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 plenty of meat, and palatable water? what else did they desire?

sleep alone, and--they slept.

The greater portion of the night wore away without anything to disturb

its quiet; at about two hours before daylight, and just before the moon

went down, Pete Ross was aroused by the clattering of horses' hoofs.

Ross sprang to his feet, and awakened his men, just in time to get the

first shot. As for the other companies--they needed not to be awakened

by their officers; the wild, piercing war whoop sounded in their ears,

and each man in an instant had his hand upon his trusty rifle. There was

no mistaking the shout--it was the war whoop of the wild Comanche; and

no sooner had its echo died away in the distance, than the whole body of

warriors charged down upon our horses, and stampeded them; and but for

the presence of mind of a few of the rangers, all of them must have

escaped. However, about twenty of the men ran in among them, and by

constant firing, got up a counter fright, and saved about half our

animals.

The savages, having thus obtained possession of a part of our horses,

rode away in triumph. Capt. Fitzhugh at once gave orders to his men to

mount, and pursue; but before he was off, another party of Comanches

raised a demoniac yell, and came down upon us; but discovering that we

were prepared to receive them, they retired out of gun shot range; but

they kept up such a noise, during the balance of the night, that further

sleep was impossible, and we stood by our arms till daylight, by which

time the last savage had disappeared.

[Illustration: "There were two cotillions on the floor, whirling and

twirling in the giddy mazes of the dance, to the voluptuously measured

cadence of the 'Arkansas Traveler.'"--Page 159.]

The first party numbered about sixty, and were splendidly mounted--some

of them on fine American horses of great size; the second gang chiefly

riding ponies. They were armed with rifles, bows, lances and pistols,

which they used promiscuously--some being busily engaged shooting

arrows, though at the same time they had six-shooters dangling to their

wrists and fastened by a string. They were for the most part naked,

except that they wore breech clouts, though some sported leggins, and

all had head dresses and moccasins. A few only were in full dress. The

Comanche people wore the buffalo scalp, while most of the stampede party

sported Kiowa feather caps, some of which fell into our hands. They were

very nicely made of long white plumes, like swan feathers, and

beautifully colored at the tips with red, yellow and black. The quill

part is sewed to a close fitting skull cap made of buckskin, and they

are set so close together that when it is drawn over the head the plumes

stand out in every direction, giving to the wearer a terribly hideous

appearance. The buffalo scalp is worn with horns, and it is so arranged

that these protrude from the top of the head, they being scraped so thin

that they are very light. The skin of the nose is cut off above the

eyes, while that of the neck and hump hangs down the back, the whole

being softly dressed with the hair on; and as an additional ornament it

is often artistically beaded. The faces of the savages were painted in

the most hideous style; black, red, yellow and white being the

prevailing colors.

Part of the time our struggle was a hand to hand fight, and the savages

succeeded in carrying off seven of our men, and all their own killed and

wounded; so that it was impossible for us to ascertain their loss,

though it must have been severe, notwithstanding it was a night struggle

and the moon was low. We judged from appearance that there were about

seven hundred Indians altogether, and this was perhaps rather below

than above the truth.

Our loss in the fight was seven men, forty-six horses, and seven pack

mules. It would have been useless for us to have attempted to follow up

the savages in the dark as soon as the fight had closed, and by morning

the marauders were far away; and long before we could overtake them, we

knew we would be surrounded, and "wiped out" by superior numbers.

Nevertheless, the Colonel did reconnoiter for some ten miles, but

learned nothing, except that was an unhealthy locality for Texas

Rangers.

We now destroyed all our baggage and cooking utensils--everything save

what was absolutely necessary to preserve life, and started for Belknap.

Tents, saddles, pack saddles, everything that would burn was committed

to the flames; while kettles, plates and pans were broken, and our axes

buried in the quicksand. As many of our men were now without horses, we

were compelled to adapt ourselves to circumstances. By the order of

march, the footmen moved first, and then the cavalry close upon them;

and in this manner we made our way across an immense plain, which seemed

to be one solid city of prairie dogs. A few of these animals were killed

and eaten; but our ammunition was nearly exhausted, and consequently no

shot was fired, unless under the most pressing circumstances.

