond
of adventure; and, as my nature prompted me to ramble, I saw no other
section half so inviting; and accordingly, having armed myself, "as the
law directs," I started for the territory on foot.
I had traveled but half a day, however, when I stopped for dinner at a
wayside inn, kept by a plethoric old man, the possessor of a young wife
and half a dozen worthless darkies. While at dinner, some one rode up to
the gate and inquired of the landlord if there was a young man there,
who was traveling on foot.
"That's my name," I said, and went to the door, to ascertain: what was
wanted.
"Say, young man," said the party, "don't you want to go to Texas?"
"Don't care if I do," said I.
"Well," he replied, "my name is Colonel Johnston; I live twelve miles
south of Dallas; I am taking down a drove of horses, and want help; I
will furnish you with a horse, saddle, and bridle, and pay your way."
In an instant, all desire to visit Kansas, and participate in the
partisan turmoils, which were continually agitating the territory,
"vanished into thin air," and in their stead arose visions of wild horse
chases, buffalo hunts, Indian fights, and a thousand other "manly
sports," which I knew to be the chief sources of amusement and
excitement, in that wild, celebrated region.
"But where were you going?" queried the Colonel.
"To Kansas," I replied.
"What were you going there for?" he continued.
"For fun," was my sententious, but truthful answer.
"Well," he responded, "if you want fun, just go to Texas; that is the
place to find it; plenty of all sorts of game, fine horses, and clever
people. It's just the spot for a young man. If ever you go there, you
will like the country so well, that you will never leave it."
"Hold on, then, till I get my dinner, and I'll go," was the only reply I
stopped to make, till I had satisfied my appetite.
Dinner over, I mounted the animal designated, and we proceeded to gather
up the horses, which had scattered about to graze, while the Colonel was
waiting on me. There were in the drove an unusually fine lot of northern
mares, which Johnston stated would be very valuable in Texas, besides a
number of magnificent geldings.
As soon as we were fairly on our way, my employer took care to remind me
that his name was _Colonel_ Johnston, and inquired mine. He then went on
to enlighten me, by saying, that, in Texas, every man of any note had
some title; was either dubbed General, Colonel, Major, Captain, Judge,
or Esquire; that his friends had given him the title of Colonel, though
he had never held any military position, the term being merely
complimentary. He further informed me, that at one time in his life, he
had been a mate on board of a river steamer, and then began to relate
various feats of personal prowess, which at once inspired me with a high
regard for both his physical and intellectual endowments. He was really
a fine looking, robust man, about thirty-five years of age, of a very
generous, and manly disposition; and but for a superfluity of vanity and
self-importance, was an exceedingly agreeable companion. He had been in
Illinois, settling up his wife's estate, and had taken her share of the
property in horses; and, by the way, one of the first things he told me
was, that he had married a widow.
We traveled fast; I thought _very fast_; and as day after day came and
went, and we were in the saddle early and late, I began to imagine
something must be wrong about the man and his horses; but I said
nothing. On the second day after we had joined fortunes, he began to
deprecate the fact that he would have to force a sale of a horse in
order to raise money; whereupon I loaned him a sufficient sum (I think
about forty dollars in gold), to take him through. The reader will say
that this was indiscreet on such a short acquaintance, and that I ought
not to have been so free with my money with a stranger. But it was
always a fault of mine to confide in strangers, and in this case I did
not lose anything, though at one time I believed the chances good to
lose all; for Johnston sought a quarrel with me in the Indian Nation,
while near Boggy river, and I detected him in the act of drawing his
six-shooter on me, at a time when he thought I did not observe him. My
rifle was near at hand, and I quickly had him at my mercy, with my piece
leveled on his breast, and my finger on the trigger. We had differed the
evening before as to which side of the mountain the road went, and I was
found to be in the right. But this was such a trifling excuse for a
quarrel, that I naturally concluded he entertained the notion of putting
me out of the way, and thus get, not only all I had loaned him, but all
I had on my person. My advice to young men is, not to be too free in
showing money to strangers; nor ought they to do as I have often done,
make loans when there was no way of getting the money back when it is
wanted. In this instance I might have lost every dollar I possessed, and
my life, too, by my freedom in letting a stranger know my resources. I
was green then, but am wiser now.
Our route lay through South Missouri, along a high barren ridge, for
eighty miles. If I remember rightly, we passed no town till we came to
Linn creek, where we crossed the Osage river, which, I believe, is the
head of navigation. It is a small town but is a very business like
little place. As we crossed the river a little boat steamed away from
the landing, loaded, as I afterward learned, with nineteen tons of deer
hides, besides other peltries and furs. The town is hemmed in by the
Osage range, which although very high and abrupt, should rather be
called hills than mountains. The rock of this range is a sort of lava
concrete on the surface, while the tops of the ridges and level benches
in the mountains were covered with bowlders, evidently of volcanic
origin, as they have the appearance of having been melted in a little
round-bottomed pot, from which, after cooling, they had been dumped.
This portion of the country abounds in minerals, especially lead and
iron; and it is, perhaps, the best watered region in the United States;
thousands of large, clear springs burst out from beneath the mountain
ranges; but very few issue from their sides, however, which is somewhat
remarkable.
We passed through Springfield, which at that time was a beautiful and
flourishing little city. A school dismissed while we were riding through
the streets, and from the walls of the large seminary issued such a
swarm of pretty girls, as would make any young man's head swim with
delight as he viewed them. I have always had a curiosity to go back
there.
From Springfield our route was through a good country for some distance,
until we reached Barry county, in which the land is too poor and rocky
to talk about. While traveling through it, we managed to tear off nearly
every shoe from the horses' feet, and this caused some delay, in getting
them re-set.
Getting on our way again, we passed through Cassville. The country was
still so rocky that the geese couldn't walk about to graze; at least so
I concluded, from the fact that I saw one sitting on a hill-side, some
distance from a house, and a woman carrying it food. The goose made no
effort to help itself, and the woman had to rough it over the rocks the
entire distance.
Crossing the Arkansas line, we reached Bentonville, a very thriving
village in the Ozark mountains; thence we went to Fayetteville, a town
of considerable importance, to the north, but in sight of the Boston
mountain, a spur of the Ozark range. As we passed through, we met the
overland mail stage, coming at full speed, or at least as fast as mule
flesh could move it.
When stages were first put on this line, considerable excitement was
created in Western Arkansas; it was a new thing--an eighth wonder of the
world; and to the great disgust of the "natives," some of the managers
and their wives, feeling the importance of their "posish," put on
considerable "style;" and the popular disgust would manifest itself on
every possible occasion, much to the annoyance, both of employees and
passengers. The children readily imbibed the spirit of their seniors and
would continually reiterate the slang of their parents. On this
particular occasion, as the coach came down a steep hill into the town,
a crowd of little urchins was standing by the roadside, waiting to see
the "sights;" when one of them, a bright looking boy, but as ragged as
only Arkansas children are, elbows and knees out, with a huge rent in
that part of his pants covering the spot "where mothers smite their
young," from which protruded a piece of muslin very much the color of
the surrounding soil,--shouted at the top of his voice: "The g-r-e-a-t
O-v-e-r-l-a-n-d M-a-i-l C-o-m-p-a-n-y--" and was, evidently, going to
add something more, when a huge, muscular, six-footer of a passenger
thrust his head out of the window and yelled: "Dry up, you little
reprobate, or I'll jump out and raise a crowd and clean you out in a
minute." The little urchin and his party, not exactly expecting such a
reception, took to their heels, each with his flag of truce flying
behind him almost horizontally. The sight was immensely enjoyed by the
wearied passengers, who greeted the retreating boys with roars of
laughter. The lumbering of the coach and the shouts of the passengers so
frightened our horses that we had a stampede for the next five miles,
but fortunately, no harm resulted.
Boston mountain was the next difficulty we had to surmount. The road
over it is fifteen miles long, and the ascent was exceedingly steep; but
there are several steppes, or benches, on the sides, and these afford
good resting places for travelers. Every acre on these steppes is good
tillable land, and would be admirably adapted to vine growing; while
upon the very summit is one of the finest farms in Arkansas. We stopped
here for the night and were generously entertained, as indeed we always
were; for the people of this State, before the war, were ever noted for
their hospitality.
On the following morning we started down the mountain. The sky wore a
threatening appearance; great banks of clouds seemed to rise from the
horizon, and, as it were, to be sucked or drawn from every direction
toward the mountain by some powerful current or attraction, until,
finally, as we reached the first bench from the top, they met with such
violence that the concussion seemed to jar the mountain itself, as if it
had been shaken by an earthquake. Peal upon peal of thunder rolled
through the clouds, accompanied by terrific flashes of glittering
lightning, that seemed to leap from heaven to earth, and from earth
again through boundless space. To add to the terrific noise of the
thunder, it bellowed through the mountain gorges, reverberating from
cliff to cliff, like volleys of musketry, and was accompanied by the
sound of creaking boughs, falling trees, and of rocks loosed by the
winds, tumbling from the summit of the mountain to the abysses below.
The falling rain soon accumulated into torrents, and these added to the
din, as they fell over precipices, until one could scarcely do other
than conclude that harmony had been broken up in the heavens and that
the elements were engaging in one long, desperate, and terrific strife.
We did not stop--we could not; the storm came sweeping down the mountain
with a fury that was irresistible; and nearly carried our animals over
the cliffs. The clouds themselves seemed to be falling, for in addition
to the torrents of rain which drenched us, we were closely enveloped in
a thick mist which shut out from our view all surrounding objects. The
horses entirely bewildered, became frantic, and dashed off in all
directions, but chiefly up the sides of the gorge, down which our route
lay. Some were speedily lost to view, while others almost precipitated
themselves down the mountain side, regardless of danger. As for
ourselves, we were powerless, and could only await the dispersion of the
clouds that we might see what to do; and fortunately we were not
compelled to wait long, as the storm was brief; it however made up in
fury what it lacked in duration. One by one we discovered our horses on
the mountain side, trembling at the giddy hight to which, in their
terror, and while enveloped in fog, they had clambered. To get them down
was a work of no little difficulty and danger, but it was accomplished,
however, without accident, and we sped away for Lee's creek, a mountain
stream which was known to rise with great rapidity, and when up was not
fordable. The prospect of being water bound in the mountains for two or
three days without provisions, the reader will admit, was not very
inviting; and so we concluded, and we put on our best speed and gained
the ford just in time; for five minutes later and it was a roaring
torrent.
[Illustration: "When we first discovered them, they were under full
headway, coming around a point of timber; and the next instant they came
down upon us at a charge."--=Page 48.=]
Not far from the foot of Boston mountain we passed through a little
village of sixty or eighty houses, the inhabitants of which appeared to
be settling some question of vital importance to the community, as they
were engaged in a free fight after the most approved style--every body
being in; and oaths, rocks, clubs, and pistol-shots were the order of
the day. Not receiving any invitation to participate, and being firm
adherents of the theory that every community should be allowed to settle
its domestic affairs in its own way, subject only to the Constitution of
the United States--even though that way was a little rough--we passed
along on our route, through a shower of ill-aimed missiles; and for once
denied ourselves the luxury of engaging in a free fight.
We crossed the Arkansas river at Van Buren, and stopped with very good
will at a plantation owned by a handsome widow, whose husband had been
an officer in the regular service. Our entertainment was superb, and at
nine o'clock we retired, and, being wearied, were soon enjoying a
profound sleep. Toward midnight we were aroused by a loud barking in the
yard from half a score or so of dogs. On going to the door I looked out
and discovered a man in the act of turning our horses out of the lot.
Seizing my rifle, I aroused Johnston, and started for the scene of
operations. Luckily the animals were tired, and moved slowly, so that I
was on the thief in a minute; and he, seeing that I was armed, loosed
his hold, fired a shot, and fled. I returned his fire in haste and at
random; so the ball did not take effect. The thief ran down the lane, at
the end of which an accomplice was standing, and in a moment they both
mounted their horses, and were soon out of sight.
At Fort Smith we entered the Indian Nation--the first we met being
Choctaws. They had long been on friendly terms with the whites, and
traveling through their country was as safe as, and perhaps safer than,
in Arkansas. But few of the Indians build their houses on public roads,
the exceptions generally being half-breeds. The full Indian always seeks
some secluded spot on which to build. There were some handsomely
improved farms through the country, but they were mostly owned by white
men who had married Indian wives.
We camped out through the Nation, and procured our food, ready cooked,
from the people. The squaws make excellent bread, and they supplied us
bountifully with stewed venison. One may go to the Indian's house when
he will, and he will find the kettle on and boiling, filled with the
choicest meat. I invariably found the natives kind and obliging, and
very reasonable in their charges. I often left Johnston to wait in the
woods for his rations, while I sat down with the Indians, and enjoyed a
warm meal. They had milk, eggs, and butter in abundance. All eat soup,
succotash, and other "spoon victuals," out of the same dish, and with
the same spoon; not from a scarcity of either, but from their laws of
etiquette. He is regarded as exceedingly rude who refuses to eat soup
from the same bowl with them, though each is supplied with separate
plates, knives, and forks for the eating of meat, eggs, fruit, etc.
Although I did not discover any malicious disposition among the natives,
I was informed that human life was held very cheap by them; although
they seldom molest white men traveling through their country, they
frequently engage in deadly strife among themselves. I do not think much
of their progress in civilization as a general thing. Here and there a
farm and residence evinced industry and taste; but on the next, perhaps,
one will see a crowd of grown young men and women, stark naked, playing
marbles.
Their police regulations were well adapted to preserve order. In every
township of six miles square there was a mounted force of ten men, one
relief of whom was almost constantly in the saddle, traveling the
country in all directions; and their mode of transmitting intelligence
from one beat to another was only excelled by the telegraph.
The country is beautifully diversified with mountains, bold, rugged, and
often isolated, rising from the surface of a level valley. They are
covered with pine and cedar and other evergreens. The valleys are well
adapted to grazing, and hence the principal wealth of the country is in
horses, cattle, and hogs. We were often stopped at the bridges to pay
toll. As the streams throughout the entire region usually have quicksand
bottoms, it is a great convenience to travelers to have these bridges,
although it is rather disagreeable to encounter a squaw every few miles
vigorously demanding toll.
On Boggy River we were out in the rain for some time, and, being wet
without, we were naturally dry within; and as the water in the Indian
Nation does not possess sufficient consistency to quench thirst on such
occasions, we resolved to procure some whisky. But how? That was the
question. The law was very strict in prohibiting its importation or
manufacture, and it was not easy to evade it. However, we must procure
some; and, seeing a house at a short distance from the road, we stopped
the horses to graze while I set out on the questionable mission of
purchasing whisky, without knowing what to call it in Choctaw.
At the house I found no one at home except a squaw so old that her teeth
were worn off even with her gums, and a young girl--very pretty, but
very shy. I made known the object of my visit by telling her, in the
very best English I could command, that I desired to purchase some
whisky; but she failed to comprehend my meaning. I thought for a moment,
and then concluded that as they had to smuggle it, perhaps they would
be more familiar with bottled liquors, and I said "brandy," but was
still not understood. "Morning-glory," "eye-opener," "whisky-cocktail,"
"gin-sling," "stone-wall," and the names of a host of other drinks arose
in my mind, but were discarded, one after another, as altogether unknown
in that barbarous locality; and I began to indulge in unavailing regrets
that I had not learned to speak Choctaw before visiting the country. But
at this moment a happy idea presented itself, and I forthwith proceeded
to put it into execution. Up to this time the Indian girl had stood
resolutely in the middle of the floor, as if prepared to dispute my
further advance. I now passed by her, and walked to a table where there
was a gourd. Seeing the movement, she sprang to it, and filled it with
water from a bucket near by, and presented it to me to drink with every
expression of kindness. Reader, I must own it was a most eloquent
temperance lecture; and, perhaps, had I been alone, I should have made
no further attempt to make myself understood; but Johnston was out on
the prairie, thoroughly _drenched_, while I--well, for my part, I was
_dry_. Pouring the water back into the bucket, I raised the gourd to my
mouth, pretended to take a long drink, then made a wry face, smacked my
lips, touched my breast with my forefinger, and then staggered a little.
In an instant I was understood. Her black eye sparkled with delight, and
she indulged in a merry laugh. Running out into the yard, she spent some
time looking up and down as if in fear; then hastily entering the house,
she lifted a board in the floor under the table, and drew forth a quart
flask nearly full of the desired article, and handed it to me. I
produced some money to pay for it, but she put back my hand in an
agitated manner, pointed to the path by which I came, and patted her
hands together several times hastily, which I interpreted into "go
quick;" so without waiting to return thanks which she could not
understand, to her evident satisfaction, I left.
That night we encamped on Boggy River, which, I believe, divides the
lands of the Choctaws and Chickasaws. It is a very considerable stream,
with broad, rich valleys, finely timbered. The land has been but little
improved by labor. It was here that Johnston took it into his head to be
"unlawful;" but that was the only difficulty I ever had with him.
At Boggy Depot we saw a great many Choctaws and Chickasaws assembled to
hold a grand council, and, like all political gatherings, it was a mixed
crowd. Some were gay, some were quiet, some were noisy, and, despite of
stringent prohibition, some were _drunk_, and consequently boisterous.
This depot is a great resort for all classes of traders.
From Boggy we traveled through a well-timbered country, occupied by the
Chickasaws. It is not so mountainous as the Choctaw country, and I do
not consider the people nearly so far advanced in civilization as the
Choctaws, but far more docile and kind in their manners.
We crossed the Red river at Colbert's ferry, when the Colonel gave a
shout of delight as he once more landed in Texas. My first impressions
of the country were not pleasing. For twelve miles our way lay through a
country heavily timbered and thickly interlaced with vines. A sandy
soil, with, once in a while, a badly-managed farm and shabby log house,
did not agree with my preconceived notions of the State; but after
having traveled twelve miles, the landscape began to change. We reached
high prairies, covered with luxuriant grass, and dotted with
highly-cultivated plantations and beautiful groves. Immense herds of
cattle were seen in every direction, and although this is not the chief
grazing part of the State, there were many herds of horses, and flocks
of sheep interspersed among the cattle. The soil is black and waxy, and
no matter how much the roads are traveled they are never dusty, but
become beaten down, like a cake of beeswax; and this species of soil
extends as far south as Austin.
We passed through Sherman, a place of great commercial importance in
Northern Texas, which at that time bid fair to be a large city; and the
next place we reached was Dallas, celebrated for its mills which produce
the best flour in Texas. The staple of the surrounding country is wheat,
the soil being peculiarly adapted to its culture. Northern Texas is
settled almost exclusively by people from Kentucky, Tennessee, and the
West; and there is consequently more energy displayed in that section
than in other portions of the State.
We reached Mr. Johnston's house, twelve miles south of Dallas, and were
welcomed by his wife and daughter. They went out on the prairie to
examine the stock; and as part of the horses had been represented as
belonging to the estate of his wife's first husband, I naturally
expected that the lady would recognize some of them, and call them by
name, or otherwise particularly designate them; but to my astonishment
she seemed never to have seen any of them before. I now remembered our
haste, and the Colonel's unaccountable excitement at times; and I could
not escape the conviction that I had helped to run off a drove of stolen
horses.
