The Indian wars in the United States are a scandal to civilisation.
These wars have nearly all a similar origin. The federal government
by treaty settles groups of Indians on certain lands which they are
to occupy exclusively in perpetuity. In the face of this arrangement,
portions of the lands are taken possession of by white squatters, and
no redress can possibly be obtained from the government authorities
at Washington. In short, the Indians are systematically cheated,
and on their taking up arms in their own defence, a savage war
ensues. Circumstances involved me in one of these wars in 1874. I
was accompanying a supply train from Camp Supply, a frontier post,
to an expedition operating against hostile Indians. This expedition
was organised at Fort Dodge, Kansas, in the summer of 1874, to subdue
the Comanches and Kiowas, who had broken out on the war-path and were
committing depredations all along the Kansas border.
We left Camp Supply, to join the main command, at daylight on the 6th
of September with a train of thirty-six six-mule wagons. Counting
escort, teamsters, and one or two outsiders like myself, we were
seventy-three in number. For the first three days no signs of Indians
were seen; but every precaution was taken against them by frequently
practising the teamsters in forming 'corral;' so that in the event of
an attack there might be no confusion. The word 'corral' (a Spanish
word, signifying an inclosure for cattle) is also used on the plains as
a term for the elliptical or circular form in which a train of wagons
is arranged to resist an attack by Indians; and in order that our
position in the fight may be better understood, I will explain how it
is formed. The teams are numbered from front to rear each morning. At a
given signal all odd numbers move to the right, and even numbers to the
left. When the two columns thus formed are, say, twenty or more yards
apart, according to the ground and the size of the train, the leading
wagons halt, and the others close up. They can then move on in parallel
columns until so closely pressed by attacking Indians as to be obliged
to form the 'corral' itself. To do this, the two leading wagons turn
and approach each other, passing until their teams lap, when they halt,
the next wagon in each column being directed so as to bring its team
inside and just lapping the wagon in front. The opening is between the
rear ends of the last two wagons. A 'corral' thus formed without a mule
unharnessed, makes a very good defence, the mules of each team being
more or less protected by the wagon in front.
To return to my story. Our route lay towards the Staked Plains, in the
north-eastern corner of Texas. The Indian summer was in all its glory,
and the pure bracing prairie air put us in the best of spirits. No
anticipation of coming evil disturbed our minds. The hostile Indians
were supposed to be on the other side of the main command, scattering
in all directions before its advance. But however easy we might feel
on that score, none of the usual precautions for the safety of the
train were neglected, remembering the simple rule of the plains: 'If
you think there are no Indians near, then is the time to be especially
on your guard.' The Indians are wily and very patient, and will hover
about and watch you for days and days to find you relaxing your
vigilance, and at length off your guard. They see and know full well
when you think they are not near. That is just the time when, as a
panther which has patiently watched its prey, they make their spring.
After having camped on the third night, our suspicions were aroused
that Indians were in the neighbourhood by the restless behaviour of
the mules. Every frontiersman knows that a mule will smell Indians and
shew signs of fear long before their approach can be discovered by a
human being, and the knowledge of this fact tended to increase our
watchfulness.
Next morning the scouts who went out to reconnoitre returned with the
intelligence that they had found fresh tracks of Indians, who had
evidently been all round us during the night. This was not pleasant
news; but 'forward' was the word, so we harnessed up, and proceeded
on our journey, merely taking the additional precaution of forming
the wagons into two parallel columns--the first step towards forming
'corral,' as I before explained. While we were crossing the 'divide'
(intervening country) between the Canadian and Washita rivers, single
Indian vedettes were seen at a great distance off; and on approaching
a ridge which crossed our route, a small party of mounted Indians
appeared on its crest. As soon as we reached a water-hole, the train
was halted, mules watered, and kegs and canteens filled--a fortunate
suggestion of our wagon-master. The train was now well closed up, and
skirmishers thrown out on both sides parallel to it. Having done this,
the march was resumed, and the attack of the savages calmly awaited.
We had not long to wait. At about three in the afternoon, at a place
a mile north of the Washita river, just as the train had cleared a
very deep and bad ravine, we were fiercely charged upon our right and
rear by a mass of Indians, about whom were as many more in open order.
They rode down on us with a ringing war-whoop to within fifty yards
of the muzzles of our rifles, filling the air with their terrible
yells; their object evidently being to stampede the mules and cattle
of the train, and then, in the excitement and confusion that would
follow, to massacre the escort and teamsters. Finely mounted, in full
war-paint, their long scalp locks braided with feathers, with wild
whoops and exultant shouts, on they came. It required our utmost
efforts to steady the teams and get the train 'corralled.' The cool
and determined behaviour of the escort at this moment perhaps decided
the fate of the train. The corral was not yet completed, and the rear
of the train was on the verge of a stampede. Not a man flinched, but
coolly waiting until the Indians were within short range, poured a
volley into their ranks, which cooled their ardour, and they swerved
off to the left. As soon as the savages found that their attempt at
stampeding had failed, and that our corral was formed, they followed a
new plan of action, which was not to charge in a body, as before, but
for each warrior to select his own time and mode of attack. This is the
usual method of fighting among the Indians of the plains, and is termed
'circling.' First the chiefs led off, followed at regular intervals by
the warriors, until there must have been five or six hundred riding in
single file round us in a ring as rapidly as their fleet-footed ponies
could carry them. Savages erect on their ponies, with shining spears
and flaming blankets, and lofty fluttering head-gear, dashed along
the ridges with piercing yells, appearing and swiftly disappearing,
shewing portentous against the sky in the slanting sunlight. It became
a wonderful display of their marvellous powers of horsemanship. They
would throw themselves over on the sides of their well-trained ponies,
leaving only one hand and foot exposed to our aim, and in this position
would deliver their fire over or under the necks of their ponies.