This section was almost entirely destitute of water, and we suffered

intensely from thirst. Indeed the whole plain was one broad, barren

waste; and over it at least one hundred miles of our journey lay. The

sufferings of the men were so great, that on the second day after the

disaster, the command was threatened with open mutiny, the soldiers

demanding to be allowed to scatter; and it required all the address of

the officers to prevent them from dispersing over the plain in search of

water and food. Major Fitzhugh threw himself down and begged that some

one would shoot him and thus put an end to his misery; while Captain

Wood sank down exhausted, and urged us to go on and leave him to his

fate.

How different the conduct of men when in like trying circumstances!

Major Fitzhugh gave way to despair, while his brother Gabriel, suffering

equally, only increased in resolution as difficulties thickened around

us. Captain Wood was a large muscular man, yet he sank down, while

others of far more slender mould marched onward with resolute and rapid

step.

We had not gone far out on the plain before we discovered that we would

be unable to traverse it for lack of water; and we were once more

compelled to seek the banks of Red river. Here water would be plenty,

but the route over which we were to travel was covered for miles with

sharp, flinty rocks, and pieces of isinglass, and in addition was

extremely hilly; and our feet would suffer fearfully from the travel on

the stones and sand, while our eyes were inflamed by the reflected rays

of the sun. But we had no choice; we could not die from thirst.

Before we had reached the river, I was almost famished for water; and

coming upon a bluff of saltrock, at least nine feet thick, beneath which

was a sort of cavern, filled with cold brine, I plunged into it, clothes

and all, and was enjoying a bath, when Colonel Johnston rode up to me

and directed me to go in a southerly direction till I found water, and

then to fire a signal gun; and as a companion I had John Socie, the

trusty Cherokee, with a horse and several canteens, to bring back water

to the famished men. About seven miles from where I left the Colonel, I

came to a creek on the south side of Red river; and when I reached it,

my thirst was raging to such a degree that I jumped into the water,

drinking my fill, and then rolled in the cooling wave with as perfect an

enjoyment as physical pleasure can afford. After I had taken time to

collect myself, I discovered that I had been drinking bitter water; but

hoping that further out into the stream it would be better, I waded in,

but found that there it was salt. This was discouraging; but on

remembering the condition of my companions, and the necessity of relief,

I started to swim over the stream, hoping to find a spring on the other

side. As I proceeded, I continued to taste the water for the double

purpose of ascertaining its quality and of cooling my parched tongue;

and, to my surprise and gratification, when I reached the middle of the

creek, I found that it was sweet. Instantly I returned to the shore and

commenced firing my gun, as a signal for the exhausted command to make

one more effort to rally. I discharged my piece a number of times and,

at length, had the satisfaction of hearing three shots in reply, and I

knew that the Colonel had heard me; and feeling assured that the command

would come up as rapidly as possible, I commenced exploring the stream

to find out where the sweet water came from, and discovered that it

flowed from a spring, a mile and a half above. Here we again discharged

our pieces, and again received a reply, but it was a great way off.

I at once filled all the canteens with us, and sent John back on his

horse, to relieve the command; and on his arrival, the precious treasure

was distributed sparingly among those who suffered most, or sent back to

those who had fallen out exhausted, on the trail. As I had nothing to do

during John's absence, I laid down and took a sound nap; and was only

awakened by the sound of hoofs, when he returned to the spring, which he

did as speedily as possible.

From him I learned that during the morning an open mutiny had occurred

in camp; and that it would have proved successful but for the eloquent

words of Lieutenant Colonel Smith, who appealed to the men not to

abandon their companions who were unable to travel, but stand by them

till we reached another watering place, when they could once more be

refreshed; and the mules and horses could be sent after those who had

fallen out. This appeal, touching as it was, however, was but partially

successful, till the sound of my signal gun re-inspired all as if by

magic; and they set out with renewed hope, if not with increased vigor.

Some of those who had thrown themselves down in despair, at once aroused

themselves from their lethargy, and stepped off at a lively gait in the

direction of the crystal treasure.

Fully convinced that they could not now miss the spring, the Indian and

myself started out on a hunt. We were both much refreshed by water and

rest; and we stepped off at a lively pace, and after wandering about for

some time, we espied a deer grazing, or, rather, licking salt. It was in

the midst of an open prairie, so that it would be difficult to approach

it. But, stealing around a little to the leeward, we kept our eyes fixed

steadily upon it, and advanced rapidly, with long and hasty strides,

till it gave indications that it suspected the presence of an enemy,

when we halted, standing upright, and rigidly still. After gazing around

for a moment, the animal appeared to dismiss its apprehensions, and put

down its head again and commenced licking the salt. Once more we began

advancing, till we were almost within range, when it gave its tail a

nervous twitch, causing us to stop again. It viewed us for a moment, but

manifested no alarm, and again resumed its former position. On we

glided, and this time we got within a short gunshot range, and Socie

discharged his piece at the deer, which bounded up in the air, and then

starting ran almost directly toward us, until I had time to give it

another rifle ball accompanied by three buckshot, which brought it down.