As my contract was now up, the Colonel pressed me to continue with him;
and his solicitations were cordially seconded by his wife and daughter;
but as soon as I had secured a settlement with him, and received my
money, I pushed on to Austin, where I expected to find employment as a
printer.
_CHAPTER II._
MY FIRST INDIAN CAMPAIGN.
My expectations of finding employment as a printer, at Austin, were not
realized, and I went back to Bell county, and turned my attention for a
while to horse taming; but it was not long before there was found more
congenial employment for me. The Kiowa, Comanche, and Kickapoo Indians
suddenly began to wage a most relentless and cruel warfare upon the
frontier settlements. Their first act of barbarity was committed far
down in the country, within a few miles of where I was employed. About
the 1st of May, 1859, a small detachment of Comanches appeared on the
west side of Bell county, stole some horses, and drove a lance through
the body of a little boy about twelve years of age; the act being done
in the presence of an agonized mother, and of sisters frantic with grief
and fear. The Indians, after mocking their terrified actions, galloped
away, laughing and sneering at their agony. The neighborhood was at once
aroused, and a few men went in pursuit; I, myself, constituting one of
the party. The savages fled toward the mountains, at the head waters of
the Colorado river; and high up on the San Gabriel, we came in sight of
them; and at once the chase became so hot that the Indians
"scattered,"--always their last strategic resort. We only succeeded in
finding one, a gigantic fellow, who had long been known on the frontier,
and was recognized by some of the pursuing party, as a famous Comanche
warrior, called Big Foot. True to his own manhood, he sustained his
reputation as a warrior to the very last, and ceased to resist only as
he fell into the rolling waters of the San Gabriel, pierced with more
than a dozen bullets from trusty Texan rifles. His body was swept away
by the swift running stream; but his rifle, lance, and bow and arrows
were captured, and divided out among the party as trophies. Big Foot was
a giant in size and strength, being about seven feet high, and in all
respects well proportioned; and his loss must have been severely felt by
his tribe.
Their next outrage worthy of note, was the capture of two beautiful
young ladies, named Whitson, whose persons they brutally violated. The
ladies were walking home from a neighbor's house, where they had been on
a visit, when they were suddenly surrounded by twenty-five savages, who
committed the fearful deed already indicated, and then carried them away
into a captivity a thousand times worse than death.
They lived near Weatherford, on the Brazos river, and after capturing
them, the Indians carried them far out on the Staked Plains, stripped
them, and left them on the open prairie, without a morsel of food, or a
drop of water, and far away from any civilized habitation. When found
they were lying beneath a little mesquit bush, locked in each other's
arms, and quietly awaiting the approach of death. It was evident that
they had been crazed by hunger, thirst, and cruel treatment, as their
hands and arms were lacerated, as if they had struggled to tear the
flesh from their own limbs. Luckily, we had a skillful surgeon and
physician among our party, who immediately set about restoring them. We
gave them liberally of our clothing and sewed blankets into skirts, so
that they were soon as comfortable as could be expected. It was about
two hours before sundown when we discovered them on a high plain,
between the waters of the Colorado and the Double Mountain fork of the
Brazos; and I do not think they could have survived more than thirty-six
hours longer if left to themselves.
We started that night and went a short distance, and in the morning
began our journey to the settlements in earnest. On the Clear fork of
the Brazos the party separated; those of us who belonged down the
country taking the route to Gatesville, while the friends and neighbors
of the girls made haste to restore them to their sorrow-stricken parents
and family. It was some time before they were sufficiently recovered to
tell us their heart-rending story. Although they expressed their
gratitude in the most fervent manner, and their eyes beamed with delight
at the prospect of being restored to their home, their features wore a
sad expression; and although we did all in our power to revive their
spirits while they were with us, they were never seen to smile.
[Illustration: "His sufferings were excruciating, and the crackling fire
was built so as to throw out a strong heat on his lacerated
back."--=Page 56.=]
This outrage threw the whole frontier into a frenzy of excitement, and
wherever the story of their wrongs was repeated, it enkindled a blaze of
indignation which only the blood of the Comanche could quench.
From this time every species of depredation became common. Horses were
stolen; cattle shot; men, women, and children murdered, and their
residences committed to the flames; the mangled bodies being thrown
within and consumed by the devouring element; and to make matters worse,
the people were unfortunately divided in sentiment, relative to which
was the guilty tribe. One faction, led by the redoubtable John R.
Baylor, ascribed the murders to the Reserve Indians of Texas;
notwithstanding the fact that these tribes were under the care and
supervision of Major Neighbors, a careful, energetic, and strictly
honest agent, who had the roll called frequently; and no warriors were
allowed to be absent from either of the two reservations without a
written permission.
Capt. Ross was the recognized leader of the other party, and contended
stoutly for the innocence of the Reserve Indians, and alleged that the
depredations were committed by the Comanches. But the fact that Baylor
had once been the agent of the upper, or Clear fork Reserves, caused his
statements to be believed, and secured him numerous followers. Major
Neighbors, the agent of the Reserve Indians, denounced him as a liar;
and this was the cause, and the only cause, of Baylor's warlike
demonstration. Raising about four hundred men, he marched to the Lower
Reserve, vowing vengeance at every step. He was met about a mile from
the agency by a small body of Caddoes, Tonchues,[1] and Wacos, and a
skirmish ensued, and Baylor was handsomely whipped, and compelled to
retreat toward the Clear fork of the Brazos. His men then soon began to
break up in squads, and scatter off--some to go home, others to hunt,
while a few of the most daring ones pushed out after the wild Comanches.
While these stirring events were transpiring, Governor Runnells was not
idle. He hastily fitted out a squadron of rangers, under command of
Capt. John Henry Brown, an energetic and courageous man, who had had a
wide experience in previous contests with the Indians, and was perfectly
familiar with the frontier. This command was mustered at Belton, in Bell
county, and left for the Indian country about the middle of June. I
enlisted for six months, unless sooner discharged, and I presume the
others entered for the same term.
Perhaps a description of our appearance will interest the reader.
Imagine two hundred men dressed in every variety of costume, except the
ordinary uniform, armed with double-barreled shot-guns, squirrel rifles,
and Colt's six shooters, mounted on small, wiry, half wild horses, with
Spanish saddles and Mexican spurs; unshaven, unwashed, undisciplined,
but brave and generous men, riding pell-mell along roads, over the
prairies, and through the woods, and you will be able to form a correct
conception of a squad of Texan Rangers on the march. In such a band it
is impossible to distinguish officers from privates, as the former have
no distinct dress; and all act alike.
Usually, we encamped in a hollow square, placing our tents at regular
intervals around the outside. The horses were tied to stakes by a forty
foot rope, and allowed to graze outside the camp until "retreat," when
they were led inside, and the rope shortened. Guards were posted outside
the tents, and at some distance off; while the horse guards were inside
the square. From Belton, we started in the direction of Gatesville,
going up Cow House creek, and crossing the Owl creek mountains.
Encamping on Owl creek, we disposed ourselves for the night, and felt
felicitated at the prospect of several hours' rest after a hard day's
travel; but our hopes were fallacious.
At about two o'clock in the morning, when all were wrapped in deep
slumber--the previous quiet having been perfect--we were suddenly
aroused by a terrific scream; the horses surged, and pranced around
their stakes, their eyes glittering, and their nostrils distended, while
they made the air reverberate with sharp piercing snorts of rage and
fear. It became evident that an enemy of no mean pretensions was upon
us; and the men, springing to their guns, at once prepared for a
defense. For perhaps five minutes the camp was hushed and still; then
again that fearful shriek rang out, and a large panther sprang from a
tree almost over the Captain's tent, seized a piece of raw beef, which
lay convenient, and was off with his booty so suddenly, that not a shot
was fired. The animal was so large and powerful, that although the beef
weighed at least thirty pounds, yet its flight was not in the least
impeded. After indulging in a hearty laugh, and numerous speculations as
to how the animal passed the guards unobserved, quiet was restored in
the camp; and while most of the men again resigned themselves to
slumber, the old hunters gathered in groups around the camp-fires,
"spinning yarns," and relating remarkable adventures with "panter,"
"bar," and catamount, till daylight.
On the following day we passed through Gatesville, and encamped on the
north side of town. The inhabitants insisted on presenting us with
cakes, and pies, in lavish profusion, simply because, as one old man
expressed it, while dealing out a basket full: "youre gwine whar you
wont git no more soon." From Gatesville, our route lay through the
"Cross Timbers," to the Red fork of the Brazos. We hunted deer, wild
turkeys, and musk hogs; fished in the little streams on the route; had
bullfights at almost every camp; had horse-races, foot-races, and all
sorts of sports; had plenty to eat and drink; and, in short, a good time
generally.
About the 8th of July, we reached the Caddoe village, and encamped at a
famous chalybeate spring, the waters of which are slightly tinctured
with salt. It was some time before we could reconcile ourselves to the
drinking of salt water, but as it was all that was to be had, we were
compelled to come to it. After we had pitched our tents, I was detailed
with a squad of fifteen, to accompany Captain Brown to the agency, where
he had orders to report.
After scrambling over a very high mountain, and getting a horse killed,
and a man accidently shot in the leg, we came in sight of the agency,
where everything appeared to be in a high state of excitement. Captain
Ross, the sub-agent, and Captain Plummer, commanding the United States
regulars, at the post, had mistaken us for Baylor's men, and had
accordingly prepared for a vigorous defense. The Indians were mustered
in the rear of the regulars, who were drawn up in line, so as to command
the approaches to the palisade fort; while two pieces of artillery,
loaded with grape, were placed so as to sweep the road, by which we were
approaching, and a small body of cavalry stood prepared to distinguish
itself, whenever opportunity offered. We held on the even tenor of our
way, until arriving within short pistol range, when the troops were
dismissed, and all gathered around us, to know who we were, where we
came from, what we were going to do, and _how_ we were going to do it?
They were glad to see us, and treated us with every kindness. When
Captain Brown explained his business to the Indians, and told them he
had orders to whip Baylor off and away from their country, they were so
delighted, that they could scarcely find words or means to express their
joy. The chiefs of the different tribes crowded around the Captain,
followed by their principal warriors, and in their eloquent sign
language, and in broken English, expressed their friendship, as
manifestly, as the most polished phrases could have portrayed it.
This was the Lower Reserve--the upper manifesting a different temper.
Their head chief, Katampsie, possessed a warlike disposition.
Exceedingly suspicious in all his dealings with the whites, and crafty
as a fox, he was not so easily satisfied of our good intentions. He was
at a loss to understand how one portion of the people of Texas should
want to wage war on him, while another party, claiming to be the troops
of the governor, should come professing friendship to the Indians, and
hostilities to the white men, who had recently paid him a visit. He
knew, and recognized no authority but the United States, and his own
free will. When, therefore, he was informed that we were ordered to
shoot any of his warriors found off the reservation, he regarded us as
open enemies, and he himself was the first to set our authority at
defiance.
After the first interview, we went back to our camp at the Caddoe
village. A few days afterward, Lieut. Tob. Carmack, with twelve men was
sent up the Clear fork of the Brazos, with orders to scour the river
bottom, in every direction, to see that none of the wild Comanches were
lurking in the thick timber along the river--a very dangerous service;
and we had orders not to fire a shot in any emergency, unless at an
Indian.
After scouting the country a considerable time, we discovered signs of
Indians, of a nature to lead us to believe that we were in the vicinity
of a considerable force of Comanche, or Kiowa warriors. We struck the
trail just before night, and consequently had but little daylight by
which to follow it; and we consequently left it, and went down near the
river bank to encamp. We tied our horses in a well concealed place, and
established ourselves in a strongly defensive position, by the side of a
bluff, on the second bank of the river, and kindled but a single small
fire, to favor the guard, who had to watch both camps, and horses; after
which we laid down to sleep. I came on guard, as the first relief, and
Old Sharp as the second; and I was also to stand the last relief, in
place of a young man who was sick; so that the guard duty for that night
fell exclusively on Old Sharp and myself. Sharp was an experienced
hunter and woodsman, and had had many an encounter with the Indians. He
was social and lively, and about forty years of age; well built, with
dark, keen eyes, black hair, and of swarthy complexion, with wiry
frame; he was active and brave, and he received the name of "Old Sharp,"
not on account of age, but because of his expression and quaint manner.
Never was the camp safer from surprise, than when he stood sentinel.
Time wore on slowly that night, as it is a lonely task to stand guard,
in the depths of the trackless forests of the southwest, with no sound
reaching the ear, except the twitter of the night bird, the hoot of the
owl, the occasional sighing of a tired horse, or the breathing of one's
wearied companions. Perhaps the sentinel, at such a time, may find that
his thoughts have left him, and are wandering away amid more pleasant
scenes--by chance reveling with delighted friends, or lingering around
loved ones at home, who anxiously await his tardy coming. It is a cruel
thing, when one is lost in sweet reverie, to be recalled to a sense of
his isolated and dangerous situation, by the melancholy howl of a wolf,
the agonized screaming of the panther, or, as is often the case, by the
muffled sound of moccasined feet, stealing around him. Not unfrequently
is the sentinel first made aware of the danger which surrounds him, by
the sharp twang of the bowstring, and the plunging of an arrow deep into
his flesh. I had become wearied with watching on this night, and my mind
was lost in a dreamy reverie; I had done my best to pierce the gloom of
the forest with my eye, in order to detect the slightest movement; I had
listened to every sound, with an eagerness, which those who have stood
sentinel, and have had the lives of hundreds of their companions
entrusted to their care, can readily comprehend; I saw around me the
sleeping forms of my companions, and felt, and knew, that upon my
watchfulness, and fidelity, depended their safety, and their lives. My
time had passed away slowly enough. Not an unwonted sound had broken in
upon the solemn stillness of the night; and at length, when my time had
expired, I went to arouse Old Sharp; but had scarcely touched him, when
a loud rattling of rocks at the water edge, brought him to his feet
instantaneously. "What's that?" said he, in a whisper. "Horse loose, I
reckon," was my reply, in an undertone, and leaving Sharp on guard, I
slipped down to the river bank, which was here about eight feet high,
and perpendicular. I was advancing rapidly, with my left hand raised
before me, to protect my face from overhanging boughs, and my right on
the stock of my "Navy Six," when the sound of rattling rocks was
repeated, but I failed to detect the hard ring of horses' hoofs, and I
therefore at once concluded an Indian was secreted in the vicinity. I
was going rapidly toward the sound, which, in turn, seemed to approach
me, when I suddenly stepped over the bank down on the hard rocks, and
found myself confronted by a full grown black bear; indeed, I had almost
fallen on his head.
I sprang to my feet without delay, and drew my pistol as quickly as
possible, but it was too late. Just as I regained my feet, the bear
reared upon his hind legs, bellowed piteously with fright, almost turned
a back summersault, and then fled precipitately across the shoal, and
into the thickets on the opposite bank of the river.
Returning to Sharp, he wanted to know what the "row" was, and I informed
him that it was a bear that had made the noise. "Yes, yes," he replied,
"but I allowed you had knifed the 'cuss,' from the way he 'bellered.'"
This was the first time I thought of my knife, though I then carried a
splendid Bowie knife in my belt. The bear had awaked some of the men by
his bellowing, but as soon as they discovered that no harm had been
done, and that the "varmint" had made his escape, they lazily rolled
themselves up in their blankets and slept again.
Sharp was fully aroused by this little incident, but was not at all
pleased that I had suffered the "bar" to escape. "You had oughter have
knifed him," he insisted; but I was satisfied to let the bear off with
Uncle Toby's address to the fly: "go, poor devil, the world is big
enough for me and thee."
Old Sharp now seated himself on the ranger's chair, that is, an inverted
saddle, and I took a seat beside him, to see what would turn up next, or
if our nocturnal friend would pay us another visit. The little affair at
once roused in Old Sharp's mind the recollection of many a scene, and
hair-breadth escape, and he went on to relate several adventures of his
own, with "bar;" our conversation, of course, being carried on in a
whisper; and he concluded his narratives with: "but la, boy, the bars
a'in't savage in this country like they are furder north; they git
plenty to eat in the southern country, but furder north, 'specially in
the winter season, when pressed with hunger, they git terribly severe."
By the time he had concluded his stories, I was too sleepy to continue
the confab, so I picked out a good place by the side of an old log,
where there were plenty of dry leaves, for a bed, and laid down to
sleep, although I was some distance from the remainder of the party. I
had been asleep some time, when I felt a sense of closeness or warmness,
and woke up; and judge my surprise on finding myself entirely covered up
with the leaves, and I felt Sharp's hand upon me, at the same moment.
"Come, my boy," said he, "there is danger here."
In an instant I was on my feet, rifle in hand, ready for any emergency.
"Injuns?" I asked.
"Look thar," said he, pointing to a dark object, slowly retreating into
the shadows of the timber.
Instantly I brought my rifle to bear upon it, when Sharp laid his hand
on my shoulder, saying, in a whisper,
"Stop, boy, thar's Injuns about, and ye musn't shoot."
At this moment, the animal turned around, and came back a few paces
toward us, stopped with one fore foot partially raised, and glared upon
us in an apparently mingled rage and astonishment. Sharp only tightened
his grip on my shoulder, and whispered:
"Look him right straight in the eyes, boy."
Instinctively I did as I was ordered; never moving a muscle, but gazing
straight into those two great, fiery eyeballs. We stood thus for perhaps
twenty seconds, when the animal, putting its foot softly to the ground,
stepped half a dozen paces toward us, and stooped upon its hinder legs
for a moment, while its tail moved gracefully to and fro. It eyed us
thus for perhaps five seconds, then turned itself and again retreated
into the depths of the forest, looking back as it went, until it got a
considerable distance from us, when it uttered a scream so loud and
shrill, that it echoed through the woods like the shriek of a terrified
woman, except that it was louder than the human voice. It was a panther
of the largest size; and as it disappeared, Old Sharp relaxed his grasp
upon my shoulder, saying slowly:
"I thought that varmint war about to give us some trouble. Pick up your
blanket, boy, and come up where we kin see the horses, thar's danger
here; thar's Injuns in these woods. I've bin oneasy for some time; wake
up t'other chap if you're sleepy, we must have two men out at onct."
I declined, however, to awaken the sick man, who, though an agreeable
companion and a good soldier, was in too feeble health to endure the
fatigues of so rugged a service. I then informed Sharp that I was
willing to stand with him till morning; and from that time till daylight
nothing occurred to further disturb the camp.
