In a steamer chair, and other shipboard storiesBarr, Robert
General
In a steamer chair, and other shipboard stories
Barr, Robert
Ocean travel -- Fiction; Sea stories; Short stories
“He divided his troop into three parts, one following slowly after Wolf
Tusk, and the other two taking roundabout ways to head off the savages
from the broken ground and foothills from which no number of United
States troops could have dislodged them. These flanking parties were
partly successful. They did not succeed in heading off the Indians
entirely, but one succeeded in changing their course, and throwing the
Indians unexpectedly into the way of the other flanking party, when a
sharp battle took place, and, during its progress, we in the rear came
up. When the Indians saw our reinforcing party come towards them each
man broke away for himself and made for the wilderness. Wolf Tusk, who
had been wounded, and had his horse shot under him, did not succeed in
escaping. The two flanking parties now having reunited with the main
body, it was decided to keep the Indians on the run for a day or two at
least, and so a question arose as to the disposal of the wounded chief.
He could not be taken with the fighting party; there were no soldiers
to spare to take him back, and so the leader of the settlers said that
as they had had enough of war, they would convey him to the fort. Why
the commander allowed this to be done, I do not know. He must have
realized the feelings of the settlers towards the man who massacred
their wives and children. However, the request of the settlers was
acceded to, and I was ordered back also, as I had been slightly
wounded. You can see the mark here on my cheek, nothing serious; but
the commander thought I had better get back into the fort, as he was
certain there would be no more need of my services. The Indians were on
the run, and would make no further stand.
“It was about three days’ march from where the engagement had taken
place to the fort. Wolf Tusk was given one of the captured Indian
horses. I attended to the wound in his leg, and he was strapped on the
horse, so that there could be no possibility of his escaping.
“We camped the first night in a little belt of timber that bordered a
small stream, now nearly dry. In the morning I was somewhat rudely
awakened, and found myself tied hand and foot, with two or three of the
settlers standing over me. They helped me to my feet, then half carried
and half led me to a tree, where they tied me securely to the trunk.
“‘What are you going to do? What is the meaning of this?’ I said to
them in astonishment.
“‘Nothing,’ was the answer of the leader; ‘that is, nothing, if you
will sign a certain medical report which is to go to the Government.
You will see, from where you are, everything that is going to happen,
and we expect you to report truthfully; but we will take the liberty of
writing the report for you.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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