We now discovered that John's bullet had passed through its lungs, and

that it had been mortally wounded, though it might have given us a long

chase but for the contents of my piece.

We now sat down to rest and get cool after our long tramp, and to devise

means to get our prize to camp. The animal was a large, fat doe, and

would weigh at least an hundred pounds. As I was the stronger man, I

proposed to John that he should carry my gun and pistols, and I would

carry the deer. He had suggested that we leave half of it; but this I

refused to do, when I recollected the condition of our men; so he

acceded to my proposition, and helped me to shoulder the deer.

At the spring, we found all the men assembled who were able to walk;

and, in the distance, we observed the pack-mules coming in with the

stragglers. I never before saw any one enjoy anything so intensely as

did these men the prospect of a dish of venison. The sight of the dead

carcass called out the wildest expressions of joy from the famished

rangers; and not many minutes elapsed, before the skin was off, and I

was called upon to divide the flesh. Each man was allowed a small slice:

the largest and best being reserved for those who were most nearly

famished. Many a tear of joy was shed over these scanty morsels; and

more than one rough, stalwart ranger rushed forward to embrace me, and

overwhelm me with heartfelt thanks; and not a few poured forth praise to

Heaven for our deliverance.

We did not leave the place that day; and while sleeping that night, the

Indians made another attack upon us; but no one received injury, nor

were any of our animals stolen. The savages were readily driven off, and

we saw them no more.

Being now comparatively reinvigorated, we again attempted to cross the

plain which had baffled us before. Following this creek to its source,

we came to an immense prairie dog town, where not a leaf of grass or

growing thing was to be seen--all having been devoured by the buffalo.

While exploring the creek, we discovered whence arose the varieties of

water within it. The shores were of gypsum, imparting to it a bitter

taste near the edge; on its banks was a salt bluff, which rendered it

brackish, as the water washed around it; while on the left bank the

sweet spring poured out a swift stream, which, on account of the

peculiar shape of the bend, kept out in the middle of the creek.

We were three days crossing the plain, and our only subsistence was a

few prickly pears of stinted growth. When one of these plants was found,

the ravenous appetites of the men would not even permit them to scrape

off the thorns with which they are covered; but all was devoured

together. Many of them suffered severely from this cause; the lips and

tongue being penetrated, causing them to swell badly, and be extremely

painful.

After three days weary marching and on the morning of the fourth, we

suddenly came upon the verge of the desert, and but a short distance was

traveled before we were in the midst of one of the most fertile and

luxuriant spots in the State. Grass was high, and as we soon found a

ravine in which water was plenty we hitched our horses to graze for a

couple of hours. The animals being greatly refreshed, we pushed on, and

had only gone a short distance when we came suddenly upon an immense

herd of buffalo. We at once dismounted, and made all the necessary

preparations for a grand "still hunt." Our preliminaries were arranged

under cover; the regiment being divided off into two parties, one of

which was under command of the Colonel himself, the direction of the

other being left to the Indians who were with us.

The Colonel's party kept in the low ground, while the other filed down a

ridge in full view of the herd, but on the windward side; and in this

manner we advanced, till nearly within gun shot of the animals. Suddenly

we wheeled to the right, down into a deep ravine, and stooping low,

crawled four or five hundred yards, and were almost in the midst of

them, when, at a given signal, each man marked his meat and brought it

down. After the first discharge, the herd commenced a precipitate

flight; but the men, determined to fast no more, drew their revolvers

and continued firing till the herd had escaped beyond range. Twenty odd

of the buffalo were shot dead in their tracks, and many more wounded. We

were, however, not after sport, but meat; and leaving those which were

crippled to do as best they could, we fell to cutting up the dead, and

devouring their flesh raw.