Early next morning we dispatched our breakfast, mounted our horses and
again struck out on the trail, keeping a good lookout for Indians. It
was scarcely half an hour after sunrise when we descried a faint smoke
curling up through the timber on the river bottoms, but apparently not
in the direction in which we were traveling. Leaving the trail, we moved
directly toward the smoke at a charge; and as we entered the timber, we
could see ten or a dozen Indians spring up from the ground, rifles in
hand, the whole party scampering off toward a thicket some distance
away. There was no chance to cut them off from the thicket before they
could enter it; but we kept up the charge until we had come within two
hundred yards of it, when we received a pretty well-directed volley from
behind the bushes. We then hastened to surround the thicket as quickly
as possible; but while we were doing this, the savages mounted their
horses, and charged out upon and over us, I might almost say, for we had
deployed too far to be able to rally in time to prevent it.
Lieut. Carmack rallied his men and made preparations for a pursuit. We
had discharged a portion of our yagers and pistols in the melee, which
had to be reloaded; and one of our men had received a wound in the arm
from an arrow, and two horses had been hurt in the charge. It was a
short job to extract the arrows from the horses, though they fought and
kicked frantically; but not so with the man. Carmack tried to pull the
arrow out, but it was no go. Next Sharp proposed to try it; he had had
some experience in such matters, having been wounded more than once with
arrows in his time. Opening his hands, he took the arrow between his
palms and began rolling and lifting it, at the same time. The wounded
man whose name was Williams, sat still on a log and endured the torture
heroically. It lasted a full minute--this rolling and twisting--before
the dull arrow had cut its way out of the flesh. His success so elated
Sharp, that he held it up triumphantly, saying:
"Thar, now, I told you so; ef you'd a pulled agin on that arrer, you'd a
did the business for that arm. Do you see that?" he continued, pointing
to where the arrow was bent against the bone; "now the wonder is, that
the spike hadn't a come out the fust pull you made."
Hastily bandaging Williams' arm, we mounted and commenced the pursuit.
The Indians had headed directly for the Upper Reserve, now about twelve
miles distant. We pursued till we were satisfied they belonged to
Katampsie's band of Reserve Comanches, when turning, we struck out on
our return to the Caddoe village. While passing through the settlements
we were informed of a great many petty outrages committed by both
Reserves, since their fight with Baylor's party. At one place they had
robbed a man's dwelling; at another, thrown down the fences, and rode
through and trampled down whole fields of corn; one man had been robbed
of a fine mare; several watermelon patches had been plundered; and in
one of the last-named offenses, we chanced to catch a party; but they
mounted their horses and were quickly off. Not content with what they
could eat, each man had some sort of a sack, and some of them, two or
three, all filled with melons. As they fled we closed in on them at a
charge, but our horses were tired, and no match for their fresh ponies.
When the pursuit was at its hight, they hastily cut their sacks loose
from their saddles and dropped them on the trail.
Not desiring to provoke hostilities with the Lower Reserve, to which
these Indians belonged, we did not fire upon them; nor did they attempt
to fire upon us. They perfectly understood our orders whenever found off
their Reserves; but they evidently did not fear us much, for when they
were high up on the mountain, one of them turned in his saddle and
shouted back:
"White man's hoss no good; Injun's hoss heap good; white man no catch
um. You go home; hoss heap sick; me see um." Then, with a loud laugh, he
pressed on with his companions. Carmack did not fancy following them
into the mountain, for there were at least thirty of them; and they
would have been more than a match for us, if they assumed a hostile
attitude. We dismounted here and helped ourselves to the captured melons
and encamped near by for the night. We procured milk from the settlers
in the vicinity; and the women brought us warm bread, fresh butter,
etc., which proved a great treat, as we had been living for some days on
meat alone.
On the following day we rode back to the Caddoe village and once more
found everything in excitement; the cause being a report to the effect
that the wild Comanches had come down on the Lower Reserve and stolen
seventy-five head of horses, and then made good their escape. Captain
Brown, with as many of his men as could be spared, and a large force of
regulars and friendly Indians, were soon on the trail, while a party of
us that were left, had nothing to do but to rest ourselves and horses
until they returned.
About the first of August, Captain Brown sent Captain Knowlin to the
fork, with similar orders given to Lieut. Carmack, viz: to fire on any
of Katampsie's band who might be found off their reservation. We had the
usual amount of sport all the way up the Brazos, killing deer, turkeys
and antelope in abundance, together with a venerable bear, so old she
was nearly toothless. We saw no Indian signs until we got within about
three miles of the Reserve line on the east, when we were suddenly
attacked while at dinner, by about ninety Comanches. Our horses were
concealed in a thicket near by, and were not discovered by the Indians
at all, or it would have been impossible for us to have saved them. We
were seated round in a ring, with our smoking mess pans filled with
stewed venison, in the center, when we were suddenly startled by the
long, fierce war-hoop, and looking up, we saw a large party of Comanches
in full war paint and costume, each with every feather that his vanity,
or the custom of his tribe would prompt or allow him to wear, streaming
in the wind, while their horses were literally bedizzened with paint and
silver plate. The warriors' shields and clothing were likewise spangled
all over with silver; but we had no time to enjoy this splendid array of
barbaric pomp, although it was one possessed of fearful interest to us.
When we first discovered them they were under full headway, coming
around a point of timber; and the next instant they came down upon us at
a charge. We had barely time to seize our rifles, which were lying
beside us, and spring to the side of a house near by, when they sent a
shower of arrows among us. We delivered a hasty but well directed volley
as we ran, and emptied seven of their saddles. Staggered and annoyed at
resistance from so small a party, they circled away to a safe distance,
reformed and charged down upon us again; this time sweeping around us in
a complete circle and getting between us and our horses. But their
arrows flew among us harmlessly, while five more of the assailants fell
from our well directed fire. But they were not yet defeated, and
returned upon us a third time. We were then ordered to aim at their
horses, and I think the bullet of every man must have taken effect, and
some must have got two shots, for we killed fifteen horses, and there
were but thirteen of us in our party.
The Indians now circled away out of sight, around the point of timber
where we had first observed them, and did not return. Presently we saw a
runner start for the village at full speed, and in about half an hour
we could see squaws and boys carrying guns and shot pouches to the
Indians in the timber. Seeing this the Lieutenant inquired:
"What do you say, boys, shall we fight with them?"
"Fight them," was the answer on all sides.
We had a hope of being relieved by the regulars from Camp Cooper, and
this, with our recent success, made us confident of victory. By this
time we could see the Indians filing around the point of timber and
approaching us on foot, in the fullest confidence. They moved on toward
us until nearly within rifle range, when they went down into a deep
ravine, which ran nearly in a half circle around the house, and about
one hundred and eighty yards distant from it. It was evident from their
deliberate movements, that they intended to make sure work of it this
time, even if it was slow. For my part, I could almost feel the scalp
slip on my head. The savages followed down the ravine and were soon
within short range, and began to peep over the bank at us. We kept a
close watch but did not fire a gun, for we were expecting a charge. We
kept ourselves well sheltered by the corners of the house, while the
Indians hugged the bank. Presently the report of a rifle was heard in
the ravine, which was followed by a volley, almost as well delivered as
if fired by disciplined soldiers. Then was heard the war-whoop, and the
fire became general, but irregular--each man loading and shooting as
fast as possible. We only discharged our rifles when we saw a sure mark,
always taking care that not more than two or three pieces were fired at
a time, holding our loaded guns and pistols ready to receive a charge;
but it did not come, and the Indians, after keeping up a desultory
firing for an hour and a half, struck out for their village, carrying
with them their dead and wounded.
It was apparent that they had been expecting us, their horses being
ornamented and feathered with great care. Their own faces were also
elaborately painted, and they were decked out in their most fanciful war
dress. After they dismounted they fought us with Mississippi rifles;
and, as evidence of the skill with which they were handled, it is only
necessary to state that over fourteen hundred bullets struck the house,
and perhaps as many more whistled disagreeably near to it. As there were
no loop holes in the house, we were compelled to fight around the
corners, which prevented us from doing as much execution as we otherwise
would have done; but with all this, the savages were severely punished,
as we counted eighteen litters taking off dead and wounded, and found,
beside, three corpses which they had been unable to carry away.
As soon as they commenced leaving we began to fear they would be
reinforced and return, and we immediately dispatched a voting man named
Gus Sublett, for the Caddoe village for more men. He was a manly fellow,
and would do as he promised--_go through or die_! We immediately began
to put the house in a good state of defense, cutting loop holes on every
side, and covering the roof with raw hides, to prevent it from being
fired by burning arrows. We had two men badly wounded who claimed
considerable attention, as they suffered severely; one of them, Patrick
O'Brien, having received a ball in his hip, and the other, whose name
was Terry, had been shot in the calf of the leg.
After twenty-eight hours our reinforcements arrived, when we felt a
perfect ability to hold our own; but we were not attacked; the Indians
remaining on the Reserve without any further admonitions. I do not know
that the savages would have left off where they did, had it not been for
the intervention of Major Lieper, their agent, who appeared on the
ground just after the fight was over; and, on our promise to cease
firing, rode over and had a pow wow with Katampsie, in which the latter
expressed a willingness to "quit and call it even," provided we would do
the same; but Captain Knowlin insisted that Katampsie should give us six
sacks of flour and two hundred pounds of bacon, as "blood money;" and to
this he agreed, but refused to let more than three of our men go into
his village after it.
The Indians then gathered up their fallen braves and returned in sullen
silence to their village; but that silence was not long maintained, for
their women speedily began to "howl" the dead. This is a regular
ceremony among them, at which, in addition to outbursts of grief and
exclamations of sorrow from relatives and friends of the deceased, all
the old crones of the tribe join in howling over the remains. An Indian
"wake" is a noisy concern--especially if the deceased is a man of note.
A wife crops her hair off, even around her neck, and scarifies her
breasts, arms, and thighs, as a token of mourning for her husband; and a
daughter undergoes similar manipulations on the death of her father. The
scarifying knife is fixed in the end of a stick, so as to gauge the cut
to a certain depth, generally well through the skin, in order to form a
tolerably broad scar. Although the process is a severe one, they not
only readily endure it, but use the knife on themselves.
On the day following the fight Sterling White, Sublett, and myself went
into the village after our "blood money." When Katampsie saw us coming
he sprang to his feet, vowing vengeance. The old fellow had several
squaws about his tent, who, I suppose were his wives, as they all seized
hold of him and held him tightly as soon as they saw us prepare to
defend ourselves. The chief raved and tore, jumped up and down, and
cursed us in Spanish, finally worrying the women down till they were
obliged to turn him loose; when, instead of carrying out his threats, he
quietly sat down on a dilapidated cracker box, folded his arms across
his breast, and appeared for some time lost in meditation.
Again we pressed our demand, when he arose, and in company with some of
his leading warriors, went with us to Major Lieper, and requested him to
fill our requisition from the government stores, which was promptly
done, and we left the inhospitable village for camp, well satisfied that
Katampsie's warriors were not inclined to back their chief in his
hostile intentions toward the whites.
A small force was left to patrol the country up and down, to see that
the Indians obeyed orders, while the remainder of our party returned to
the camp at the Caddoe village. The men at the upper agency were left
under charge of Captain Knowlin, while Captain Brown, with the main
force, went down the country to guard the more exposed settlements.
While we were near the Caddoe village, a reliable citizen came into our
camp and reported having seen a considerable force of Indians on Rock
creek, a little over twenty miles distant. Judging from the intelligence
received as to the number of warriors, Captain Brown thought it prudent
to prepare for a defense of his camp rather than to start in pursuit. We
were out of ammunition; and to procure a supply, it was necessary for
some one to go to Belknap, twenty-two miles distant, and it fell to my
lot to be the messenger. It was by no means a pleasant task, partly
because the weather was exceedingly hot, but especially because all the
Indians in that region had come to look upon the Rangers as enemies. I
passed through the agency, and as long as I was near the regulars I felt
perfectly safe; but was a little doubtful as to personal safety outside
of their jurisdiction. About half way between the agency and Belknap, in
going around a short turn in the road, I met sixteen warriors riding
along at a walk. Instantly the foremost of them strung their bows and
unslung their quivers; but I rode deliberately and boldly up, till
within the length of a lance of them, when one of them made signs for me
to stop, which I did. Four of them tried to ride behind me, but having
seen them string their bows, I refused to let them pass; at the same
time throwing my horse around so that a gigantic forest tree covered my
back.
They affected not to understand me, when I drew my pistol from my belt,
and said to them in Mexican, "_parreti, amigos_!"[2] and immediately
they stopped, with a cunning laugh, and turned to their chief, as if
awaiting orders. The Chief, whose name I learned was Placido, and who
was afterward my firm friend, seemed to regard me with suspicion. Eyeing
me from head to foot, he asked me some questions in his own tongue; but
I told him I did not understand him; but he went on, delivering a
lengthy discourse, still speaking in Indian; and seemed to regard me
with an air that said, "I know very well what I am saying, and you must
understand it."
[Illustration: "Seeing myself in a critical position, I drew a box of
prairie matches from my pocket, and then, all at once, threw them into
one of the grass lodges, and in an instant it was in a blaze."--=Page
66=.]
I now said in Mexican--"_no entiende_"--I don't understand. He then
looked at me, for some time, and inquired my name, speaking in Mexican,
and I told him my patronimic. He then accused me of being a Texan and an
enemy. I understood him now perfectly; his eyes fairly blazed with
malicious anger, as I deliberately eyed him from head to foot. I began
to think it was a mixed case as to whether or not I passed further
inspection. The savages stood around me, in a half circle, seemingly
determined to know, for certain, all about me; and at the same time, the
lack of a medium to convey ideas, rendered our situation peculiarly
embarrassing, particularly as they had already begun to show
unmistakable signs of hostility. They held a short consultation in their
own tongue, after which the Chief again asked me my name, speaking in
Mexican. I again favored him with it, but it was evidently not the
information he sought; and he hesitated a moment as if to recall some
forgotten word, when he said:
"Donde vienne usted?" (where do you come from?)
Without hesitation, I answered, "From Fort Arbuckle."
"Por donde vamos?" (where are you going?) he continued.
"To Fort Belknap," was my answer.
"Que quiere alla?" he persisted in inquiring.
I told him I had a "big letter" for Captain Thompson, from Captain
Plummer, and that I was a United States soldier, and not a Texan; and
that I was friendly to them so long as they were friendly to the United
States soldiers; and this being delivered in a very earnest manner, and
tolerable lingo, made some impression; for, pointing to my drawn pistol,
he indicated a desire to have it returned to its scabbard. I pointed to
their bows, and intimated that I wanted them returned to their quivers.
They looked at one another, and laughed, and then unstrung their bows,
while I, at the same time, put my pistol in my belt.
After expressing great love for the United States soldiers, and undying
hatred to all Texans, they bid me "Adios," and galloped away; not,
however, until they had bantered me for a horse race and a horse "swap."
I watched them till they had disappeared, and then resumed my journey. I
got through all right, and with my ammunition and carts, returned to
Caddoe Village.
On my way back, I heard most piercing cries of pain, near an Indian
camp; and as it was quite dark, I approached as nearly as possible, in
order to discover whence it proceeded. Riding cautiously, and keeping on
soft ground, I approached within one hundred and fifty yards of a large
fire, from which the shrieks appeared to emanate, when I discovered
about forty warriors in a circle around a tree to which a prisoner was
tied. From his appearance, I took him to be a Comanche; and his captors
were trying his manhood by threshing him with a raw-hide rope. His
sufferings were excruciating; and the crackling fire was built so as to
throw out a strong heat on his lacerated back. He was greatly exhausted
when I saw him, and he was not bearing himself with that stoicism which
the Indian is supposed to possess. He was probably put to death that
night. His captors were exceedingly grave, and quiet, during the short
time I watched them; not one moving from his place except the one who
applied the lash.
The victim had probably ventured too far, while following the avocation
of a Comanche warrior, viz.: horse stealing, and had fallen into the
hands of the Philistines, who, although they themselves might not set a
better example, were determined to convince the unlucky one that it was
a great crime to be caught. Fearing that, if discovered, I might become
more than a disinterested spectator of the scene, and not relishing the
idea of assisting the prisoner in playing his particular role, I rode
away as quietly as I approached, and put out for our camp, in a hurry.
Residents of a civilized country will find it difficult to believe that
I witnessed this scene within three miles of the agency, and that the
actors were Delawares, who have been for years under the supervision of
the United States authorities; yet the statement is as true as it is
lamentable.
_CHAPTER III._
MORE ADVENTURE--MUSTERED OUT.
The people on the frontier became daily more and more incensed against
the Indians; and although they knew the government intended to remove
them at the earliest practicable moment, to the head waters of the False
Washita river, it required the utmost vigilance to keep citizens off the
Reserves and the Indians on them. At length the preparations for the
removal were complete, and on the 15th of August, 1859, the march to the
Washita agency began. The affair was superintended exclusively by United
States troops, under command of Major Geo. H. Thomas, now Major General
Thomas, who managed matters in an able manner, and gave complete
satisfaction to the people of the frontier. Every warrior was compelled
to be present and answer to his name, at roll call, in the same manner
as the regular soldiers; and in this way, very few had an opportunity to
drop out and lay back, to wreak private vengeance on the settlers;
nevertheless, fearing that some might escape the vigilance of the
regulars, we had orders to follow up, and arrest or kill any Indian
found straggling more than three miles to the rear of the column. We had
but little to do except exercise vigilance. One adventure, however,
shows the partiality of the Indian for horse-flesh. We discovered a
party of horsemen, one day, at a distance from us, and near the west
bank of the Trinity river. We were on rising ground, and they had not
discovered us, and we therefore hastily withdrew and took down the river
under cover of the timber, directly toward them; they were on one side
of the river and we on the other. There were ten or a dozen of them, and
were apparently leading more horses than they were riding. We rode on
till within about a mile of the party, when we could plainly discern
that they were Indians, and immediately we gave chase. Our horses were
put to their best speed, and we rapidly gained on the savages. One by
one their led horses were turned loose, while the "quirt"[3] was
mercilessly used to those they were riding. Soon their baggage was cut
loose and left on the trail to facilitate their escape; and after this
the Indians made much better time, and it became, for a while, about an
even race, we neither gaining nor losing anything; when at length the
Indians began to scatter, with a view to keeping out of our way till
night, when they hoped to escape. Two of their horses were evidently
badly wearied, and were rapidly "giving out;" and, therefore, Jack
Anderson and myself singled them out and followed them, till they
abandoned the animals, which they did in the mouth of the rocky gorge
which led up into a mountain. The savages were about a quarter of a mile
ahead of us, and consequently when we reached the spot, they were
already far up the side of the mountain, which was almost inaccessible;
and seeing that it would be impossible to overtake them, we caught the
abandoned horses and started for our rendezvous on the Little Washita
river. We were much wearied, having run our horses, as we afterward
discovered, about thirty-two miles. We had a rough time finding our way
through a strange country to an unknown place during the night; but it
was accomplished. We found about one-half of the command assembled on
our arrival.
