按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
drawing its beef ration； much to the discomfiture of the disgruntled
beef contractor。
The camp at La Pena was on sandy ground； unpleasant for men and
animals； and by my advice it was moved to La Pendencia； not far from
Lake Espantosa。 Before removal from our old location； however； early
one bright morning Frankman and I started on one of our customary
expeditions； going down La Pena Creek to a small creek； at the head
of which we had established a hunting rendezvous。 After proceeding
along the stream for three or four miles we saw a column of smoke on
the prairie； and supposing it arose from a camp of Mexican rancheros
catching wild horses or wild cattle； and even wild mules； which were
very numerous in that section of country along the Nueces River； we
thought we would join the party and see how much success they were
having； and observe the methods employed in this laborious and
sometimes dangerous vocation。 With this object in view； we continued
on until we found it necessary to cross to the other side of the
creek to reach the point indicated by the smoke。 Just before
reaching the crossing I discovered moccasin tracks near the water's
edge； and realizing in an instant that the camp we were approaching
might possibly be one of hostile Indiansall Indians in that country
at that time were hostileFrankman and I backed out silently； and
made eager strides for La Pena； where we had scarcely arrived when
Captain M。 E。 Van Buren； of the Mounted Rifle regiment； came in with
a small command； and reported that he was out in pursuit of a band of
Comanche Indians； which had been committing depredations up about
Fort Clark； but that he had lost the trail。 I immediately informed
him of what had occurred to me during the morning； and that I could
put him on the trail of the Indians he was desirous of punishing。
We hurriedly supplied with rations his small command of thirteen；
men； and I then conducted him to the point where I had seen the
smoke； and there we found signs indicating it to be the recently
abandoned camp of the Indians he was pursuing； and we also noticed
that prairie rats had formed the principal article of diet at the
meal they had just completed。 As they had gone； I could do no more
than put him on the trail made in their departure； which was well
marked； for Indians； when in small parties； and unless pressed；
usually follow each other in single file。 Captain Van Buren followed
the trail by Fort Ewell； and well down toward Corpus Christi； day and
night； until the Indians； exhausted and used up； halted； on an open
plain； unsaddled their horses； mounted bareback； and offered battle。
Their number was double that of Van Buren's detachment； but he
attacked them fearlessly； and in the fight was mortally wounded by an
arrow which entered his body in front； just above the sword belt； and
came through the belt behind。 The principal chief of the Indians was
killed； and the rest fled。 Captain Van Buren's men carried him to
Corpus Christi； where in a few days he died。
After our removal to La Pendencia a similar pursuit of savages
occurred； but with more fortunate results。 Colonel John H。 King； now
on the retired list； then a captain in the First Infantry； came to
our camp in pursuit of a marauding band of hostile Indians； and I was
enabled to put him also on the trail。 He soon overtook them； and
killing two without loss to himself； the band dispersed like a flock
of quail and left him nothing to follow。 He returned to our camp
shortly after； and the few friendly Indian scouts he had with him
held a grand pow…wow and dance over the scalps of the fallen braves。
Around La Pendencia； as at La Pena； the country abounded in deer；
antelope； wild turkeys； and quail； and we killed enough to supply
abundantly the whole command with the meat portion of the ration。
Some mornings Frankman and I would bring in as many as seven deer；
and our hunting expeditions made me so familiar with the region
between our camp arid Fort Duncan； the headquarters of the regiment；
that I was soon enabled to suggest a more direct route of
communication than the circuitous one then traversed； and in a short
time it was established。
Up to this time I had been on detached duty； but soon my own company
was ordered into the field to occupy a position on Turkey Creek；
about ten or twelve miles west of the Nueces River； on the road from
San Antonio to Fort Duncan； and I was required to join the company。
Here constant work and scouting were necessary； as our camp was
specially located with reference to protecting from Indian raids the
road running from San Antonio to Fort Duncan； and on to the interior
of Mexico。 In those days this road was the great line of travel； and
Mexican caravans were frequently passing over it； to and fro； in such
a disorganized condition as often to invite attack from marauding
Comanches and Lipans。 Our time； therefore； was incessantly occupied
in scouting； but our labors were much lightened because they were
directed with intelligence and justice by Captain McLean； whose
agreeable manners and upright methods are still so impressed on my
memory that to this day I look back upon my service with 〃D〃 Company
of the First Infantry as among those events which I remember with
most pleasure。
In this manner my first summer of active field duty passed rapidly
away； and in the fall my company returned to Fort Duncan to go into
winter quarters。 These quarters； when constructed； consisted of 〃A〃
tents pitched under a shed improvised by the company。 With only
these accommodations I at first lived around as best I could until
the command was quartered； and then； requesting a detail of wagons
from the quartermaster； I went out some thirty miles to get poles to
build a more comfortable habitation for myself。 In a few days enough
poles for the construction of a modest residence were secured and
brought in； and then the building of my house began。 First； the
poles were cut the proper length； planted in a trench around four
sides of a square of very small proportions； and secured at the top
by string…pieces stretched from one angle to another； in which
half…notches hack been made at proper intervals to receive the
uprights。 The poles were then made rigid by strips nailed on
half…way to the ground； giving the sides of the structure firmness；
but the interstices were large and frequent； still； with the aid of
some old condemned paulins obtained from the quartermaster； the walls
were covered and the necessity for chinking obviated。 This method of
covering the holes in the side walls also possessed the advantage of
permitting some little light to penetrate to the interior of the
house； and avoided the necessity of constructing a window； for which；
by the way； no glass could have been obtained。 Next a good large
fire…place and chimney were built in one corner by means of stones
and mud； and then the roof was put ona thatched one of prairie
grass。 The floor was dirt compactly tamped。
My furniture was very primitive： a chair or two； with about the same
number of camp stools； a cot； and a rickety old bureau that I
obtained in some way not now remembered。 My washstand consisted of a
board about three feet long； resting on legs formed by driving sticks
into the ground until they held it at about the proper height from
the floor。 This washstand was the most expensive piece of furniture
I owned； the board having cost me three dollars； and even then I
obtained it as a favor； for lumber on the Rio Grande was so scarce in
those days that to possess even the smallest quantity was to indulge
in great luxury。 Indeed； about all that reached the post was what
came in the shape of bacon boxes； and the boards from these were
reserved for coffins in which to bury our dead。
In this rude habitation I spent a happy winter； and was more
comfortably off than many of the officers； who had built none； but
lived in tents and took the chances of 〃Northers。〃 During this period
our food was principally the soldier's ration： flour； pickled pork；
nasty baconcured in the dust of ground charcoaland fresh beef； of
which we had a plentiful supply； supplemented with game of various
kinds。 The sugar； coffee； and smaller parts of the ration were good；
but we had no vegetables； and the few jars of preserves and some few
vegetables kept by the sutler were too expensive to be indulged in。
So during all the period I lived at Fort Duncan and its sub…camps；
nearly sixteen months； fresh vegetables were practically
unobtainable。 To prevent scurvy we used the juice of the maguey
plant； called pulque； and to obtain a supply of this anti…scorbutic I
was often detailed to march the company out about forty miles； cut
the plant； load up two or three wagons with the stalks； and carry
them to camp。 Here the juice was extracted by a rude press； and put
in bottles until it fermente