Three or four of us rushed upon one cow, and began cutting out pieces of

meat from as many different parts of the body, although the animal was

not yet dead, but struggling violently. Capt. Wood sliced out one hump

steak, Shawnee Jack cutting out the other; while Neighbors ran his knife

into that delicious piece of half fat, half lean, that lies behind the

shoulder blade, just under the back part of the hump. For my part, I

knew that that meat would require cooking, and I was too ravenous to

await so slow a process, and as I looked upon buffalo tallow as a

dainty, I plunged my bowie knife into her side, and thrusting my arm

through the whole, wound my fingers into the caul fat, and tore it out

and ate it while it was yet warm. I am aware the reader will decide

that this was barbarous; but let it be borne in mind, that we were

famishing. So hungry was I, that this huge flake of fat, dripping with

blood, seemed like the sweetest morsel I ever tasted.

Our hunger slightly appeased, we returned to the ravine in which the

water was so plentiful, staked our horses to graze, and at once

commenced gathering in our meat, cooking, and eating all the time, till

our appetites were entirely satisfied. One thing that marred the

delicacy of the meat, was the fact that we were without salt. While

crossing the desert, mountains of the article reared their heads around

us, but we were without meat; now meat lay in profusion about us, but we

were without salt.

Ourselves and horses rested, we resumed our march, and after traveling

about five miles, reached the Big Washita river. Here we halted, for a

rest of five days, which we spent in hunting. We had jerked meat for

bread, and fresh meat for beef; feasted continually on elk, deer,

antelope, and wild turkey. During these five days of carousal, the

sufferings on the desert were forgotten; and at the end of that time,

fully restored to our wonted vigor, we resumed our march.

The direct route would have taken us across another desert; but we had

had experience enough on them, and we therefore determined to follow the

watercourses, though they were ever so circuitious. We accordingly kept

down the Big Washita, till we reached the point where the Belknap and

Radziminski roads cross, when we left it, and started direct for our

place of destination, distant seventy-five miles. Our route lay through

a good country, with plenty of game, and we fared, like the rich

man--sumptously every day--but only on meat; and therefore the reader

may imagine our joy, on reaching the Little Washita, at meeting a wagon

loaded with flour and bacon, with two ovens and two skillets. What

visions of bread once more arose before us! and how soon we were at

work, kneading the dough! Our readers who are initiated into the

mysteries of cooking, may form some idea of the bread we made, under

all the disadvantages that surrounded us; but it was bread, and was a

feast to us. Weeks had intervened since we had tasted aught but flesh;

and now we baked and ate, and ate and baked, till all were fit subjects

for the hospital, and some came near finding the graveyard. Orders to

march next day, found not a man free from colic, or dysentery; though a

few were able to travel, and they traveled. Every mile or so, a man

would drop out; and when we reached the end of our day's journey, of

twenty-five miles, there were but few men with us; yet the stragglers

finally all came in and reported, though it is wonderful that some did

not die by the wayside.

The next day was one long to be remembered by every ranger, as it was

the last of that ill-started campaign. Dirty, ragged, long haired,

unshaven, and generally barefooted, we reached Belknap on the 30th of

October, 1860; and immediately we were mustered out, and paid in scrip,

which is now worth less than nothing; but which, had not the state gone

into rebellion, would have ultimately secured us fifty-two dollars a

month in gold.

_CHAPTER XI._

KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE--SECESSION.

Having been honorably discharged, the rangers began to scatter to their

homes. Many had friends in the vicinity, who came after them with

wagons; refusing to let them ride their war ponies, but leading these

home in triumph, decked with flowers and ribbons. Parting among the men,

rough as they were, gave rise to many affecting scenes. Hardy warriors

wept like children, as they separated from the companions of their

hardships and dangers. Truly, it might have been said of us that we were

a band of brothers then; but how soon--such is human nature--to become

deadly enemies!

I had enlisted at Waco, two hundred miles away, and had no means of

reaching that place except on foot; and learning this, Colonel Smith

tendered me a horse, but he was wild, having only been caught that

spring, when we made our hunt up the Canadian. He was remarkably fleet

on foot when in the wild herd; no less than sixty horses having been run

after him--first all at a dash. In the race we had roped all the mares,

when he came back to fight us, trying first to drive the mares, and then

the men, away. Failing in both of these purposes, he dashed around and

around in a circle, always eluding the rope, though thrown by our best

horsemen; and in this way, he baffled us till our own horses were worn

out; when, finally, an Indian, named Bob, shot him just between the last

two short ribs, and let the ball range forward into the stomach--a

process known among the savages as "creasing," and is frequently

employed with success; and it is a far safer way than shooting them in

the neck, as is sometimes done. Nevertheless, it is a barbarous

proceeding, and could only be adopted by those devoid of every quality

of mercy.