A small detachment was sent out to scout through the country in the rear
of the Indians as far as Red river crossing, while the remainder lay
encamped on the Little Washita, up which stream we reconnoitered till we
reached its head. We then proceeded across to the head-waters of the
Brazos, near the junction of the Double Mountain fork, where we encamped
in an old, deserted cabin on the waters of the Red fork, picketing our
horses on short rope, and putting out a strong guard, for we had been
following a trail all day which seemed to be about two days old. During
the night we were once more visited by a panther, which got in among our
horses, and made them perfectly frantic with fear. I was on guard at the
time, and as it passed very near me I was in nearly the same condition
as the animals. As it was between myself and the camp, I dare not shoot
without danger of hurting either the men or horses, so that I was
obliged to let it pass. It walked along very slowly and deliberately,
apparently inspecting each horse separately; when presently, as if
satisfied in its own mind on some important point, it turned and trotted
out over my beat, eyeing me suspiciously all the time. It made for the
timber, and when it got about thirty yards from where I stood, I blazed
away with my shot-gun, which was charged with heavy buckshot. The
panther bounded into the air, and as it again reached the ground, it
whirled its head around, and bit its side, at the same time uttering
most doleful screams. Knowing that I had done a rash thing in wounding
it in the night, I was considering the propriety of "falling back on the
reserve," when it suddenly seemed to comprehend my intentions, and
started for me. I now saw that there was no chance for retreat. He
cleared nearly half the distance which separated us at the first bound.
Quick as thought I brought down my gun to fire the other barrel; but
before I had time to pull, half a dozen guns cracked near me, and the
panther once more bounded in the air, and fell again to the earth in the
agonies of death. This was the first time I thought of the camp. The men
in it, having heard my shot, rushed out ready for any emergency. I was
considerably relieved when I saw the panther fall, but fearing lest he
might rise again, I fired my remaining load into his side. Some of the
men brought a chunk of fire, and we examined the body, and found it
literally riddled with shot. The animal was both large and old.
This was during the last relief, and as daylight was near at hand, the
men did not again go to bed, and I was accordingly relieved from watch,
and I determined to pay my respects to some turkeys which I had heard
for some time "gobbling" in the distance. Following the direction of the
sound I came to a tree on the bank of a creek, and about three quarters
of a mile from camp. Its branches were literally covered by
turkeys--the number being not less than forty or fifty. I fired and
brought down two, and was tying their feet together, when in the
distance I heard a yell as if from a single Indian. Now, thought I,
here's for glory; I'm in for a single-handed fight, and off I started in
the direction of the sound, taking good care to scrutinize every place
that could conceal a foe. I advanced rapidly, but cautiously, for nearly
a mile when again the shrill whoop rang out, but apparently as far off
as ever, and in the same direction. But this time the yell was answered,
and by at least thirty voices. This was decidedly more than I had
bargained for; it was a perfect extinguisher upon my desire to
distinguish myself, and my ambition for a single-handed fight gave way
to apprehensions for personal safety. I felt certain of my ability to
fight and kill one Indian, but I did not care to engage a greater
number, and I struck out for camp in a hurry. Passing the place where I
"hung my turkeys up," I shouldered the game, and "made tracks
frequently." When in camp I threw down my turkeys, and got soundly
lectured by all hands, as is usual in such cases, for my foolhardiness;
after which I reported to Captain Brown that I had heard Indians.
Breakfast was soon dispatched, horses saddled and mounted, and we
started in the direction of the sounds. After traveling about five miles
we came to another old house, which, although long deserted by its
owner, had evidently been occupied the previous night. A fire was
burning on the hearth, and part of the carcass of a deer was lying on
the ground outside; and there were horse-tracks all around the door, as
if a party had just mounted and ridden away. Taking their trail, which
was broad and plain, we followed at a gallop nearly all day; at times,
however, losing the trail, and then, of course, consuming time in
finding it again. About noon we passed a herd of cattle, several of
which had arrows sticking in their bodies, and were piteously moaning
with pain. During the day we passed several little piles of sticks
crossed on the trail. The Indians evidently had one or more prisoners,
and the sticks meant that they were to be tortured and burned at the
stake. This gave our energies a fresh impetus, and we redoubled our
exertions to overtake the party. Encamping for the night we pushed on
again, following the trail, on the next day, and at about ten o'clock we
found where the Indians had killed a mare, and after taking out her
colt, had devoured it--a very common habit of the Comanches when hard
pushed by a pursuing party. We hurried along till we came in sight of
the hills at the head of the Big Washita river, having ridden at a
gallop nearly all day. Toward night we came to a deserted camp which it
was evident the Indians had but recently left; meat was still roasting
over the fire on their broiling sticks, and a gourd was on the ground
filled with water from a spring near by. The water had not yet become
warm, though the sun shone directly upon it. No shoe tracks were found
near to indicate the presence of white persons; all the feet had been
moccasined, and it was also ascertained that one little child was with
the party. We likewise found a strip of calico with a broad hem on it.
Near the camp it was evident that a captive had been bound, and cut
loose in a hurry to escape. After examining the ground carefully we came
to the conclusion that the prisoner, whoever he might be, was, at least,
an Indian, as was also the little child. We discovered that the savages
had scattered from this camp in different directions, and we found on
one of the trails little bits of paper, strewn along at intervals for
several hundred yards; and a little further along was a pass, given by
Major Leiper to a Reserve Comanche of an unpronounceable name.
Concluding that this was the right trail, we traveled as fast as our now
jaded and starved horses could go for another two hours, when night came
on, and we encamped on the trail, and rested till morning. We were now
on the very head-waters of the Big Washita, about one hundred and fifty
miles north of Fort Belknap. Our horses were jaded, and we tired and out
of provisions, so that the Captain resolved to abandon the pursuit, and
return to our old camp on the Little Washita. Traveling leisurely so as
to recruit our horses, we arrived at our destination, and found Captain
Knowlin and his company anxiously awaiting our arrival.
Having performed the duties assigned to us in that section, we rested
two or three days, and took up our line of march for Fort Belknap.
Heartily tired of an exclusively meat diet, our lively imaginations
conjured up pictures of--bread and butter; for which our stomachs longed
with a hunger that could be appeased by bread and butter alone; and this
article of diet constituted the principal topic of conversation all the
way to Belknap. At Fort Belknap Captain Brown received orders to return
to Belton to muster out his men, as they had now accomplished the
purpose for which they were mustered in. We had glorious times in
fishing and hunting all the way back; traveling all the time just as
fancy or caprice dictated, and living off the best of everything which
the country afforded. On our arrival at Belton the people gave us a
hearty welcome, after which we were honorably discharged; though we had
to wait for our pay till it could be brought from Washington City to
Austin, which consumed several weeks; after which we received it, at the
rate of forty-six dollars per month, in gold.
_CHAPTER IV._
WITH THE RANGERS AGAIN--BUFFALO HUNT--A LONELY JOURNEY.
I now occupied my time in taming wild horses and hunting, having an
occasional chase after the Indians, until winter, when I operated with a
Minute Company from Burnett county; our duties being merely to guard the
frontier from invasion. A Lieut. Hamilton was in command of our company,
and there was a _chain_ of companies of the same class, extending along
the entire frontier, numbering nearly twenty-five men each, under the
command of a Lieutenant. They kept up a constant patrol, across the
country rendering it exceedingly unsafe for the Indians to venture down
on the settlements. Nevertheless, their depredations continued to be of
frequent occurrence. The savages would come in by the mountain trails,
on the Colorado river, until they would get far down in the settlements,
when they would scatter out in small parties of from two to ten, and, by
traveling in the dead hours of the night, they would reach points which
they considered secure; then, by a preconcerted signal, they would raise
havoc in perhaps a dozen different places, at the same time. This kept
the country in a constant fever of excitement, and, as is usual on such
occasions, no one knew who to trust. Although the Minute Men were ever
on the alert, and zealous in their duty, still the Indians were crafty,
and restless in their hostility toward the whites; and, of course, they
often succeeded in their purposes; and this gave rise to many complaints
against the Rangers; and they were charged with being careless in the
discharge of their duties. The two parties referred to in a preceding
chapter, continued their contentions without intermission; and while the
excitement was at its hight, the official term of Governor Runnells
expired, and Gen. Sam. Houston was inaugurated in his place. The
General was entirely conversant with the condition of affairs, and the
first thing he did was to organize a regiment of Rangers, under command
of Col. M. T. Johnston, an able officer, and experienced in Indian
warfare; and in addition, he had been engaged in the Regulator and
Moderator war in Texas, and also in the contest with Mexico, where he
had taken part in the storming of Monterrey. He soon enlisted a fine
regiment, which was ably officered; and the governor and people
naturally expected great success to attend its efforts. Houston's design
was to carry the war into the Comanche and Kiowa country.
I enlisted at Waco, under command of Capt. J. M. Smith, who was likewise
an experienced soldier, and well qualified to do service in an Indian
war. Col. Johnston ordered the different companies to rendezvous at Fort
Belknap, on the 1st of March, 1860. Our company traveled up the Brazos
river from Waco, where it was recruited, to Fort Belknap, and was the
first on the ground.
A few days before we arrived there, a young woman--Miss Murphy--was
carried off from Murphy's ranch, near Belknap. So secretly had the
affair been managed, that not a trace of her was ever discovered; and
all that was known of the presence of the Indians, was, that a few
moccasin tracks were seen in the vicinity of the house. Miss Murphy had
gone to the front yard for wood, while her sister-in-law, a Mrs. Murphy,
was cooking in the house, with the door leading to the yard, wide open.
The young lady did not return with the wood, and Mrs. Murphy went out to
look for her; but failing to see her, at once blew the horn, which soon
brought the men to the house; but after the most thorough search, no
traces of her could be discovered. The neighbors were aroused, and the
search continued, but with no better success than on the previous day;
though it was evident that she had been carried off by the Indians.
Parties scoured the country far and wide, in the hope of finding some
traces of her, but she was never heard of more; at least so long as I
was in the State.
We had scarcely pitched our tents at Belknap, before a citizen came into
camp with the intelligence that the Indians were depredating on the
settlements but three miles distant. We mounted in haste, and were soon
off. We were not troubled by delays in putting our army stores in
motion, for the reason that we had no commissary department, and nothing
for one to do; nor was any time consumed in drawing and cooking rations,
for we had none.
We repaired to the place at once, and found that a man named Peabody had
been brutally murdered. He was shot with arrows, eight or ten times, and
then lanced as often, after which he was scalped. The murder was
committed by nine Comanches, in full view of seven white men, who, had
they been worthy of their race--of the name of men even--could have
whipped the savages off, and perhaps saved Peabody's life. They alleged
a fear that a greater number of Indians were in the vicinity; and so
they mounted their horses and left the prisoner to his fate, in full
view of his agonized family, and within fifty yards of his own home.
Having committed the deed, the Indians mounted and were off, as rapidly
as their horses could carry them.
Capt. Smith took prompt measures to secure redress, and inflict
vengeance upon the savages. He confiscated all the flour in the
neighborhood, and put all the women to baking bread. The murder was
committed just at sunset, and we were there and making preparations for
the pursuit by dark; and at daylight the next morning, were off on the
trail, which we followed with unceasing energy till stopped by
darkness--the Indians, all the time, flying in the direction of the head
waters of the Big Washita.
The trail indicated that they were traveling leisurely; and as they took
no pains to break the trail, we concluded that they were young warriors.
We encamped for the night, and at daylight were again in pursuit, as
rapidly as horse flesh could carry us. Our gait, nearly the whole time,
was a swift gallop; and from indications, it was plain that the Indians
were accelerating or "mending" their pace. At dark, we again encamped on
the trail, and near the head of the Big Washita; and we passed the
night without any disturbance; and at dawn were off once more in
pursuit. But now we came to considerable sign, as if there might be an
important village in the vicinity; and following a path that seemed to
be extensively traveled, we wound around between two high hills, and
into a long, narrow valley, within a short distance of a village
containing eighteen lodges. Everything betokened that the place had been
evacuated very recently. A few horses were staked out to graze near one
of the lodges, and for that point we charged at full speed; and as we
dashed up, we were saluted with the sharp report of several rifles, of
no light caliber; after which arrows fell thick and fast. An order was
then given to surround the whole place. My horse being somewhat
fractious and a good deal braver than I was, dashed right in among the
lodges. Seeing myself in a critical position, I drew a box of prairie
matches from my pocket, and, lighting them all at once, threw them into
one of the dry grass lodges, and in an instant it was in a blaze; and
from it the flames spread rapidly, till they reached the one in which
the Indians were. The savages kept up a pretty good fire for so small a
number, until they saw the flames, when all was still as death for a
minute or more. Our men ceased firing, to let me have a chance to get
out; but my horse continued unmanageable; and though, when the heat
became intense, he made a few lunges to escape it, he again wheeled
around, gazing at the lurid flame, heedless of rein, voice or spur.
Suddenly the Indians began to show a disposition to come out. They made
a racket at the door of the lodge, which they had barricaded, with such
lumbering stuff as they could command; and they were now pulling it
down. In the meantime, our heavy rifle balls were penetrating the grass
walls from every side. Suddenly the Indians raised a piercing whoop, and
five of their number charged out. As they showed themselves, we
discharged more than a hundred guns upon them, and the whole five fell,
either killed outright or mortally wounded; and four more were killed in
the lodge.
We now took time to examine the place, and discovered that in many of
the wigwams were clothing, buffalo robes, and cooking utensils--evidence
that the occupants had but recently decamped. In one of them we captured
a large quantity of jerked buffalo meat, which was about the only thing
saved from the flames.
As soon as the Indians who dashed out were disposed of, one of the men
threw a raw-hide rope over the top of the lodge, so that it caught on
some of the projecting poles, and held fast. Instantly a party of men
caught it, and pulled the frail structure over; and by kicking the
burning grass away, we succeeded, after a severe scorching, in dragging
the bodies of those who had remained inside away from the flames. Two of
them had been shot dead, and two severely wounded.
We scoured the country for some distance thoroughly, in the hope of
discovering other villages; but all the signs went to show that there
were no more, and that the inhabitants of the one destroyed had fled
before the arrival of the Indians we had been pursuing, who, doubtless,
did not belong there, but had only fled to it for safety. It is probable
that a party of hunters had seen us long before our arrival, and had
raised the alarm; and as our animals were much fatigued we did not
pursue their trail as the horses ridden by the Indians were, no doubt,
all fresh. We did not recover Peabody's scalp, as it had probably been
hidden by the savages, and was consumed by the fire. The Indians killed
were all Comanches, but the village had been built and owned by the
Wichitas.
We encamped at the spring near the village for a good rest; and I was
soon astonished to find that I was looked upon as a very brave man; and
as such I was highly complimented by my officers. At first I was
somewhat flattered; but I soon remembered about my horse, and I told
them that the credit of the whole affair belonged exclusively to him; as
he had carried me where it was exceedingly doubtful that I should have
gone with my own free will.
From this place we crossed the Divide, and went down the Red fork of
the Brazos. High up on this stream we had a grand buffalo chase. Keeping
under cover of a ridge, we deployed as skirmishers, so as to surround as
much ground as possible. The wind favored us, and the buffalos did not
discover us until we had marched up over the ridge, and a considerable
distance down toward them; when they began to manifest some uneasiness,
and the Captain at once ordered a charge. As the notes of the bugle rang
out the animals raised their great shaggy heads in stupefied wonder at
the sudden apparition of three hundred men charging down upon them,
yelling, shouting, laughing, and hurrahing like madmen. With a loud,
quick snort the nearest ones would whirl on their hind feet, and dash
into the herd, spreading panic wherever they went. We soon closed upon
them, and the work of destruction commenced; and the rattle of firearms
was constant. The herd of buffalo seemed to roll like black waves over
the ground, and extended as far as the eye could reach. The earth was
jarred by their heavy, lumbering gait, while the air was filled with
dust, and the ear stunned by the rumbling sound. On and on we went, pell
mell, until buffalo, horse, rider--all, brought up with one grand plunge
in the Red fork of the Brazos. The buffalo surging through the swollen
stream, and reaching the opposite bank, scrambled up it in the wildest
confusion--the strong trampling down the weak or such as were unlucky
enough to fall--each only intent upon escape, and only caring for self.
By the time I and my immediate comrades had reached the river, we found
that many of the rangers had become almost inextricably mixed up with
the buffalo, and a few of them were driven into the water by the
struggling mass; but fortunately they all escaped without severe injury,
and joined again in the exciting, but dangerous sport. Some of the
buffalo bogged down in the quicksand, and were mounted and ridden by a
few of the most reckless of the "boys," at the imminent risk of being
swamped themselves. The sound of the bugle could just be heard above the
din of the chase, calling us to "rally," and we now, for the first time,
surveyed the scene behind us. It would be almost useless for me to
attempt a description of the ground over which we had passed. The dust
hung over the plain in a dense, heavy cloud, but had been lifted
sufficiently high to reveal scores of huge carcasses scattered over the
earth, while yet other scores were rolling upon the ground in the
agonies of mortal wounds; and yet a greater number were staggering and
bellowing under the smart of injuries too trifling to bring them down,
but sufficient to prevent them from keeping up with their unharmed
companions. Here and there, too, was an unlucky rider, who had been
thrown from his horse by accident--perhaps the breaking of a rein, or
the parting of a girth; and in the meantime their steeds were flying
about, neighing for their company, or lying down gasping for breath. A
few unlucky ones were in the melee badly gored by the infuriated bulls,
and it became necessary to lead them back to camp; while a few footmen
were seen moving around, pistols in hand, dispatching some doughty, but
badly-wounded animal.
The killed and wounded amounted to more than five hundred; and when we
had fairly rallied, we commenced in earnest to save the meat. We took
nothing but the humps and a few tongues, leaving the remainder as a
feast for wolves. Those who had lost their horses mounted captured ones,
and we were soon off once more for Fort Belknap. On our arrival, we
found the remainder of the regiment assembled, except one company,
commanded by Captain Ed. Burleson, and which had been in the service for
some time, and was at a point one hundred and fifty miles away, without
an intervening settlement. This wild region we well knew to be a
favorite resort for Comanche and Kiowa hunters, and, therefore, very
dangerous for travelers; yet across it, it became necessary to carry a
dispatch to Captain Burleson, ordering him to report to Colonel Johnston
for duty. I volunteered for the service, and taking five days rations of
bread and bacon, I commenced my lonely journey, and on the first day
made fifty miles. During the day I passed over a good deal of fresh
sign. There had been a shower of rain in the forenoon, and I crossed
trails where the fresh dust was turned up from under the damp soil on
the top; but I saw no Indians. I encamped early, as it was a cloudy
night, and I could not see to travel. I ate my supper, rested awhile,
and then moved to a place about a mile from the road and made my bed in
a new place. This is a common practice among both Indians and Rangers.