We saw several Indians and ponies knocked over by our fire; but how
many were killed we were unable to find out, as directly one of their
number was shot, a dash would be made by others to carry his body out
of danger of falling into our hands. They will risk a dozen lives to
save the scalp of a fallen comrade, for without it, according to Indian
belief, he is debarred from entering the 'happy hunting-grounds.' A
striking instance of their anxiety in this respect occurred during the
fight in the case of a wounded Indian who was lying on the slope of a
hill facing us. They tried all manner of dodges to recover his body,
and eventually succeeded. The fallen man was a chief, as we could see
by his extra-fine trappings; and our men, anticipating unusual efforts
to carry him off, concentrated their aim on the spot where he was,
so that no one could get near the place. The Indians first tried to
divert our attention by sending out a warrior to ride in an opposite
direction, waving an old cotton umbrella, formerly the property without
doubt of some waylaid emigrant. A childish trick, but thoroughly
Indian-like. Finding this ruse did not answer, they covered a pannier
with buffalo hides, and an Indian began pushing it down the hill before
him, using it as a shield; but our bullets went through and through
this cover, so he crawled back again, apparently unhurt. Then they
rolled a number of buffalo robes into a huge roll, and fastened lariats
to each end, so as to pull it back as soon as the Indian creeping
down behind it had secured the body. This armour we were unable to
penetrate, so they succeeded in recovering their chief.
At dark, the Indians ceased firing and withdrew for the night. All
hands at once set to digging. Hands, bayonets, and knives were brought
into requisition, and rifle-pits were soon made and fortified with
forage sacks and everything available. No firing occurred on this
night. Whether the Indians dug also I cannot say, but next day they had
shelter. In the darkness, they approached to within speaking distance,
and addressed us in language more forcible than complimentary,
announcing that they had 'heap Comanches and Kiowas,' and would have
'heap scalp in the morning.' They taunted us with cowardice, telling
us not to skulk like wolves, but to come out and fight like men; an
invitation which I need not say we declined. Those of our scouts who
understood the Indian language answered their abuse with the choicest
epithets in a plain man's vocabulary, and worked themselves up to such
a pitch of rage and excitement, that we could hardly keep them from
going out to fight the red-skins single-handed. During the night we
held a council of war; and considering the lives of the wounded in
danger from their miserable surroundings and want of medical treatment,
and believing that the main command would not be likely to ascribe our
delay to its true cause, it was determined that an attempt must be made
by some one to break through the surrounding Indians and reach Camp
Supply, to bring us relief. It was a perilous mission, and required a
man of undaunted courage, calm judgment, and unflinching resolution,
besides having a thorough knowledge of the country, as most of the
journey would be made in the darkness of night, to avoid wandering
parties of Indians, who would be on the alert to cut off any one going
for assistance. A man possessing these qualifications, a brave and
shrewd scout, came forward and volunteered for this forlorn-hope; and
at the darkest time of night, he quietly started out on his long and
perilous ride to run the gantlet of our savage enemies. We could hear
the whoops of the red-skins when they discovered him and started in
pursuit; but as to whether he escaped or not, we could only fear and
hope.
Next day the fight was renewed by the Indians, and actively continued
on both sides with lulls and short interruptions, and by spurts at
night, until the morning of the 12th. Several were wounded, the
lieutenant of the escort amongst the number, and our chances were
beginning to look desperate. The torments of thirst too were now added
to our other sufferings. We all knew that it would be impossible to
hold out much longer. Visions of torture and a cruel lingering death
began to overshadow our minds with dark forebodings, when, to our
unspeakable joy and relief, about noon on the 12th the greater portion
of the Indians withdrew from the fight, crossed the Washita river,
and disappeared over the prairie beyond; and were shortly afterwards
followed by the remainder, after firing two or three spiteful volleys
at us as a parting salute. We could only account for their sudden
departure on the supposition that their outlying scouts had discovered
signs of white men coming to our assistance; which happily proved to be
the case. Although the Indians had all now departed, we were in such
a helpless condition with our wounded, and twenty-two mules disabled,
that we could not move the train without reinforcements, so had to make
up our minds to another night of watching and suspense. The following
morning the sun rose with unusual magnificence, like a rainbow of
promise to our anxious spirits. Every eye eagerly scanned the horizon
until faint shadows could be discerned, which gradually developed
into mounted men approaching us. Were they white men or more Indians?
was our anxious query. Each minute seemed an age until they were
sufficiently near for us to recognise the familiar blue blouses of the
cavalry; and before long a company, headed by the brave scout, galloped
up to our hard-fought battle-ground. The scout, after leaving us, had
been chased from the start, and lost all his weapons in consequence
of his horse falling on rough ground; but his pluck and shrewdness
enabled him to elude his pursuers and reach Camp Supply. On his arrival
there with the intelligence of our condition and peril, a company
of cavalry with a surgeon was promptly hurried off to our rescue,
and travelled the distance of over seventy miles without a rest. The
dangers and anxieties of the last few days were now happily at an end,
and death or torture no longer stared us in the face.