Such was the animal tendered me, and the reader will not be at a loss to

conjecture that riding it was not the most pleasant thing in the world.

It had thoroughly recovered from the gunshot wound, and was well nigh as

wild as when first seen on the prairie; and was, withal, the most

vicious beast I ever mounted, when we set out; but, strange as it may

seem, by the time we reached our journey's end it was completely

subdued, both to ride and work in harness--was as docile as it had been

wild.

Soon after we arrived at Belknap, during the spring of 1860, a man

visited us, who introduced himself as Captain Davis; but how he obtained

the title was, and is, a mystery. He informed us that he was a member of

the Knights of the Golden Circle, and that he was fully authorized to

receive and initiate men into the order, from his superiors; and that

when fully initiated, the mysteries and objects of the institution would

be explained; that some of the objects must now be kept secret; but

there was one that he could reveal; it was the intention to raise a

force of twelve thousand men to invade Mexico, under command of General

Sam. Houston, the then Governor of Texas; and that they were to be paid

by English capitalists at the rate of eighteen dollars per month; and

that, after the conquest, the States of Nueva Leon, Chihuahua, Coahuila,

and Tamaulipas were to be annexed to the United States; that Gen.

Houston was not taking any public part in the matter, for State reasons;

but that, in a short time, he would throw off all concealment, and

declare his purpose to the world. British subjects, Captain Davis

declared, were to pay the General a fabulous sum for accomplishing the

work, and then settle an annuity upon his wife. He said that though all

the details had not yet been arranged, they were being rapidly

consummated.

He explained to us that the Knights were organized with three

degrees--the military, the financial, and the legislative. The first of

these was intended to be popular--to catch the masses of the people; and

as men should not be made to pay too extravagantly for the privilege of

serving some one else, the initiation fee to this degree was but one

dollar. To get into the financial--ominous name--more money was

required, and the initiation fee was put at five dollars. To become a

third, or legislative-degree member, influence, and not money, was

requisite. A man odious to the Knights could not have bought a seat in

it; an influential politician could have obtained one at a mere nominal

price--perhaps for nothing. Members of the first degree were not allowed

to know what was done in the second: and those of the second were kept

in ignorance of the transactions in the third; and as every one was

sworn to do the bidding of his superior, and each degree to obey the

directions of those above it, the despotism was complete. It was the

province of the few to command; of the masses to obey.

This was the feature to which I objected. I was rather pleased with some

things--particularly the prospect of adventure; but I could never take

an oath to do an act the nature of which I knew nothing; nor could I

swear to obey irresponsible men, who proposed to do anything unlawful.

If the object was legitimate, it occurred to me, why this secrecy? and,

I believe subsequent events have proven that my objections were well

taken; indeed, a few months sufficed to satisfy me upon that subject,

and, I think, to satisfy all the world.

The captain was a ready talker, and well calculated to seduce the unwary

into his schemes; and nearly all the rangers were induced to become

members of the order, after which he left to enlighten the people of

other sections. He was exceedingly lavish in his promises; to become a

knight was to secure perpetual fame at once; and few of the rangers who

joined but believed that the lowest position which would fall to their

lot would be that of a field officer. "All promotions," he said, "were

to be made from the ranks;" (an old story, every soldier knows), and all

the great estates in Mexico were to be confiscated to secure fortunes to

the adventurers. Immense tracts of land were to be granted to members of

the order; the mines in Sonora were to be parceled out, and every

possessor to be made a Croesus at once; and a hundred other glittering

promises were made, which, under any ordinary circumstances, would have

excited men of a wild, roving disposition; but in this case, success in

obtaining enlistments was chiefly the result of other causes.

Mexican depredations on the Rio Grande had been frequent; and many a

ranger was longing to retaliate upon the perfidious perpetrators in

Tamaulipas and Nueva Leon; and they looked upon this as an excellent

opportunity to join in a scheme which promised them revenge--far sweeter

to the pioneer of western Texas than the wealth of an Astor or a

Vanderbilt.

But very soon the attention of the Texans was turned to other

enterprises than the invasion of Mexico, and the Knights had other foes

than Spanish mongrels to fight. When I reached Waco, the most intense

political excitement I ever witnessed was prevailing. Mr. Lincoln had

just been elected president, and orators were busy on every street

corner "firing the southern heart," which they fully succeeded in doing,

though it has since pretty completely burned out.