Feeling perfectly secure, I slept till morning, and on awaking, looked
to see if my horse was safe, which I soon ascertained was the case; and
then I thought of my breakfast. But judge of my astonishment when I
found it was gone! I soon discovered the fragments of my haversack at a
considerable distance from the tree, where I had hung it up for safe
keeping. It was torn into shreds, and all my good biscuit and bacon
eaten, or carried away. The hard bread, however, was scattered around;
for although a good article of the kind, it had not proved palatable to
my nocturnal visitor; some of it having been chewed up and evidently
dropped in disgust. My bacon had been completely cleaned out--had gone
the way of all flesh. There was enough sign on the ground to convince me
that the robbery had been perpetrated by ten or a dozen "Lober" wolves;
none of the black or grey species being able to reach so high. Imagine
my situation and feelings on making the discovery! A hundred and ten
miles from my place of destination, without a bite to eat, and Indians
so thick around me that I dare not fire a shot, lest I should attract to
me one or more of the straggling bands infesting the country! But there
was nothing to be gained by vain regrets, though much time might be lost
in that way. The contemptible villains that had robbed me, were,
doubtless, at that moment stretched out in some secluded spot taking a
comfortable snooze, or felicitating themselves upon the successful
termination of their enterprise, and the adroit manner in which it had
been executed. The more I studied over it, the madder I got; so I rode
off, pondering on numerous schemes of revenge. I resolved to hold the
whole community responsible for the acts of the individual, and have
ever since took a great amount of solid pleasure in killing a wolf.
[Illustration: "On and on we went, pell-mell, until buffalo, horse,
rider, all, brought up with one grand plunge in the Red Fork of the
Brazos."--Page 68.]
I was a day and a night getting to Camp Colorado, where I called upon
Lieut. Lee, and related my misfortune. He consoled me with a hearty meal
and I rode on. He also tendered my mustang a feed of corn, but the pony,
not being used to such coarse diet, refused it in disgust. I had yet
twenty-eight miles to ride before I reached Home creek, where it was
supposed I would find Burleson. The route was easily found to the
crossing of the creek, but when once there which way to turn I did not
know.
About eleven miles from Camp Colorado, I came to a considerable
mountain, called Santa Anna's peak. Staking my pony so that he could
graze, I climbed to the summit to take a view of the surrounding
country, and see if I could discover smoke indicating a camp. From this
point I had a full view of Home creek, from its source to a point nearly
as far down as its mouth, on the Pecan bayou. While leisurely surveying
the landscape before me, I was startled by a slight sound, like the
breaking of a twig. Knowing that I stood upon dangerous ground, I held
my pistol in my hand; and to cock it was but the work of a moment; and
turning around, judge my astonishment at seeing before me a stalwart
negro, and distant only about ten steps, with a rifle drawn and nearly
ready to fire. There was no mistaking his intention. His eye was a
perfect index to his thoughts and his determination. Quick as thought I
leveled on him, but before I could speak he addressed me in a very quiet
tone:
"Master, don't shoot me."
"Put down your gun, then," I replied, utterly astonished at his coolness
and effrontery, and slowly he let the hammer fall and lowered his piece.
"Master," he said piteously, "you isn't gwine to kill me, is ye?"
"What were you about to do to me?" I demanded; "were you not in the act
of shooting me?"
"Master," he replied, "I'se a poor black man; my life ain't worth
nothin' to you, no how; so jes please let me live a little longer;
please don't shoot me."
Again I demanded why he had drawn his gun on me.
"O please, sir, put down de pistol, den I kin talk to you."
I lowered the pistol, keeping a strict eye on his movements. He prefaced
his remarks with the very pertinent question:
"Is you from Texas?"
I hardly know what made me deny it, but I replied that I was not. But
his next sentence convinced me that I had done well.
"I thought," said he, "you was one of dem fellers from de creek, over
dar."
"What fellows? Who are they?" I inquired. He looked at me so calmly,
that I saw he was not in the least afraid of me; and after hesitating a
little, he asked, in a dubious tone:
"Master, whar did you come from, den?"
I told him quickly I came from Fort Cobb, in the Indian Nation, and this
seemed greatly to relieve his mind on some important point, for he said:
"La, master, I thort you was one o' dem fellers from Texas; dey come up
in de mountains every few days, huntin' for some of us poor brack folks;
dey dun cotch nearly all now and took 'em down in de settlements."
"What is your name, and what are you doing here?" I asked.
"My name Jim, sah, and I lives round de end of de mountain, dar. But,
massa, what might I call you?"
I told him my name, and otherwise made myself free with him, when he
became very social; and on learning I was originally from Ohio, he made
many inquiries about the people, and the country. "I'se always hearn
about the north," said he; "and wanted to go dar."
He then told me he had been raised a slave, and he had run off from his
master, who lived in Jack county, Texas; and that he had lived in those
mountains several years. After talking awhile longer, and finding I had
no disposition to molest him in any manner, he invited me to go with him
to his cave. Full of curiosity to see more of the strange mortal, I
walked with him around the point, over piles of broken rocks, which
seemed to have been tumbled down out of the side of the mountain, by an
earthquake; he clambered, and I followed, until we turned around the
spur, when he stopped before a little hole in the side of a cliff, and
pointing to it, said:
"Dar's whar I lib, sah," and he led the way into it.
Stooping down, I followed him into the cave, until he disappeared in the
darkness, when I stepped to one side, and placed myself behind a huge
rock, that projected from the wall. I thought by doing so, I would have
a decided advantage if he was disposed to be tricky. He then called out:
"Jis stop a minit, till I strikes a light."
He soon had a large iron lamp burning, which lit up the whole cave;
after which, he proceeded to light a fire, and cook me something to eat.
He had plenty to live on--flour, bacon, sugar, coffee, and tea. He
boasted of this--said he "lived as well as de white folks;" but what was
the greatest mystery to me, was the fact that he had a large amount of
clothing in his cave--both men's and women's wear. In one place, were
several fine coats hanging; and in another, pants, vests, and female
apparel. I kept constantly between him and the door, without acting as
if I suspected anything. But I could not possibly devise how he came by
these articles, and therefore did not like to put myself in his power,
lest my coat might soon hang with the rest. Without seeming to care
anything about it, I asked a few questions about his hunting, and the
profits it brought him; if he followed trading, and if he bartered any
with the Indians. I found he procured his flour and bacon, by selling
game to the officers and soldiers, at different posts; and that there
were a good many other runaways in the mountains, and that Burleson's
men had caught half a dozen of them, and sent them to the settlements. I
did not deem it prudent to tell him I wanted to go to Burleson's camp,
or that I knew anything about it. After eating a heavy dinner with him,
I bid him a hearty "good bye," and told him I must ride. He inquired
very earnestly where I was going, and I told him, without hesitating, to
Fort Mason. He accompanied me down the mountain to my horse, and when I
had mounted, he shook hands with me kindly, as only a negro can, when he
is in earnest, saying:
"Massa, you won't neber tink hard o' old Uncle Jim; 'deed I tink you are
one o' dem fellers from Texas."
I put out at a good gait, and got to the crossing of the creek, about an
hour before sundown. When there, I had a hard time to determine which
way to go, but finally turned up the creek, which happened to be the
right course, and I reached Burleson's camp some time after dark, and
was warmly welcomed by the Captain and his men.
On my way down, I had captured a prairie dog, and put it in my saddle
pocket. It was a beautiful little animal, about twice the size of a
common fox squirrel, of brownish color, with very bright little eyes,
and with ears so diminutive, as to be little more than a curl in the
hair. Its feet were shaped like those of a squirrel, with five toes on
its front, and four on its hinder feet; and its teeth, too, resembled
those of the same animal, but were larger, and stronger; while its tail,
except that it was larger, and had coarser hair, was like that of the
common ground squirrel. It would have made a fine pet, and been an
object of curiosity down in the settlements; but as I could not carry it
with me, I killed it.
The region over which I traveled, abounded in game--especially in deer
and antelope. On the Clear fork of the Brazos, I could see immense
herds, shading themselves, during the heat of the day. From the top of
the table land, on the southwest side of the Clear fork, I could see
more than fifty groups of these animals, at once; and many of them
numbered from forty to fifty. It would be altogether safe, to estimate
the whole number in sight at once, at five hundred.
I received a terrible fright from half a dozen horned owls, just as I
was crossing a little creek, within a short distance of camp. They
raised a perfectly demoniac yell over my head, just as I came up out of
the creek; and they followed it up, with such a natural laugh, that I
put spurs to my horse, and ran a short distance, fearing that I was in
the vicinity of a camp of savages, waylaying the ford. After getting
some distance away, I turned around, and peering up into the trees,
discovered the cause of my alarm to be nothing more dangerous than half
a dozen great horned owls, enjoying a social "time," in the cool of the
evening.
After a day of rest, in camp, I joined a party in a bear hunt, up Jim
Ned creek, a stream named after Jim Ned, a Caddoe warrior of
considerable note, who, as the story goes, is a natural son of Gen.
H----y, who is known throughout the west as a daring soldier--gay, and
fond of women. He is a man of decided character, large size, and endowed
with no ordinary degree of courage. His great resemblance to the
general, gives credence to the reputed relationship; but Capt. Beaver,
or as he is commonly called, Black Beaver, a full blood Indian, and a
very truthful man, who has known Jim Ned, since his birth, says his
father was a very black negro, while the mother was a full blooded
Indian woman. Nevertheless, Jim Ned is very white, and would pass for a
white man in almost any crowd.
But without attempting to determine the vexed question of Jim Ned's
parentage, I return to my narrative. Our luck in the hunt, was
extraordinary. We had procured good dogs from the settlement, and had
rare sport. In three days, we killed five bears, one elk, and a number
of deer. We found wild honey in abundance, of which we partook
liberally, after which we filled our camp kettles with it, as well as
every other available vessel in our possession; some of us even took off
our drawers, and, after having washed them in the creek, tied the legs
together at the bottom, and filled them with the delicious sweet. We
found this decidedly the easiest of all methods of carrying it, as we
could hang it astride our horses. We then returned to camp, very tired,
badly stung, but full of life.
On our return, we discovered everything in commotion, as the Indians had
made their appearance in the neighborhood, and had been stealing horses;
and a party of citizens were in the camp, ready to pilot us to the scene
of the disturbances. The Captain got his company in the saddle, and went
to the spot indicated that night, and next morning early, we struck out
on the trail, and had only followed it a few miles, when we came in
sight of the Indians, who were only two in number. They had with them
four horses--none of them good ones. We raised a yell, and started after
them at a full charge. Throwing themselves from their horses, they
turned toward the bushes. We run partly around the thicket, and
commenced firing into it. Our heavy rifle balls cut the brush and
glanced about through it so much, that it ceased to be much protection
to them, and they soon found it so. They then hoisted a white rag on a
switch, and we ceased firing. The Captain called on them to come out,
which they immediately did, one of them holding his hand over his right
ear. On being assured that we did not want to kill them, they regarded
themselves as extremely well favored. They belonged to the tribe of
Lipans. The citizens agreed that they would take them to Austin, to be
turned over to Gov. Houston. The wounded man said he was "proud, heap
proud; white man miss so close."
We returned to camp on Home creek, where another party was sent out to
Pecan bayou, on a scout; myself among the number. A few miles above Camp
Colorado, we found a deserter from the regular service, wandering about
in irons. He had a pistol, and plenty of ammunition; but as his irons
were riveted, he could not get them off. Luckily our blacksmith was
along with us, and he had his rasp with him, by the aid of which, and
his shoeing hammer, the manacles were loosed. When set at liberty, the
Lieutenant told him he might either return to his regiment, or go down
to the settlements; and he chose the latter alternative. On the same
day, we found a negro woman in the woods, who was taken into custody, to
be returned to her owner: but in the night she escaped, through some
mysterious agency, although securely tied, and was never seen afterward,
by any of the party; and, as catching slaves was not our legitimate
business, we made little exertion to find her. Crossing over on to Jim
Ned, we had plenty of sport, killing deer; indeed, our horses were
literally loaded down with venison, bear meat, and other game, and we
were thinking of anything else, rather than war, when all at once we
struck a broad trail, over which a large number of horses had passed.
Believing that a drove of animals had strayed off here, from some of the
settlements, we followed in the track, with a view of heading them off,
and returning them to the settlements. As the tracks were very fresh, we
did not anticipate any trouble in overtaking the drove, the first time
it stopped to graze. After following the trail for some time, we came in
sight of a lone Indian, but nothing else was to be seen. The instant he
observed us, he dashed off as rapidly as his horse could carry him,
following the course the horses had taken. It was evident that he was a
sentinel, and that more savages were ahead; so we started at once in
pursuit. It was now apparent that the animals had been stolen, and were
being driven off by a large body of Indians. The trail was nearly as
plain as a wagon road, and could be traveled with certainty in the
night, and we accordingly kept on through the darkness.
Failing to gain on the Indian, we cut our game loose from the saddles,
and let it go; and our horses, thus relieved from a heavy burden, ran
well; and though we did not gain on the savage, we held our own, and
thus prevented him from giving the alarm to his company before we came
upon them. It was a tight race, as long as we were on the level prairie;
but as soon as we entered the mountains, on the Colorado, he frequently
evaded our view, as he was a splendid horseman, and ran his animal with
excellent judgment.
His horse was failing, but so were our own; so that we could not take
advantage of that circumstance. On our arrival at the top of a mountain
we discovered the object of our pursuit--the drove of horses--in the
care of about twenty Indians. They had not yet discovered us, when the
red imp before us began to yell loud enough to awaken the dead, to say
nothing about startling the living. The Indians heard him, and we could
distinctly perceive the excitement occasioned; and they at once gave
him an answering whoop, and headed the drove for the river; but the
horses not being manageable by so small a number of drivers, stampeded,
and ran to the right, and nearly parallel to the stream, for some
distance; while the Indians, seeing us gain on them rapidly, left their
booty and dashed into another gap in the mountains. They had lost time
in trying to turn the horses the way they wanted them to go, and we were
now close upon them, firing, and yelling like so many madmen.
On we went till we passed the mountains, when we found the Indians had
mistaken their route, and ran through the wrong gap, and had
unexpectedly found themselves upon the river, with a high bluff before
them, and an almost perpendicular mountain on each side, while we were
charging close upon their rear; but they hesitated not a moment.
Realizing their position, they spurred ahead, and dashed over the bluff
into the river. So sudden was their disappearance that some of
Burleson's men could not check up in time to save themselves, but went
headlong after the savages, who made for the opposite shore as fast as
they rose to the surface. After swimming a few strokes, they struck hard
bottom and were soon in shallow water, when, giving us a parting whoop,
they fled to the woods, and were quickly out of sight. The river here is
very narrow and deep, on the North side. The bluff was about sixteen
feet high, and perpendicular above the water. There were three of our
party who went over the bluff after the Indians, one of whom we always
called Towney--but I have forgotten the names of the others. They all
swam ashore on the opposite side; still, as their guns and ammunition
were wet, they could accomplish nothing against the long lances of the
fugitives, so they wisely followed the river bank down to a ford and
recrossed.
The Lieutenant then concluded to return and save the horses, as there
was no longer any hope of overtaking the Indians in the dark. We soon
found the animals quietly grazing, and encamped to wait for the return
of the men who had gone in search of a ford, which they found about five
miles down the river. We were then forty-five miles from the regular
camp; and on the following day discovered a party of citizens who had
gone out in search of the horses; but had it not been for us, they would
never have seen them again. We then returned, and were soon feasting on
all sorts of wild fowl and game, as well as fish, of which we caught
thousands.
_CHAPTER V._
ANOTHER LONELY RIDE--FRONTIER FEUDS.
After resting my horse two or three days, I set out on my return to Fort
Belknap alone, as Burleson was not yet ready to move, and would not be
for some time. Out of unadulterated sympathy for my horse, I took no
rations for myself, depending solely for my subsistence on my trusty
gun. There are two requisites for successful hunting, besides proper
equipments and being a dead shot: one is to find the game, and the other
is to get within shooting distance. I could not dismount to hunt on
foot, nor could I leave my route, lest I should fall in with some roving
band of Comanches; and game was scarce on the high table-land over which
I was to travel, and as a natural consequence, I went hungry all the
way. On the second day, I became very sick of a fever, which I broke by
laying down in a running stream of pure water until I got chilled; and,
between hunger and sickness, I was unable to travel fast, and it was two
o'clock of the fourth day, before I reached Dobb's ranch, the first
settlement on my way, and only thirteen miles from Belknap. I called for
dinner, and turned out my horse to graze, and, in the meantime, threw
myself down to enjoy a nap, which my exhausted system greatly needed,
and which I could now do, conscious of perfect security. I had slept but
a few minutes, however, before I was awakened by one of the prettiest
girls in Texas. She furnished me with a towel and a basin of water,
preparatory to taking my dinner, and after indulging in my ablutions, my
appetite attained a keenness which I have seldom felt; and it was with
no ordinary degree of satisfaction that I seated myself to a table
bountifully spread with warm bread, fresh butter, wild honey, sweet
milk, and a score of other dainties, calculated to appease the most
ravenous cravings of the stomach. The young lady sat down immediately
opposite me, and after seeing that my plate was well supplied, she began
to question me as to where I was from, whither I was going, and to what
command I belonged; seeming determined to make me communicative whether
I would be or no. Having fasted long, I was not unaware of the danger of
partaking too freely of the food set before me; so I measured at a
glance just the quantity I would take, and determined not to exceed it;
but the girl kept on talking, and detained me till I consumed all the
victuals on the table.
Dinner over, I mounted a fresh horse which was furnished me, and started
for Belknap. My steed was a half wild Mustang, native to the country,
and had been badly spoiled in breaking. I had scarcely touched his back,
when he began that species of rearing and plunging, known in Texas as
"pitching;" in California as "spiking," and in this country as
"bucking." Now my tribulation began. The first half a dozen leaps
brought on a pain, and dizziness, and convinced me of my imprudence in
eating so heartily, after a fast. To dismount, was to evince cowardice,
and the thought was not to be entertained; and, to be thrown, was
everlasting disgrace. The pretty girl was a spectator of my efforts, and
I must ride him or die. Great drops of sweat were rolling down my
face--the result of pain and sickness, not of exertion. Seeing the case
was growing desperate, I drove the spurs again and again into his sides,
until, almost frantic with pain, the horse dashed off at the top of his
speed, into the woods, and in the direction of Belknap. I arrived there
in about an hour, still suffering terribly. It does not injure a man to
go three days hungry; I am almost tempted to say, it may do him good, if
he is careful to eat sparingly when he once more reaches a land of
plenty; but I had made myself a glutton, and must take the consequences.
On arriving in camp, I found that Colonel Johnston had gone to eastern
Texas, and that my company commander, Captain Smith, had been elected
Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment, and that Sul. Ross, a son of Captain
Ross, sub-agent of the Lower Reserve, had succeeded him as Captain. Our
First Lieutenant was named Lang, and the Second Lieutenant was Dave
Sublett.