I heard nothing now, but clamor about "Northern aggression," and

"Southern rights," wherever I went. The State should secede at once; the

politicians willed it, and the Governor must obey. The cry was "secede,

secede!" break up all connection with the Federal Union, by fair means

or by foul--only secede. Of course I was at once questioned as to my

views, and supposing there would be freedom of expression, I spoke my

mind without reservation; but they did not look upon the matter in that

light, and they plainly intimated that I could choose between conversion

to the views of the secessionists and exile. I, however, refused to be

converted, and was at once denounced as a tory, a Lincolnite, and an

abolitionist; and it was confidently expected that these epithets would

enlighten my obtuse intellect and arouse my _patriotism_? This procedure

was persisted in from the time I was mustered out, in November, 1860,

till after the first battle of Bull Run, in July, 1861, when I left the

State; and that, too, in the face of the fact that the greater part of

this time was consumed in protecting the homes and fire-sides of my

maligners from the depredations of the wild Comanches. It may be

chivalry thus to avail one's self of services so onerous and dangerous,

and then vilify him who accomplished them; but it does not agree with my

idea of the meaning of that term.

For a time Gov. Houston resisted the wild fanaticism which prevailed;

but the current was too strong; reason was hushed; force and fraud were

the order of the day; and chivalry and mob violence ruled the hour and

defied the law. A convention was called and candidates were out early,

"defining their positions," and soliciting the suffrages of the people.

In McClennan county, where I resided, the candidate of the secessionists

was an ambitious and unscrupulous lawyer, named Coke, while the

Unionists supported Lewis Moore, an old and highly respected citizen;

public spirited and unselfish, and only interested in developing the

resources of the State and nation. He had taken a prominent part in the

Texan revolution, and in all the border wars, and in the Moderator and

Regulator struggle in 1836-8. Election day came, and Coke received 196

votes, to 94 for Moore--an exceedingly light poll--but only light

because no man ventured to tender his ballot without being prepared to

defend it with the pistol and bowie knife. I went to the polls unarmed;

but I soon found that I was alone in this respect; but I ventured up and

tendered my vote. A Mr. Wm. Chamberlain was receiving the tickets, and a

Major Downing was acting as judge; and when the former observed that my

ballot contained the name of Lewis Moore, his countenance darkened, and

he asked me how I came to tender my vote there.

"You have not been in this country long enough, sir," said he.

"I have, sir," was my reply, but it was made in a quiet tone, and

entirely different from that in which he addressed me.

"But you have been constantly away, running around after the Indians,"

he continued; "how is it you wish to vote here?"

"Because," was my response, "I am registered in the service for this

place."

"But you can't be allowed to vote, sir," he persisted.

I began at once to explain my view of the law; that I was a ranger, and

had served the people, and felt that I had a right to vote at any polls

in the State, when he stopped me, saying:

"It is useless to multiply words; you can't vote."

I then left the court-house, went to the hotel, and got my pistols--a

splendid pair of navy revolvers, and returned immediately; and seeing my

movements, a number of Union men followed me, crowding the room in which

the election was held. Nearly all of them were old, gray haired

veterans, who had devoted their lives to the service of the State, and

were as incorruptible patriots as ever trod on American soil.

Laying my ballot on the table, I addressed Mr. Chamberlin with:

"Sir, I have come to vote."

He looked at me, hesitated a moment, glanced at my hand, which was on my

pistol, and the crowd of Union men around me, the countenances of every

one of whom evinced a fixed determination the meaning of which he could

not mistake, and then turned to the judges, but said not a word.

"Put that ticket in the box, and record my name," said I, calmly, but

firmly.

He did not need another bidding, but slowly dropped the ticket in the

box, took up his pen, and was about to record my name, when the Major

said:

"The law requires a vote to be sworn in, after it has been challenged."

"Very well, sir," said I; "if the law requires it, I will be sworn."

He then produced a Bible, and holding it out to me, I laid my left hand

on it, and the oath was administered, after which the book was held up

toward my mouth, but I stepped back.

"Do you refuse to kiss the book?" said the judge.

"Yes, sir," I replied.

"For what reason," he continued.

"Because the law does not require it," was my response.

Chamberlin then registered my name, and I walked out of the court-house.

This was not an isolated instance of the persecution of Union voters.

The polls were at length closed, and Coke coolly declared elected, in

spite of the smallness of the vote, though this was one of the most

populous counties in Central Texas; and in defiance of the fact that a

large majority of the people were opposed to secession. But the

malcontents were demonstrative, and had secretly organized and armed

themselves, and had the control of the polls; and no Union man

approached but felt that his life was jeopardized by the act.

There was a remarkable difference between the appearance of the two

parties. The secessionists were mostly young men, who were both

ambitious and fanatical, and who had been led astray by artful

demagogues, who had "an ax to grind." They were noisy, and many of them,

before the sun had reached its meridian were drunk. They were chiefly of

that class of floaters, who have no interest at stake, and whose

dissolute habits are the bane of the society in which they flourish. The

Unionists, on the other hand, were generally venerable men who had done

much service during the many wars in which the State had been involved.

They had fought to render Texas independent, and had given their voice

for her annexation to the Union; and they strenuously resisted a faction

which proposed to undo the work which had cost them so much. They

possessed property and character, and were not to be swayed by every

demagogue who sought preferment and office. Such was the condition of

affairs as far as my observation extended; such, I learned, was the

situation throughout the State on that eventful day.

[Illustration: "Then spurring my horse well back in the flank, I started

him off with a spring. I saw the Sergeant reel, but saw no more."--Page

238.]

_CHAPTER XII._

TYRANNY AND PERFIDY OF THE SECESSIONISTS.

Soon after it became known that the secessionists had carried the State

at the election, the commanders of the various United States posts

commenced surrendering to the State troops. I was present at the

capitulation of Camp Colorado at the request of a number of Union men,

who desired to obtain accurate information regarding the nature of the

proceeding. The insurgent forces were under the command of Henry

M'Culloch, who, knowing that I had seen service, pledged me a captain's

commission, if I would join the "Confederate" army; and had I done so, I

have every reason to believe he would have made his promise good; but I

refused his offer firmly.

After I had witnessed the capitulation, I returned to Waco. The

Ordinance of Secession had been passed and referred to the people, and

the whole State was in a blaze of excitement. Arbitrary arrests, broils,

murder, and hanging were the order of the day; and under the pressure

large numbers of the Union men were giving way, and the secessionists

were receiving daily accessions to their strength. The people were

either deceived into secession, lied into it, or driven into it.

Every species of deception was practiced that the ingenuity of crafty

politicians or a licentious press could invent. The motives of the

Northern people were misrepresented, and Union men, both North and

South, outrageously belied. One week the secession orators would herald

to excited audiences that independence could be consummated without any

war at all; simply by every man voting a secession ticket and showing to

the North that the South was thoroughly united; they would proclaim that

the North was utterly demoralized and powerless to coerce the seceding

States into obedience; nay, that so divided by contending factions were

the people of that section, that they were not even capable of

preserving their own integrity; that even the Northern States could not

maintain a union among themselves, much less impose one upon the

seceding States.

The next week the cry would be changed, and the Northern States would be

represented as thoroughly united, and more unjust and defiant than ever

they were before; that there were no people in the North that

sympathized with the South, or who were willing to see that section get

justice and equal rights. That every man in the free States was a

practical abolitionist, and nothing would satisfy their rapacity but the

immediate and unconditional surrender of slavery; and even that might

not avail; and that it was more than likely a concession on that subject

would invite aggression on another. Southern men were appealed to in the

most impassioned language not to submit to these demands or compromise,

but to rouse themselves to view matters of State in their true light,

and to prepare for a contest that was inevitable. Every proposition of

the North was treated with disdain; even the President was hung in

effigy, and treated with every indignity, simply because he was a

Northern man, and was elected by free State votes, when they well knew

that he would be bound by the same oath to maintain the Constitution

that had bound all the Presidents of Southern birth. The sentiments of

known Union men were willfully misrepresented, and, thus distorted,

heralded to the people, in order to infuriate them against individuals

who professed loyal sentiments. For instance, General Houston would make

a speech in Galveston, and take the most sincere and unqualified Union

ground, and forthwith the fiends of secession would dispatch garbled

extracts of it to every paper in the State that advocated secession,

which, in turn, would give it, with the comments of its unprincipled

editors, to the excited public. Sometimes they would manufacture and

publish speeches for Houston and other patriots which they never

delivered; and these were scattered broadcast to the mob, representing

them as being at length thoroughly convinced that secession was the

only means by which the Southern people could maintain their liberties

and their institutions.