The followers of Baylor were not at all pleased that a son of their old
enemy should have been elected to an office among the Rangers, although
it was not an affair that in the least concerned them. But a feud of the
most violent character disturbed the community; and among men of the
style of those of Western Texas, hatred almost as inevitably led to
personal collision, as it did in Scotland two hundred and fifty years
ago. A single incident will illustrate the feeling which prevailed:
Some Indians visited the settlements on the Trinity river, east of
Belknap, and commenced at once "raising Cain," as the frontier men
occasionally term it, that is, they helped themselves to horses and
cattle, burned buildings, destroyed crops, and did all kind of injury
which their ingenuity, and a decent regard for the safety of their
persons would permit; and Captain Ross was detailed with a body of men,
to pursue them, and drive them from the country. We started off on a
gallop, and continued it for some time, till we came in sight of a
house, when we slackened up to a walk, in order to give the party time
to get water; and while at the well, a woman walked out before us, and
said:
"You're gwine after the Injuns, are you?"
I was in the advance, and replied politely in the affirmative.
"Gwine after the Comanches?" she inquired.
"Yes, Madame," I answered.
"Whose company is this?" she next desired to know.
"The Waco company--Captain Ross," was my response, feeling a conscious
pride in our importance.
"I wish the Injuns may scalp the last one o' you," she shouted in a
shrill voice.
I bowed politely, and the men all broke out into a laugh, which only
increased her indignation; and as long as we were within hearing
distance, her voice rang out maledictions upon our heads, and upon the
heads of every friend of Captain Ross.
We soon found the intruding Indians, who proved to be a band of
Kickapoos; and we were not long in routing and driving them out of the
settlements. We did not even get close enough to fire a gun, so fleet,
and so cowardly were the savages, who fled, at once, in the direction of
Red river; and not caring to weary our horses, with a chase that
promised not the remotest chance of success, we returned to camp.
Soon after, however, another company captured fifteen of these same
Indians, and were returning with them to camp, when a party of enraged
citizens came up, and fired upon the savages, who were mingled among
their captors; so that the lives of the latter were in as much danger as
those of the former; but luckily, no white men were killed, while two of
the Indians were shot down, one dead and the other severely wounded.
This conduct of the citizens so infuriated the Rangers that they turned
their captives loose, and told them to run for their lives; then,
turning to the citizens, the Captain of the party ordered them to leave
at once, or he would fire on them; and no second invitation to depart
was needed, as the first was looked upon as very nearly approaching the
peremptory; at least, it was a "broad hint." By that conduct, these
settlers only caused to be let loose upon themselves a dozen or more
marauders, who, in future encounters would have a double thirst for
vengeance; and, who, but for their rashness, would have been disposed
of, either by being sent beyond the limits of the State, or been held as
prisoners till the war was ended.
_CHAPTER VI._
MORE ADVENTURES--MEETING AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.
About the first of May, the regiment, under command of
Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, set out from Belknap for Camp Radziminski, an
old United States' fortified position, in the Washita mountains. We
traveled hastily, stopping during the first night on the Trinity river,
and on the second, at the Little Washita, at which latter place, our
horses, from some unexplained cause, stampeded. I prevented my pony from
escaping, but the lucky ones who did this were few. The entire day was
consumed in picking up the fugitives; and by night, only four were
missing. Two of these were the property of Col. Smith, and the others of
private soldiers. On the following morning, I, with three others,
started out to hunt the missing animals, the orders of the Colonel
being, to follow the trail a few hours, and if we did not see the horses
in that time, to give up the pursuit, and go direct to Radziminski, as
rapidly as we could.
We, however, followed the trail over one hundred and fifty miles. The
horses were trying to get back home; and though turned out of their
course frequently, by rivers and mountains, they would seek the first
available opportunity to resume it. Sometimes they would wander about so
while grazing, that we would be a whole day in striking their trail
again. After three or four days, we found two of the animals, which had
got wound up in the ropes by which they were tied, and were unable to
graze, and hence were nearly starved. We searched the country for the
other two horses, but could not find them, when my companions with one
accord, voted to return to the command, and let them go; but this I
stoutly opposed.
They urged that we had already exceeded our orders, and done better
than was expected of so small a party, and that we were in a country
celebrated as an Indian hunting-ground, and therefore it would be folly
for us to proceed further. I told them to go back, and take the horses,
if they wished; but I should go on; that I could strike the trail again,
by making a circuit of two or three miles; and that I felt satisfied
that it was not more than forty miles to the settlements, in a
southwesterly direction, from where we then were; and to tell the
Colonel that I had determined to continue the pursuit.
About sunset we parted; they commencing a dangerous journey of one
hundred and thirty miles, in a straight line, while I held on, in the
general course the horses had been traveling. Directly on my route lay
considerable of a mountain, which I ascended. The top of it was very
level, and I traveled along it for about four miles, when I came upon a
small trail. It was now night, but I could readily see by the light of
the stars, that a stake rope had been dragged along the path; and this
satisfied me that I was on the track of the missing horses. I at once
commenced pursuit, until so wearied that I was compelled to lie down to
sleep. On the following morning, I rode on, till about ten o'clock, when
I came in sight of the settlements, the first house proving to be
Murphy's ranch, fourteen miles from Belknap; and here I learned that the
horses had passed the place, and been taken up in the town, and
advertised as estrays.
Well pleased that my long ride would soon be over, and that I should
recover the animals, I made the intervening fourteen miles with great
speed, and a light heart; but alas for human foresight and calculations!
The horses were gone. One had been ridden away by a Minute Man on a wild
goose chase after the Comanches, while the other had been loaned to a
mail carrier, and had escaped from him, while staked out to graze. On
making inquiry, I learned that a horse answering to the description of
the one which had broken loose, had been seen at Rock creek, eighteen
miles distant; it had on spancels, my informant said, and a piece of
rope was tied around its neck; and I at once concluded it was the
missing animal, and rode out after it. Traveling in the direction of
the point indicated, I came to a noted spring, where I expected to find
the company encamped who had the other animal, but it had gone.
Being very hungry, I staked my horse to graze, while I could cook some
rice, and make a little coffee at the old camp-fire, which had not yet
died out; and while busily engaged preparing these articles, I was
aroused by a short, quick, snort, and in a moment, the identical animal
I had followed so long, came dashing down the hill at a breakneck speed,
foaming with sweat and terribly frightened; while close at his heels
were five stalwart Indians, on foot, doing their utmost to stop him, and
turn him from his course.
The first thing I did, was to send a load of buckshot among the savages,
and the next, to tie up the frightened animal, which ran up to mine and
stopped; then, changing the saddle from one to the other, I threw out my
rice and coffee and left the spot in haste. As I started, two or three
guns were discharged at me; but I had no time to stop and inquire the
cause. On my return to Belknap, I ate a hearty supper, and was put in
charge of the mail for the regiment, which weighed about sixty pounds,
and with which I at once left for Camp Radziminski.
The first day out I rode to the crossing of the Big Washita; and at
Soldier creek I formed a mark for an Indian to try his bow--the arrow
passing very close to my back. I had noticed for some time the tracks of
two Indians, immediately along the wagon road, but had paid little
attention to the matter. But discovering the presence of danger, I went
back about a mile, and encamped for the night. On the following day I
observed that moccasin tracks were plenty at the spring where they
supposed I would go into camp, from which it is apparent that they
believed me verdant in border warfare.
[Illustration: "For myself, I noosed a beautiful strawberry-roan mare,
with a white croup covered with black spots; but she was fat and strong,
and snapped my lariat, carrying away the larger portion of the
rope."--Page 118.]
I knew that they were ahead of me, and felt certain of being waylaid;
and had made certain that they were in a grove, hardly a mile from the
river; and subsequent events evinced that I was not deceived. As I
approached the grove, I left the path, and rode through the timber some
distance away; and after passing entirely around the grove I again
struck the road. After riding some distance, I turned and went back to a
good place, and secreted myself in a thicket to wait; I had not been
there many minutes when two savages came at a swift run, on foot--one
about one hundred yards ahead of the other. When the foremost one was
within about sixty yards of me, I fired, the shot taking effect in his
right arm and side. He instantly seized the wounded limb in his left
hand and bounded down the trail, toward the river, and was soon lost to
sight. I followed as rapidly as possible, but they succeeded in crossing
the stream, and secreting themselves among the bushes on the other side.
Not caring to risk too much I let them go, and went back to the road,
well satisfied that the Indian was mortally wounded and would die.
I crossed Red river that day, and for the first time lit a fire to cook;
but scarcely had the smoke began to rise, when the wolves commenced
gathering from all points of the compass. Being tired and desperately
hungry, I put a cup of rice on the fire to boil, and also commenced
preparing coffee; but long before the water was hot, the wolves came so
unpleasantly near my horses, that they refused to eat, although tired
and hungry; but came and stood by the fire where I was.
The wolves kept sneaking up closer and closer, until some were within
ten paces, when I rashly concluded to kill one, just for sport; and
aiming at a very large, gray one, I fired and he fell in his tracks. No
sooner did the others get the scent of blood than they rushed in from
all directions upon their fallen companion; and I had barely time to
seize my cups and jump on my horse, before they closed in on me from all
sides. Once mounted, I felt entirely safe; and I turned and fired a
charge of buckshot into the pack that was devouring the dead one; then,
wheeling my pony, I rode out from among them. When at a little distance
off I halted my horse and again fired, this time giving them the
contents of a six-shooter, well aimed; and every animal that received
even the slightest wound, was instantly devoured by the remainder of the
pack--sport for me, and I enjoyed it till I was tired, and rode off,
leaving the unfortunate wolves to fight it out. I then rode off, keeping
in the saddle till nearly morning, when I laid down to sleep in a state
of glorious uncertainty as to whether I was on the right or the wrong
road. The road forked on the plain, and I did not know whether to turn
to the right or the left; but after studying awhile I took the right
hand, and laid down to sleep upon my decision.
A little before daylight, I heard a heavy rumbling sound; and on
awaking, I saw what appeared to be heavy clouds in the distance, and I
at first believed the noise to be thunder; and the reader may well
imagine that a drenching on the open plain was not a pleasant thing to
contemplate. Presently, however, I concluded the noise seemed to be too
suppressed for thunder, and, as I listened, I discovered it grew louder,
and was rapidly approaching nearer. Springing to my feet, I saddled one
horse, threw the mail-bag across the other and mounted. By this time, I
could plainly discern the cause of the noise; on every side save one, I
was hemmed in by a herd of buffalo. Hoping they would soon run by, I
paused a moment to consider my chances; and in that moment the avenue
for egress was closed, and I was compelled to run with the herd. They
were traveling nearly in the direction I wanted to go; only gradually
bearing a little to the right. By watching opportunities, I worked over
to the left, and after keeping them company for about two miles, I
succeeded in finding a gap and dashed out, and across a creek, up which
the buffalo were running.
Once safe, I stopped to rest my horses and breathe freely, for we had
been nearly suffocated with dust. I soon discovered what had started the
herd, and was driving it forward with such speed; in the midst of the
herd were a number of Indians, spearing and shooting with arrows, as if
bent on the extermination of the last buffalo before sunrise.
I was not afraid of being discovered in the midst of such excitement as
the savages were enjoying, if I could only keep my horses still; and to
keep them quiet, I tickled them on the nose until the party was well
out of sight, when I rode off, and in an hour, I found myself at Captain
Burleson's camp on Otter creek, at the foot of one of the Wichita
mountains.
The men were delighted with their letters, and they extended to me a
hearty welcome; and, after I had rested a little, I was furnished with a
guide who piloted me to the Colonel's quarters, some miles away.
Lieutenant Colonel Smith was in command, and he was delighted to know
that I had escaped so well, and congratulated me for persevering so long
under discouraging circumstances, and kindly thanked me for recovering
his own horse, and offered me a pecuniary reward, but this I refused.
Colonel Smith had been exceedingly annoyed at another stampede, which
had occurred on the previous night, in which four hundred beef cattle
had escaped. These being his chief reliance for food for his men during
the approaching campaign, he naturally felt extremely anxious about the
matter; and to add to his perplexity, while I was yet in his tent, an
officer rode up and said he had followed the trail about three miles,
when it was lost among the buffalo tracks, and that it would, therefore,
be impossible to tell with any certainty in what direction to look after
the missing animals.
At this point, I recollected seeing a trail cross mine, which I had
examined to see if the tracks were those of horses; finding that they
were not, I had supposed that a herd of buffalo had passed along there,
and had left it, without giving it further attention. I reported this
fact to Colonel Smith, who at once agreed with me that it was the trail
of the cattle; and at his request I mounted a fresh horse and piloted a
company of men to the place. A chase of over fifty miles then ensued,
when we came upon the recreant beasts, and returned with them to camp,
to the eminent satisfaction of at least one man in the regiment--the
beef contractor. I once more was complimented by, and received the
thanks of, the Colonel, who never withheld praise, when he believed an
action merited it.
The Colonel was now called away on an official visit to some friendly
Indians under the command of Pete Ross, a brother of my Captain, and I
was selected as one of his escort, with a detail of nineteen others.
While sitting in the tent, a deputation of friendly chiefs arrived to
arrange the preliminaries of the campaign against the Kickapoos, and
judge of my surprise on seeing among the men the identical one who had
been so anxious to convince me that I was a Texan Ranger, while on the
road from the Caddo village to Fort Belknap. Before me stood Placido,
Chief of the Tonchues, who was now on the most friendly terms with the
people he so lately dreaded, and he gave me a cordial greeting. His
warriors, as well as himself, recognized me instantly as the man they
had catechised so severely; "but, now," they said, "we all good friends,
and go catch 'um Comanche."
I was greatly pleased with Placido. His name was given him by the
Mexicans, on account of his gentle disposition and amiable deportment;
and as I may have occasion to speak of him frequently in these pages, I
will briefly describe him to the reader. He was about fifty-five years
of age, five feet nine inches high, with black, keen eyes, deep chest;
he was also exceedingly muscular, but not corpulent. When the
interpreter told him I was to be one of the party, he scrutinized me
carefully, and, turning to one of his men, said, in broken Mexican,
"'_Stah waeno_, (_esta bueno_)."
Once more the whole party extended their hands, telling me in half a
dozen different languages, that we would be good friends.
_CHAPTER VII._
KICKAPOO CAMPAIGN--INCIDENTS.
In a short time after this consultation Colonel Smith started in his
campaign against the Kickapoos, who had recently been busy at all kinds
of depredations on the settlements; but their expeditions had all along
been conducted so secretly that they were not even suspected, until we
had nearly reached their country. We found them well prepared, and they
gave us a warm reception. Just as we were about to leave Camp
Radziminski a terrible storm came up, and the noise of the thunder, and
the flashes of the lightning caused another stampede among our
pack-horses; and just as their speed was at its hight, the lightning
struck "Old Peg," a vicious pack-mule, ever ready to do mischief in the
herd, killing her instantly, and as neatly as a bullet could have
dispatched her.
Old Peg had scarcely fallen when a vicious horse, which always kicked
and pranced after being loaded, as if to see if its burden was well
strapped on, knocked an ax out of a pack, and as it was whirling in the
air, kicked at it, and cut his hamstring, so that it was necessary to
shoot him. The Indians, and not a few of the white men, seemed to regard
this as a bad omen; but I looked upon it in a more practical light, as a
special deliverance from unruly animals.
On our journey we had bad grass, bad water, bad fare, and bad luck; the
measles broke out in camp, and a large number of the men became infected
and helpless; and in this condition we reached the Kickapoo territory.
The tribe had mustered all its warriors, six hundred in number; and it
had likewise received reinforcements from the Seminoles and from
lawless, marauding bands of Creeks, amounting, in all, to about two
thousand men; and this force, instead of awaiting an attack, took the
offensive at once. Not anticipating so _warm_ and _cordial_ a reception
at so early a moment, at the hands of so small a tribe, we concluded to
decline a meeting; or, in other words, after holding a council of war,
we resolved that it would be both politic and prudent to skedaddle; and
accordingly we mounted our sick men--some of them so weak they had to be
fastened on with surcingles--and started on our retreat. We commenced
our retrograde movement at about nine o'clock at night, and in the
morning we were at Camp Radziminski once more. We had but three hundred
men in this expedition; but as the Kickapoos had no hope of cutting us
off, and fearing that we would be reinforced, they very wisely gave over
the pursuit. Indeed, throughout the whole affair the belligerents seemed
to be inspired with a mutual fear--each party dreading to come to a
direct encounter with the other, which rendered the campaign, on the
whole, not a little ludicrous. When we were in the Kickapoo country we
dreaded an attack from the enemy; and when the savages came in the
vicinity of Radziminski they had a wholesome fear of annihilation there;
and consequently the campaign ended with--nobody hurt. Our surgeon and
myself once strayed away from the command, and came nearly being
captured; but we escaped, and were the only ones in the party who were
in danger.
It was daylight, in the morning, and we believed ourselves far enough in
advance of the savages to have time to rest a few minutes, and eat our
breakfasts. Awhile before this I had been sick of a fever--the result of
over-exertion while on a scout--and it had fallen into my lower limbs,
causing ulcerations; my feet being so swollen that I could not even wear
moccasins. We had encamped near a beautiful spring, at the house of a
white man with an Indian wife; and I had gone down to fill my canteen,
and bathe my fevered limbs; which I did some distance from the fountain
itself. But some one of the Rangers--thinking it a good chance to play a
trick on me--sent information to the woman that I was washing my feet in
the spring; but of this at the time I knew nothing, nor was I informed
of it when I reached the camp. Entirely without suspicion, I accordingly
returned to the spring for water to make coffee, and on reaching it a
very pretty squaw stepped out from a tree near by, and confronted me.
She spoke in a cheerful tone, but there was a wicked look in her eye,
and one hand was held behind her. Her glistening eye, and the fact that
she concealed one of her hands, appeared strange; but I was considerably
more surprised when she addressed me in good English:
"Is your name Pike?"
"No," I answered in an off-hand way, and pushed for the spring.
"What is your name, then?" she demanded, in a suspicious voice.
"Tom Green; but, madam, what do you want?"
"Why, I wanted to see a man named Pike," said she, "who came down here,
a few minutes ago, and washed his feet in my spring."
It was now a plain case; somebody had been perpetrating a joke at my
expense. But I answered her coolly:
"All right, madam, if you want to see _him_, I will send him down as
soon as I go up."
"I wish you would," she said viciously.
Up I went, and addressing a messmate, named Moore, told him there was a
woman at the spring, who wanted to see him immediately.
He took his canteen with him, and started down the path, while I crept
to the edge of the bluff to see what transpired. There was the squaw,
again concealed behind the tree, watching Moore, who was advancing
leisurely without the least suspicion; and when he was conveniently
near, she stepped out, and demanded:
"Is your name Pike?"
"No," replied he.
"You lie, you son of a gun; didn't I just send a man after you, to tell
you to come down here?"
The next instant she produced a big hickory club from the folds of her
skirt, and, swinging it high in the air, was about to bring it heavily
down on Moore's head, when he sprang quickly aside, and drew his pistol,
and shouted:
"Look here woman, if you hit me, I'll be dad shammed if I don't shoot
you!"
For a moment the squaw hesitated, and then lowering the club said:
"If your name ain't Pike, what is it?"
"My name is Moore," said he, in a loud, defiant tone.
"Well," said she, "look a-here, I want you to go to camp and tell Pike I
want to see him."
"All right," said Moore, glad to get rid of her; "I'll send him down
right away;" and up he came, laughing heartily at the joke.
I met him at the top of the hill and motioned for him to keep still;
asking at the same time, who next we should send down; but our sport was
suddenly spoiled by the order to "saddle up." While this was being done,
several of the men went down to the spring to fill their canteens; and
as each filed down the hill, the squaw confronted him, with,
"Is your name Pike?" each time only to be disappointed; but requested
that "Pike" would be sent down at once.
After having mounted, I rode down to the bluff and called out:
"Madam, my name is Pike; what will you have?"
"O you villain," she shouted; "Is that you? just come down here, and
I'll show you how to wash your feet in my spring; you dirty villain.
Just wait till I get there," she added, in anything but an amiable
voice, "and I'll show you," and she started for me; but I raised my hat
politely, bowed, and wished her a good day. The last I heard of her was:
"You dirty villain, I'll show you--" and her angry voice died away in
the distance.
While in camp at Radziminski, an Indian named Bowlegs, (so called
because one of his legs had been broken, and so badly set that it was
crooked), came to me with a very long face, and told me of a very grave
misfortune which had occurred to him. He had lost his eagle feather and
his "big medicine;" and he insisted that I should go out with him to
find them. I readily consented, and following his trail for thirty
miles, in the direction of the agency, we were successful. I discovered
the treasures first, picked them up, and handed them to him; and never,
at any other time, did I witness such excessive exhibitions of delight.
He danced, and capered, and shouted, like a boy with a holyday ride in
prospect.
The feather and the "big medicine," are prized by the Indian above
almost all other possessions. The feather is, so to speak, the index to
his nobility; and never did Spanish medieval hidalgo cling with greater
pride to the banner of his family, than does the Comanche to the wild
bird's feathers with which he decks his person. The warrior and his
deeds are known by the feather, almost as particularly as they could be
by a written chronicle of his achievements. If the quill is painted red,
it indicates that the wearer has killed an enemy in battle; if split, it
tells you that two warriors have fallen by his hand; and for each
additional victim to his prowess, another plume is added; so that you
have but to count the feathers, in order to determine, at least, the
number of glorious achievements of the warrior. No one is permitted to
wear a feather until he has been first to charge up and touch a fallen
foe--been first in at the death; for those who thus recklessly throw
themselves into the breach, are accounted the bravest; are accounted
above the man even, who, at a distance, brought the enemy down by his
bullet.
The "big medicine" was a root about an inch and a half long, somewhat
resembling calamus, and it was bound to the feather by a strip of red
flannel, about a foot long and an inch wide, and is worn tied to the
scalp lock on the crown of the head; it is regarded as a charm against
all the ills "which flesh is heir to;" and especially renders the wearer
invulnerable to the bullets and arrows of the enemy. I failed to see it
in that light, but took care not to make my doubts manifest.
From this Indian I learned a tradition somewhat after the order of the
one concerning the founders of Rome. Crossing a plain on our way back to
camp, we saw a very large wolf, which I asked him to shoot with his bow,
as he was nearer to it than myself. He, however, peremptorily declined,
saying:
"You shoot 'um; me no shoot 'um."
"Why you no shoot 'um?" I inquired. But he only repeated what he had
said before, with greater emphasis.
I then became curious to know what superstition prevailed in the tribe
to prevent the killing of so mischievous and vicious an animal; and on
putting my inquiries, I learned that there is a tradition among the
Tonchues, that the first of their tribe was nurtured during his infancy
by a she wolf; and that the animal for this reason is regarded as sacred
by that tribe. Where do such traditions originate? I leave such things
to the antiquarian.
_CHAPTER VIII._
INDIAN WARFARE--SCALPING--CANNIBALISM.
About the 20th of May preparations were completed for a grand campaign
against the Indians who occupied the country near the head-waters of the
Red, South Canadian, North Canadian, Red fork, Arkansas, and Cimaron
rivers; the invading forces to consist of regulars, rangers, and
friendly Indians; and upon the rangers devolved the duty of scouring the
great salt plain, or desert, which disfigures so large a portion of the
American map; and upon which the unlucky traveler or soldier is required
to endure almost every extreme of heat, hunger, and thirst; as there is
no protection from the scorching rays of the sun, no means of procuring
food, and few fountains of fresh water.
While on this expedition, I was sent out on one occasion with a party of
friendly Indians, about thirty in number, under charge of Casa Maria, a
famous Caddoe warrior and chief, to the head-waters of the False
Washita, and thence north-west, across the divide, between that stream
and the Canadian, with a view to reconnoitering and ascertaining if any
of the enemy were lurking in the vicinity. We were riding along in
regular Indian style, with flankers at every side, and a small guard far
in the advance, when suddenly the latter wheeled their horses and waved
a scarf or handkerchief, as a token that we were in the presence of
danger; and in an instant, flankers and skirmishers came in upon us at a
run, while we of the main body halted to ascertain particulars.
The advance guard, on arriving, reported that they had discovered a
village of at least a hundred lodges, in the distance; and from all
appearances, they felt convinced that we were in the neighborhood of a
superior force. Casa Maria, not content to hear the report, repaired at
once to the spot, to view the scene for himself; but before starting,
he required his interpreter to ask me if I desired to see our common
enemy, for myself, in their houses. I replied in the affirmative, when
he turned to his own men, and pointing back to the agency, addressed
them in Caddoe; and though I did not understand his language, I judged
its tenor, from the fact that the whole party turned for home, on
anything else than a snail's gallop. They looked a little disappointed,
but the word of the chief was law to them; it was his province to
command--theirs to obey.
When they had departed, the doughty Chief, pistol in hand, made a sign
for me to follow him, which I did with eagerness. He led the way, at a
charge, riding over the ridge and down to the village, at full speed.
On, on, we rode, he appeared determined to storm the village alone. The
astounded denizens of the lodges were unprepared for the spectacle; and
not understanding the character of their visitors, were stupid with
wonder, and gazed in amazement on us, as we almost flew toward them.
Riding to a point so near that we could distinguish their features, and
they ours, a sudden movement convinced us that they now knew us as we
were--hostile warriors. The men at once sprang to their arms, and
horses; but before they could mount, we wheeled in a long sweeping
circle, at the same time discharging our pistols among them, and then
left them, greeting them with a long and loud yell of exultation, and
the well known war whoop of the Caddoe.
As we gained the top of the ridge, in another direction from that in
which we first made our appearance, and about two miles from the
village, we cast a glance rearward, to ascertain what they were doing.
We could distinctly see the warriors mounting in hot haste their steeds;
and the squaws and boys running to and fro with accouterments, suitable
for immediate chase--everything being in the highest state of
excitement. I now wondered what adventures would next fall to our lot,
when the Chief dismounted, tightened his girth, and motioned me to do
likewise, which I did.
Without exhibiting the least excitement, the Chief stood his ground,
till he saw the Comanches all mounted; then yelling at the top of his
voice: "whita, whita, por los mugers," and giving his pursuers a parting
war whoop, he struck out in an entirely different direction from that
taken by his men. On we flew, across the prairie, till we reached a
ridge, which we crossed, after which we turned our course, and ran down
a creek in the course taken by his men; and after flying at half speed,
for about two hours, we reached a creek which emptied into the Washita,
when we slackened our horses to a walk, for ten or fifteen minutes,
after which we again started off at full gallop, to a point near the
mouth of the creek, where we came upon our late comrades, halted and
ready for a fight. Casa Maria at once deployed his men under cover,
after which he sent his horses down into the bed of the stream, at the
same time motioning me to go with the horse guard. I shook my head, when
he called his interpreter, who informed me that he wanted me to keep at
a safe distance, so that I would receive no injury, as he wanted me to
ride quick, and tell the white men what I had seen. I told him that I
would not go to the rear like a woman, but would bear my part in the
impending battle; and that if I was killed, the other white men could do
as I had done--come and see for themselves. He then beckoned me to
approach him, and told his interpreter to inform me that he desired I
should keep by his side.
We were all well concealed, behind bushes, rocks, and trees, lying down
as closely to the ground as possible, to await the unsuspecting
Comanches, who believed that they had but two men to contend with. Nor
did we lie long idle. Soon the enemy, some forty in number, came
scouring in, at full speed, closely following the trail we had made, as
if by instinct. On they came, till they arrived within rifle range, when
Casa Maria drew from his pouch a whistle made from the thigh bone of an
eagle, and blew one long, low note, which was followed up by three
short, quick, piercing ones; and instantly a volley from Caddoe rifles,
greeted the flank of the over confident and unsuspecting Comanches, who
broke in every direction--some flying from the field, not to return
again. A portion of the savages however, more resolute than the
remainder, soon rallied, and seemed determined to hold us, till
reinforcements arrived from the village; and they at once commenced a
rapid and well directed fire. But they fought at a disadvantage, as we
were thoroughly protected by our position, while they were compelled to
stand out upon the open ground. They did not dismount, as is usual; but
each warrior rode up within range, discharged his piece, and galloped
off to a place of safety, where he reloaded, and returned to discharge
it again.
A word of command from our Chief, almost instantly changed the whole
aspect of the struggle. The men, on hearing it, bounded from their
places of concealment, and with guns, pistols, bows, and lances, charged
out upon the mounted Comanches. Arrows flew thick and fast for a brief
interval; and rapidly we were nearing the foe, and a hand to hand
encounter seemed imminent; but before our band had reached the spot
where our enemies stood, they wheeled their animals, and fled from the
field, utterly foiled and beaten.
Once masters of the field, the whistle of the Caddoe Chief was heard
again, and instantly his men commenced disposing of the fallen
Comanches. There were on the ground, seven killed, and nine wounded; and
the dispatching of the latter was at once commenced. All were slain, and
their scalps added to the trophies of the victory.
Some of the wounded struggled fiercely with lance and bow, but all were
either shot or tomahawked by the infuriated but exulting Caddoes. Some
yielded up their lives with stoical firmness, chanting their own death
song, though suffering the most intense agony, until the Caddoes would
leap upon them, and, with a blow of the tomahawk, end their torture in a
bloody death. Others begged piteously that their lives might be spared;
but there was no mercy in the breast of the victor for the foe, though
fallen and helpless.
As long as the fight lasted, I could shoot and yell with the best of
them; but, the struggle over and the success complete, my heart sank
within me, and I sickened at the bloody work in which my comrades
appeared to take so great a delight. But there was no escape for me; I
must stand by and witness it all, without a murmur or a remonstrance. To
have interposed an objection would but have added to the magnitude of
the tortures inflicted; and, perhaps, brought down upon my own head the
vengeance of Casa Maria and his men. That I might, at least, turn away
from the scene, I mounted my horse and rode a short distance, as if
looking out for Comanches, till the work of slaughter had ended.
Scalping, barbarous as it is, is reduced to an art among the Indians.
The victor cuts a clean circle around the top of the head, so that the
crown may form the center, and the diameter of the scalp exceed six
inches; then, winding his fingers in the hair, he puts one foot on the
neck of the prostrate foe, and with a vigorous pull tears the reeking
scalp from the skull. To the dead, this, of course, would not be
absolute cruelty; but it is too frequently the case that the process is
performed and the scalp severed while yet the mangled victim lives; and
there are instances where parties have recovered, and long survived this
barbarous mutilation. Occasionally, a warrior is not satisfied with the
part of the scalp usually taken, but bares the skull entirely, and
carries away in triumph even the ears of his victim.
The scalping concluded and the trophies gathered up and secured, another
shrill whistle brought the victors into their saddles, and we began a
precipitate retreat to our own village. For several miles we marched in
solid column; but an order from the Chief scattered the crowd, and every
man took the direction which best suited his fancy.
I was now once more alone with the Chief. Dismounting, we suffered our
wearied steeds to rest and graze for some time, keeping a sharp lookout,
the while, to prevent surprise. After the last of his men had
disappeared, the Chief mounted his horse, at the same time pointing in
the direction of the Comanche camp. It was now evident that our enemies
had been reinforced, and were returning to the pursuit. A light gray
column of dust was rising, the cause of which we were at no loss to
decipher. We must hasten away or our scalps might soon grace the lodge
of the Comanche, as a compensation for the losses they had that day
sustained.
We rode rapidly in a southeasterly direction till after night; we came
to an elevation which might be denominated either a high hill or a small
mountain, near which was a dense thicket. Reaching this, Casa Maria
again sounded the whistle, the tones at first being soft and plaintive,
but afterward gradually deepening like the screaming of a frightened
bird. It was instantly answered from the thicket, when we galloped up,
and saw Indians--friends--rise up, like Rhoderic Dhu's clansmen, and
greet us.
We laid down to sleep, supperless, and by daylight in the morning were
off again for the agency, at which we arrived without accident; and here
for the first time, I discovered that half a dozen of the Caddoes were
wounded--some of them severely. I remained here only long enough to
enable my horse to recruit a little, when I left for Radziminski, to
deliver the Chief's report to the Colonel.
On the following morning, I started back again to the agency, bearing a
message from the Colonel to Placido, who was then at that point. On
arriving at the Tonchue village, I found everything in a state of deep
excitement. A party of wild Indians had invaded their territory with a
view to stealing their horses; but, being discovered in time, the
intruders were driven off before they had accomplished anything.
A party was just starting in pursuit, and desiring to see the fun, I
secured a fresh horse and started with it at full speed. We chased the
fugitives some fifteen miles out. They numbered thirteen--eleven
Comanches and two Kiowas, all of whom were killed and scalped. The
bodies of the slain were carried back by the victorious Tonchues, who
made a feast upon them. This may seem strange to one unaccustomed to the
manners of this and other southwestern tribes; but, shocking as it is,
the custom of eating their enemies slain in battle is almost universal
among them.
[Illustration: "The cattle stood eyeing the intruders for a time, and
then raised a loud snort, and simultaneously charged upon the wolves and
drove them flying over the prairie for several hundred yards."--Page
153.]
When I saw the Comanches killed and scalped, I had hoped the affair
would, at least, end there; and when I saw the victors carrying off the
bodies of the slain, I could not conceive of their motive, for, up to
that time, I had not learned that I was among cannibals; but once at the
village, I was not long in discerning what was to follow. The bodies had
hardly been brought in before the women commenced digging holes in the
ground, over which to cook them. The bodies were disemboweled and then
cut up, and the pieces put upon stakes over the fire and roasted; after
which they were divided out--every member of the tribe, even down to the
smallest child, getting a share.
At first I tried to avoid seeing the disgusting spectacle; but when the
Indians saw this, they insisted on my presence. During the cooking, a
grand war dance was progressing, at which all the achievements of the
tribe from the beginning of time, when the little primogenitor of the
Tonchues was nurtured at the breast of a she-wolf, down to the victory
of that day, were duly paraded, and expatiated upon by improvised song,
set to an unearthly music, timed by a monotonous tap, tap, tap, on the
little deerskin drum. A pole was erected and the scalps displayed upon
it, when the grand scalp dance was commenced. At first, only the
warriors who had taken one of these trophies joined in the ceremony; but
afterward the old men fell in, and gradually the crowd increased until
the entire tribe, save the women, were whirling in circles around the
scalp pole.
That portion of the flesh which was not eaten on the ground, was given
out, and taken to the various lodges, for future use, and to be set
before visitors, as a choice delicacy. As I was sitting beneath the
shade of a mesquit tree, three or four venerable heads of the village
came to me, bearing two large pieces of the meat, which appeared to have
been cut from the thigh, and offered them to me to eat. The flesh was of
a rusty color, and had an unearthly, graveyard smell; and this with the
sight sickened me. I refused the proffered delicacy politely, but
firmly; seeing which, Tocasan, a war chief, and several others of the
principal men, who had been in the chase, gathered about, and said very
earnestly; "eat it, Cah-hah-ut," which was the name they gave me, "it
will make you mighty much brave; mighty much brave."
Seeing that something must be done, I told them I wanted to go to a
house near the agency, where I would get some bread and milk to eat with
it. But no sooner was I out of their sight, than I buried it, and
returned to their dance, which was every moment getting more and more
frenzied. They had managed, by some means, to secure a supply of whisky,
and their yells and screams, beside other frightful noises, together
with their frantic gestures, made them appear more like demons than
human beings.
In the midst of their excitement, I left them for the night, and on my
return in the morning, found the whole population completely exhausted,
stupid, and almost torpid. During the day, however, they sobered off,
and on the following morning were ready to join us in a grand circle
hunt for wild horses.
This is a peculiar kind of chase; and the only one which ever results in
much success. A column of hunters, consisting of two or three hundred
men--sometimes even more--is formed in the same order as if on the war
path, with an advance guard, and numerous flankers, to look out for
horses. As soon as a herd is discovered, the column is notified, by some
preconcerted signal, when it instantly halts, and awaits the orders of
the Chief, who always rides in the direction indicated and reconnoitres,
accompanied by four or five of the principal men of the tribe. This
done, they ascertain the course of the wind; and taking advantage of
that, march their forces toward the herd, keeping at a great distance
away, so as not to excite alarm.
At intervals of a mile or so, a band of twenty-five or thirty men will
be posted, until the game is entirely surrounded. These squads again
deploy, to right and left, as the movements of the herd, or the nature
of the ground require. When the circle has been completed, another
signal is given, and the ring is contracted as much as it is possible to
do, without alarming the herd. As soon as the wild horses scent the
hunters, the chase begins. Off go the animals, in the vain hope of
escaping the enemy, which they suppose to be approaching only from one
side; but no sooner do they approach the circle, than several hunters
show themselves, and turn the frightened herd back again; and thus they
are kept galloping across, and around the sac formed for their
reception, for hours, and until they are so wearied that they are
readily taken, by the contracting, and closing up of the circle.
Occasionally these horses, over frightened, make a desperate charge upon
some single spot in the line by which they are surrounded, and thus make
their escape; but this is not usual. And even then, all do not escape,
for some of them are sure to be lassoed in the melee.
Our chase was a moderately successful one. We encircled a herd, and
worried the horses, till they were nearly exhausted, and then succeeded
in obtaining a number. As soon as we had a noose on one of the animals,
it was tied and hoppled, and then let loose, in order to create greater
confusion in the herd. After securing all the best stock, they were
driven home, and turned over to the women and boys, whose duty it is to
train them for the saddle, and otherwise render them serviceable to the
warriors.
_CHAPTER IX._
SCOUTING--A WHITE CAPTIVE.
Col. Johnston, who had returned to his command, now undertook another
expedition against the Kickapoos; and after marching about two hundred
miles through the country and exhausting a large number of horses, we
succeeded in running them out of the country; and though we had no fight
with them, we effectually prevented further depredations on that part of
the frontier for some time. The only parties who lost their lives by the
expedition were two white men, who were living in a little cabin on the
Big Washita river. They doubtless believed us hostile Indians and fled;
and mistaking them we charged after and killed both. On learning who our
victims were, deep regret pervaded the entire regiment; but it was
unavailing, and we could only perform decently the last rites due to the
departed. The unfortunate victims of a mistake, were doubtless hunters
or trappers, and perfectly innocent of conniving with the Indians, in
their depredations upon the frontiers. They were, judging from
appearances, but recent settlers in the vicinity.