If he made a Union speech in Austin or Waco, denouncing the secession

leaders, and charging them with seeking to overthrow the last vestige of

personal liberty and constitutional government, and avowing the most

vindictive hostility to all men professing secession principles, and

professing undying devotion to the Union, at all hazards, no sooner

would the words fall from his lips, than his discourse would be garbled

to suit the cause of secession, and scattered all through the country.

On one occasion, I remember, after forged speeches had been published

over and over, and attributed to Houston, his friends in Waco wrote a

letter and requested him to come out and deliver another address, and

contradict them, but the old patriot answered despondingly that it was

useless; he had tried it, and as fast as he contradicted one lie, they

would publish another, and he would prefer to keep silent. But why

enlarge upon facts patent to the world? Secession was born in sin and

cradled in iniquity, and no man who is not lost to every feeling of

patriotism, nay, who does not wear within himself the heart of a fiend,

will presume to defend it.

But despite of frauds, despite of lying and forging, the Germans in the

vicinity of San Antonio, and the settlers in the northern section of the

State remained true to the Union; and as the secessionists had

determined to secure uniformity, force was resorted to, and bayonets

supplanted arguments and deception. The first attempt was upon the

Germans, and the headquarters of the southwestern military district was

removed to San Antonio, and ten or twelve thousand desperadoes were sent

thither to overawe all who remained loyal to the old government; and

this process was found to succeed admirably; for in the presence of such

a force, unarmed, unorganized citizens are usually constrained to keep

silence. The houses of all the settlers were searched, and when arms

were found, they were confiscated; and a most perfect military despotism

was thus established over a disarmed populace.

Next, it was important to the insurgents that the people of northern

Texas should be subjugated; and the work was intrusted to the notorious

Ben. McCulloch, who made his headquarters at Dallas, and had at his

command some fifteen hundred men; and this force was soon increased by

the arrival of reinforcements, to ten thousand; and having used his army

in coercing Union citizens into secession, till he was satisfied, he

marched it to Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Outside of the districts patrolled by the armies, the work of converting

Unionists by force was adopted by irresponsible bodies of citizens.

Vigilance committees were organized in every town and village, and their

motto was: "No mercy to traitors," meaning those who were true to their

country and the old flag. In Waco, one of these committees waited upon

several old and esteemed citizens, giving them their choice, either to

cease their opposition to the rebellion, or leave the country. They

publicly proclaimed their determination to hang every "Lincolnite" in

the country who refused, to use their classic language, to "dry up," at

their bidding; and their threats were by no means idle ones.

One night they visited a hotel, and seized one of the guests--a young

man from New York, named Wilkinson--and in the dead hours of the night

took him to the court-house, and there tried him before a

self-constituted committee; and he only escaped hanging by three votes,

although there were no charges against him other than that he had asked

a man to go with him to New York, and had demanded of certain merchants

that they should secure the firm, in whose interest he was then acting,

certain debts that they had contracted.

Soon afterward, they arrested Dr. Larnard, son of Major Larnard,

paymaster in the United States' army. He was widely known as a worthy

citizen of McClennan county, and highly respected. The crime with which

he was charged, was that of allowing his negroes to give a party to the

negroes belonging to some of his neighbors; and his sentence was, that

he should not be allowed to go beyond the limits of the county for a

year; and he was admonished that if he did so, the fact would be

discovered, and he would instantly be hung.

The despotism of the secessionists had now become so intolerable, that

Union men were everywhere fleeing from the State, as the only means of

saving their lives. Not desiring to leave yet, but at the same time

anxious to avoid trouble, I shouldered my gun and mounted my horse, and

started for a hunt on the Pecan bayou and Jim Ned creek. While on my

way, I stopped at Cora, a little town in Comanche county, on the day

that the ordinance of secession was submitted to the people, which was

on the 23d of February, 1861; and while hitching my horse, an officer

came out and proclaimed the polls opened; and immediately the parties

who had been standing around, and numbering from eight to ten, went up

and cast their ballots--all going for secession. They were all armed,

and at first I supposed they were rangers but I was mistaken. I walked

into the court-house, and when the men to whom I have referred, had

finished casting their ballots, the clerk turned around and addressed

me:

"Do you want to vote, young man?"

I answered in the affirmative.

"How do you want to vote?" he next inquired.