After our return to Radziminski, the men were allowed to recruit their
horses and rest themselves. During the months of July and August
scouting parties were sent up each of the forks of Red river, the south
and north Canadian, and even to the Colorado and the Brazos. We had, in
these scouts, numerous adventures, and some exceedingly hard times, as
well as a fair degree of sport. The country over which we traveled is
generally barren and almost destitute of water and timber. The few
springs and streams are filled with bitter or salt water, which is
almost unpalatable. Everywhere rock salt is abundant; the river banks
are full of it, and the waters of the streams are so impregnated by
contact with it, that a man will hardly sink in in them. As the streams
are dry during a portion of the year, thousands of barrels of pure
crystallized salt is left in the beds, only awaiting the hand of man to
gather and use it.
On the head waters of the Colorado, we surprised and burned a small
village, but took no prisoners. Our horses were jaded, and we could not
follow up our successes, or we could have annihilated the savages who
inhabited it. As it was, six or seven men and one woman were killed.
The Wichita mountains are located between the Red river on the south,
and the Canadian on the north. They are not extraordinarily high--the
elevation being only from six to fifteen hundred feet. They are isolated
from each other, and do not lie in a chain or range; but each peak rises
by itself, from a perfectly level plain. The valleys between the
mountains vary in breadth from half a mile to four or five miles; and
several small creeks or rivulets are found running through them, whose
banks are fringed with a luxuriant growth of cottonwood trees; while
other portions of the valleys are covered with the mesquit, a low
scraggy bush or tree, peculiar to southern latitudes. It bears a long
slim bean, which though pleasant to the taste, is not a fit article of
diet.
The most singular thing to me, was that the mountains were composed
exclusively of great masses of dark gray sandstone, and only covered
with a very slight layer of earth; so slight, indeed, that it could
sustain no vegetation save a sickly tuft of moss or grass, with here and
there an exceptional locality; while the plain in which they stood, is
entirely devoid of rock. In many of these elevations, the layers of
stone had a dip of nearly forty-five degrees.
The plain is covered with the best quality of grass, affording pasturage
for immense herds of buffalo, antelope, and horses. The mountains and
river take their name from a very considerable branch of the Pawnee
Indians, called the Wichitas. Although long possessing separate
political organizations--if the aborigines can be said to have politics
at all--the two branches speak nearly identically the same language,
being able to converse with each other fluently--an uncommon thing among
savages, after a few years of separation. If the language of the savage
is ever refined, that of the Pawnee and Wichita must be; at least it is
smooth, soft, and very musical.
In this region, game is exceedingly plenty. Bear, otter, wolves, deer,
turkey, etc.; and in addition, poisonous serpents are numerous and
large. These last named are great seekers after comfort, and are ever
hunting out a good bed to rest in. It is no uncommon thing to find them
in the morning in possession of your best blanket; and sometimes your
rather too intimate bedfellow. As for tarantulas and centipedes--_they_
are innumerable; but they seldom do any harm.
The Indians never kill the tarantula; but when it is found in camp, they
carry it away with great care, and let it loose. If urged to destroy one
of them they refuse, on the ground that if one is killed, its companions
will revenge its death, by biting somebody's horse. The centipede would
soon become so numerous that life would not be safe in Texas, if it were
not for another species of reptile, the lizard--their active and deadly
enemy. I have seen one of these animals attack a centipede as large as
itself, kill it, and carry it to the top of a tree, and there devour it
at leisure.
On one of our forays toward the head-waters of the Colorado we killed a
white woman, and captured another with her child. They were in an Indian
village, upon which we charged with great suddenness and violence; and
though a portion of the inhabitants made their escape, all who remained
were killed, including this woman. On seeing us, she turned the horse on
which she was mounted, threw her buffalo robe around her, and covering
her head, shouted, "Americano! Americano!" But the men did not know her
sex, nor understand her words, and in a moment she fell riddled with
bullets. The white woman, who was fortunate enough to be captured, was
taken down to the settlements, where she was identified as a niece of
Captain Parker, an old frontiersman, who was among the earliest
pioneers in that region; having built himself a fort, which is still
known by his name. He was attacked one night, when this woman was a girl
of nine years of age, and the whole family, except the Captain and one
or two others, supposed to have been killed. His wife was brutally
murdered in the presence of her children. There were several families in
the fort at the time; and but few of the entire number assembled
escaped. The children had all been taken out on the trail a short
distance, and, except this one murdered.
Although she could distinctly recollect all the details of the affair,
and the form and features of her mother, she had entirely forgotten her
native tongue, and we could only communicate with her through an
interpreter. She happened to have her youngest child with her, at the
time of her capture, which had been named To-ca-san, for one of the war
chiefs of the tribe. It was about three years old, and violent in its
disposition as a catamount. She informed us that she had one son, who
was a good warrior, and also another boy and girl. She informed us that
she had never seen a white person over nine years old allowed to live;
and that she had been a spectator on numerous occasions when they had
been put to death; and that it was uncommon to allow even a child to
escape with its life. "Their prisoners," she continued, "are tortured,
and then killed and eaten."
On the 15th of August we left Radziminski finally. All the men who had
lost their horses, or whose animals were unfit for service, were sent
back to Fort Belknap, with quarter rations, but with sufficient
ammunition to enable them to subsist off the country. After sending away
these, Colonel Johnston found himself with barely one hundred and ten
men; and it was with this small force that he proposed to invade the
Indian country, and teach the savages to respect the property and power
of the white man. The friendly Indians regarded this determination as
the freak of a madman; and the chiefs waited upon him in a body, in
order to induce him to desist from his undertaking. They represented to
him the nature of the country through which he must travel, the scarcity
of grass, water, timber, and game. He might possibly find buffalo, but
the chances were decidedly against it. They also expatiated on the
number, power, and prowess of the Comanches and Kiowas, as well as their
desperation; and they advised the Colonel to fall back on the
settlements, and guard the frontier during the coming winter, and then
renew the campaign in the spring.
"You have already done much service," they said; "and your horses are
not good, and your young men are tired; let us now go to our own
country, and wait for the good grass in the spring; then we will come
and help you fight the Comanches." But despite their eloquence the
Colonel was inexorable; he would make a campaign at once.
Placido represented vividly the hard fate of his command if it advanced;
how his men must suffer from hunger and thirst; and how almost
inevitable defeat awaited an invasion by so small a party. But he
refused to listen to the words of his friend. Discovering this, the
chiefs united in firmly, but respectfully informing the Colonel that if
he undertook the campaign, it must be alone; they would not accompany
him, as but one result could attend the expedition.
Colonel Johnston was sorely disappointed at this desertion by his
allies. He had relied upon their co-operation; but that reliance had
proved delusive. When the friendly Indians had mounted, they parted with
every manifestation of deepest friendship; and, for my part, I felt deep
regrets at the separation. We had long been together, and were really
getting attached to each other. Before leaving, many of them embraced me
affectionately; and the Tonchues insisted on my accompanying them, their
chief, Placido, desiring me to teach his young men how to read and
write. "If you will do this," said he, "I will give you all my ponies
when I die;" all his wealth was in these animals, the number owned by
him being about four hundred. I informed him that I would go to his
village at some other time; but at present I could not accompany him.
"No," they said, "we will never see Cah-hah-ut[4] again."
Six of the Indians, notwithstanding the determination of the main body,
determined to remain with us, and share our fortunes. They were, "Jack,"
a Shawnee; "Black Foot," a Delaware; "Neighbors," a Kechai, and "Yellow
Wolf," a Tonchue; "John," a Kiowa, and "John Socie," a Cherokee. These
men were faithful to us throughout, and only left the command when
discharged by order from the government. They were certainly devoted to
us, and were ever ready to take their part in the hardships of the
campaign, and endure all the privations incident to it. But these
Indians were exceptions to the general rule.
_CHAPTER X._
COL. JOHNSTON'S COMANCHE CAMPAIGN--A GREAT FAILURE--FRIGHTFUL SUFFERING
OF THE RANGERS.
Not deterred by the desertion of our allies, Colonel Johnston determined
to set out on the campaign. At first our march was in the direction of
Red river; but when near the source of that stream we turned in the
direction of the head waters of the False Washita, where we engaged in
another hunt for wild horses, which resulted in the capture of a number
of fine ponies--just what we most needed, as many of our animals had
been worn out by campaigning. Perhaps, however, ours was not altogether
a fair game, as we fell in with the herd when nearly run down by the
Indians; and hence we had little difficulty in securing our prey.
We saw the savages and horses coming over the prairie at full speed, but
they could not see us; and discovering that there was but a small party,
we formed in a circle, under cover of a hill, and immediately in front
of the horses; and, as the herd passed, we dashed in between them and
their pursuers. At the first sight of us, the Indians wheeled and fled.
For myself, I noosed a beautiful strawberry roan mare, with a white
croup, covered with black spots; but she was fat, and strong, and
snapped my lariat, carrying away the larger portion of the rope. I need
not here repeat the language I used when she escaped me; suffice it to
say, my reflections were not of the most pleasant character, and I am
afraid I gave vent to words more expressive than elegant.
During our march, we found an abundance of game as far as Antelope
hills, on the South Canadian river, in the Pan Handle of Texas; but
after crossing the Canadian, we saw no other wild animals than buffalo;
but these were plenty, which indicated that the predictions of the
friendly chief would be falsified. Up to this time, we had done well,
and had never lacked for water, though some of it was not of the best
quality; and thus encouraged, we pushed on, following the Marcy trail to
the famous line of 36° 30', which is the northern boundary of the State
of Texas. On crossing the Canadian, we reached a beautiful sweet water
creek, where we stopped for a day's hunt; and as buffalo could be seen
in every direction, we separated into parties of six or eight, and
started on the chase; and, in a few hours, we had the ground strewn with
dead and dying animals.
After becoming wearied with the sport, we commenced saving the choicest
parts of the meat--the hump steak, shoulder cuts, and loins--which were
lashed to our saddles and carried to the camp. When again at our camp,
we stretched ropes like a clothes lines, and proceeded to cut up our
meat in long, thin strips, and hang it out to dry. This is the universal
method among hunters and Indians, of curing buffalo meat--no salt being
used. It is exposed to the heat of the sun during the day, and is taken
down in the evening, before the dew falls, and put in the mess sacks.
For three or four days it requires airing, until the moisture
disappears; and in a few days more it may be opened.
From Sweet Water creek, we crossed over to the valley of the North
Canadian--a stream which seems to puzzle geographers immensely.
According to some authorities, it is sixty miles longer, and according
to others, as much shorter than it really is. Its exact source is in the
Texas Pan Handle, in longitude 23 deg. from Washington. It is small,
with clear water, and for some distance down it, there is no timber but
cotton wood. As we approached it, game became scarcer; and, when once
across, all signs of wild animals disappeared. For days, we could not
see a crow, or even one of those little brown birds, so plentiful in
every prairie region.
We had intended to go from the North Canadian to the Salt fork of the
Arkansas, but missed our reckoning and struck the Red fork. It was a
long, and wearisome march, and we all suffered severely from thirst, and
many of the men from hunger. On the Red fork, we divided up our little
stores equally, and turned up Hard Wood creek, heading directly for
Santa Fe. During this march, we suffered greatly from hunger. The stream
on which we were is a famous resort for Kiowas, but they had all left
it, and gone to a section where game was to be had. All along its banks,
there were evidences that but a short time before, there had been a
great number of them camped in the vicinity. This is a most singular
stream--but eight feet wide, and dry as a floor at its mouth; while
three miles up it was fourteen feet wide, with a current of clear, swift
running water; and three miles further toward its source, it was the
same width, and two feet deep; and after traveling five days more, in
the direction of its head waters, it measured thirty yards in width, and
was, at least twenty feet deep; and it was yet another day's journey to
its head; but whether or not it increased in size all the way, I can not
tell.
We were all out of rations when we left Hard Wood creek; and as to
Captain Fitzhugh's company, it had been out since two days before our
arrival at the Red fork of the Arkansas. After traveling in the
direction of Santa Fe for some days, we found so much Indian sign, that
after due deliberation, the officers determined to return in the
direction of Fort Belknap. The chances of our seeing home looked rather
gloomy when we reflected that we had four hundred miles to travel
through a region we knew to be destitute of game; the most sanguine
reader, I presume, would scarcely venture to say that our prospects were
flattering.
From Hard Wood creek we crossed to the Mesquit, one of the tributaries
of the South Canadian; and here we began to feel ourselves safe from an
attack by a superior force of savages, as the sign was not plentiful and
was very old. On this stream we encamped in a large grove of most
beautiful young cottonwoods, near which was a bluff thirty feet high,
with a projecting cliff, almost forming a cave. Near the foot of this we
found the skeleton of a man and of a huge bear--perhaps a grizzly. The
arms of the man had been crushed and the ribs broken; while near by lay
the irons of a rifle with part of the mutilated stock, and a large bowie
knife, of the pattern known as the Arkansas tooth-pick. Judging from
appearances, the man had stood on the ground and shot the bear on the
level of the cliff; and that the animal, though mortally wounded, had
leaped down, and after a desperate struggle, killed the hunter. How long
they had lain there was a mere matter for conjecture; but, doubtless,
the period might be measured by years. No name was on the gun or knife,
and no memorial remained to tell who the unfortunate hunter was; but the
surgeon, after examining the bones, pronounced them to belong to a white
man.
While on this stream, we had a mule bitten by an enormous rattle-snake,
and none of us knew what to do in the matter. As soon, however, as we
had reached the camp, Shawnee Jack examined the wound, after which he
took a survey of the ground for some distance, till his eye rested on a
particular plant, when he took out his bowie knife and dug it up by the
roots. The root was a long one, somewhat resembling a small sweet
potato, both as to shape and size; and Jack at once bit off a piece,
which he commenced chewing till he had rendered it plastic; after which
he bound it on the wound, which was a severe one; each fang of the
reptile having cut a slit in the hide of the animal, at least five
inches long; and a single night, under the influence of this wonderful
restorative, sufficed to render the animal entirely sound again.
We were now suffering terribly from hunger; and in every direction our
eyes were searching for something to satisfy our craving appetites; but
we saw nothing till we reached the South Canadian river, at the mouth of
Mesquit creek. There we came upon a group of low, sandy hills, covered
with grape vines,--no other vegetation, however, not even grass being in
sight--young and thrifty, and loaded with fruit--the first of the kind I
ever saw. This was indeed a God-send to us; the children of Israel never
devoured manna more greedily than we did these grapes; and having
satisfied our appetites, we carried away as many as we could put in our
haversacks and camp kettles. How these vines happened to grow there is
a mystery; and why they were so unusually thrifty, considering the soil,
is a problem I despair of solving.
Crossing to the South side of the Canadian, we passed over Dry river,
which appeared to be the only stream in the country which afforded any
water. On the banks of this river we found a small growth of mesquit and
hackberry bushes; and so famished were a portion of the command, that
they actually devoured the dry mesquit beans,--which at that time of the
year are as hard as hickory wood--with greediness. Of those who were
ravenous enough to eat them, I was one. From the valley of Dry river, we
crossed a plain to a stream called White Fish creek, though why so
called I am unable to divine, as I do not think there ever was a member
of the finny tribe within its waters--if, indeed, it ever had water in
it. When we saw it, at least, it was perfectly dry, the bottom being
covered with a fine white sand.
On the banks of this creek, we found hack berries and Cheatham berries,
of which the rangers partook liberally; but as the latter were not fit
to eat, many of the men sickened. On the plain were occasional groups of
prickly pears, and on some days we had all we could eat of them; but at
other times, they were not to be had, and we were compelled to do
entirely without nourishment. Continuing along White Fish creek, we at
length reached Prairie-Dog fork of Red river.
All along down the creek, I rode on the extreme right of the flankers;
my companion on the left, being John Socie, a Cherokee Indian. I had
frequently during the day, seen bands of savages watching us, and had
notified the Colonel of it, through my Cherokee friend, who acted as
messenger; and when we encamped for the night, I repeated to that
officer what I had observed during the day; and also my suspicions that
I had seen an Indian camp, though concerning this I was not willing to
make a positive statement. The Colonel affected to doubt it, and roundly
asserted that there was not a savage within fifty miles of us. I,
however, persisted, and told him to prepare for a fight on that, or the
following night; but he offered to bet we would not see an Indian
between White Fish creek and and Fort Belknap, and there the controversy
ended.
By this time, the men had become perfectly careless regarding
everything, save the procuring of subsistence; utterly disregarding all
the usual precepts taken under ordinary circumstances, during a
campaign. Had the Indians attacked us almost any day, with a moderate
force, we must have been exterminated; and it is therefore fortunate for
us, that they were ignorant of our actual condition. We encamped that
night on the north side of the river, on the opposite bank of which was
a bluff at least sixty feet high, and fairly sparkling with isinglass. I
took a field telescope, and went over on the bluff, to have a view of
the sandy country, and particularly that laying to the westward; for it
was in that direction, that I believed I had seen the Indian camp, to
which I have adverted. It was a long and tiresome walk; and about half
way up the mountain I reached a level bench, or steppe, where I found
about five hundred small brush shelters, used by a large party of
warriors. So recently had they been erected, that the leaves were not
yet withered; indeed, they were so fresh, that they appeared to have
been cut on that very day. This sign at once aroused me, and admonished
me to look out for stragglers; but I saw none.
It was just sunset, when I reached the desired point, and from it I had
a good view of the regions around me. The last rays of the sun lit up
the country splendidly, in the direction I believed the Indians to be;
and on arranging my glasses, the whole of a large village lay in full
view. Near them, and grazing, was a large number of horses, with some
cattle and sheep.
The camp was at the base of a mountain, and very extensive--a careful
estimate placing the number of men, women and children, at fifteen
hundred or more. This discovery did not appear much to improve the
desperate position in which we found ourselves; and hastening back, I
reported what I had seen to the Colonel, who could now no longer doubt
the presence of the savages. In obedience to his orders, we did all in
our power to make ourselves as safe as possible, and laid down to sleep,
fully expecting an attack before morning; but fortunately none came,
and as we had nothing to eat, and consequently no cooking, we mounted,
and were off at daylight, following the bed of the stream for about
twelve miles, where we found a sweet water spring, at which we halted to
rest ourselves, and refresh our horses. That night we killed an old
buffalo--so old and poor that it was with difficulty he could manage to
walk; and he was the first specimen of game we had seen in a week. Bad
as was his meat, we relished it as a luxury; and after eating what we
wanted, laid down to sleep, entirely content to take whatever might
come. There is a wide difference between a famished man, and one with a
full stomach. We put out guards; but what did they care, now that they
had p
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