Wellington's Quest - Robert F. Clifton (beach books .TXT) 📗

the river and to look for any sign of the Sioux Village or indications of warriors in the area and if so their strength.

Jim now rode an army issued mount. The Indian mare he had taken was still uneasy and unfamiliar with white men. Still, on his off time Jim worked with the paint and saw that he was making some progress with the animal.

Green leaned sideways in the saddle and spat a stream of mixed saliva and tobacco on to the grass. “Ain't none of my business, but how comes it that you ain't riding with Cahill?”, he asked.

“Let's just say that we had a disagreement”, Jim answered.

“Well, like I said, ain't none of my business”.

When they reached the river they found that the bank was a combination of rock, weeds and tall, yellow grass. It was a clear day and Jim looked over the calm, flowing water examining the far banks of the waterway searching with his eyes, looking for any signs of recent activity. Seeing none he concentrated on the sky finding it powder blue, with thin, whips of clouds and no sign of rain.

Horace Green trans-versed the grassland looking for any marks made by horse or man. Finding none he joined Jim near the river. The two then continued along the river banks. A mile later, they came to a place where the bank was high and steep. Here the earth of the shoreline was a combination of tan and yellow in color. Cottonwood trees crowded each other seeking space in order to grow and down at the waters edge driftwood logs were piled high, one on top of another having floated at one time in the turbulent storm waters of the Missouri. They appeared as large, white bones baking and bleaching in the sun.

As the scouts followed the shoreline of the river they began to see signs of past activity. Trampled grass, travois marks in the soil hoof prints and footprints began to appear until eventually, they came to a place where there was a wide swath cut in the earth. Here, the ground had been scratched and scored by people, dogs and horses all moving towards the badlands. As they moved their numbers wore away the prairie grass and left a dark, brown, streak on the soil, a quarter of a mile wide, and miles long.

Jim got off of his horse bent over and picked up a handful of loam. “Good land for farming. Someday, someone will work this land. Right now, I'd say the tribes were here yesterday. The soil is still damp to the touch”, he said.

“Well, one things for sure. They'll stop before they get to the bad lands. More than likely they're up ahead. Village this size going top need water and graze”, said Green.

Back in the saddle Jim once again followed the shoreline of the river. As they rode they began to see a gray haze on the skyline, a miasma raising up into the sky. They determined that what they were seeing was smoke from hundreds of cooking fires.

Coming to a place where a small tributary branched off of the river Horace raised up in his saddle and looked in the confluent' s direction. “Got to be they went that way. They ain't going to put the river to their backs, specially where it be wide and deep. Means no escape crossin the water. Likely they be camped on this here off shoot”, he said.

Jim left the saddle then took a pair of binoculars from his saddle bags.”Alright, I'm going to the top of that rise straight ahead. From there I should be able to see something. You cover me with the Spencer”, he told Horace

Following a coulee until the land began undulated with hills and knolls he then slowly climbed to the top of the highest mound and removed his hat. Prone, he placed the binoculars to his eyes, adjusted them and looked to the north. What he saw made him take a deep breath and a hard swallow. In a coulee twenty Indian ponies stood, some drinking. Standing on the high bank of the stream was one man watching the herd. In the distance there was a lone cottonwood, a tree held sacred by the Sioux and as far as he could see were the tipi lodges of the tribes. Sunlight beat down on the white, buffalo hide structures intensifying his view of them. He saw tipi's to the north and to the west, on flat land and on hills. From designs painted on the outer walls of the tipi's Jim was able to tell that the tribal bands had come together. He saw symbols of Yanktonia, Hunkpapa, Sihaspa, Miniconju, Sans Arc and Santee. In all he estimated that before him were five hundred to five hundred and fifty dwellings. I was possible that a thousand warriors could face General Sully.

Jim slowly backed away from the hilltop and after crawling stood and walked down off of the hill. As he climbed into the saddle he turned to Horace Green and said, “Best we get back as soon as possible. From what I just seen this is going to be one hell of a fight”.

When they met the advancing column Jim and Horace reported directly to General Sully. “If what you say you saw is true and I believe it is, then it's possible that we may face a thousand warriors. Alright, what will be will be.” Turning to his officers Sully said, “Gentlemen, I want an advancing hollow square. Put the horses, mules, artillery and ammunition in the center. All troops will be on foot until such time I feel that it's the right time to attack. At this time I want to emphasize the importance of the rear guard. Gentlemen, you may form your units”.

As the officers left the briefing with their orders Barney Mathis walked up to Jim. “Nice work, how some ever, in case you ain't heard, Sandy ran into some bad luck. Sioux winged him with a lucky shot. He be back in the ambulance. The doctor said he'll be alright, but he's sure as hell out of this fight”, he said.

“I'll check on him as soon as I can. Right now I've got to tend to my horse”, Jim replied.

Soon the hollow square that stretched a mile long on both sides began its march towards the Sioux encampment. As it did small pockets of resistance began to form. Warriors first shouted insults at the advancing troops from hill tops or horse back. Individual sporadic gunfire could be heard but no rounds hit any trooper. Mounted Sioux fighters demonstrated acts of bravery as they charged at the line of blue clad soldiers yet, did no damage. Then, on orders from their officers the troops began to return fire. Warriors began to fall from their saddles as the Spencer rounds struck them. Those that lay on the ground as the military passed over them were dispensed with another shot and left for dead.

As the Sioux gathered in force the front rank of the hollow square opened, allowing unrestricted space for the artillery to commence firing. Quickly the warriors abandoned the idea of gathering together. Instead they decided to attack the rear of the square, but once again artillery fire killed many of the Sioux attackers.

Sully's hollow square kept advancing. Realizing that they could not stop the on pressing army the warriors decided to protect their women and children who were packing up tipi's and equipment. Still, the Yanktonai and Santee attacked Sully's left flank while the Tetons attacked his right. While this was happening orders were given to mount and three platoons of cavalry counter attacked supported by artillery and infantry fire. The Sioux were now forced to fight in close quarters and many fell as a result of the saber and revolver fire.

As daylight faded and darkness increased Sully halted his advance for the night. Nonetheless he ordered his artillery to bombard the Indian village. In the dark of night many Sioux left abandoning tipi's and property.

As they did General Sully called for his casualty reports. He had lost three men killed and ten men wounded. The Sioux lost between fifty to one hundred warriors killed. Jim paid no attention to the report as he had seen or heard false reports before.

At daylight the next morning Jim stood sipping hot coffee from a tin cup. A short distance away was the remains of the Sioux village. He heard the barking of a hundred dogs, the wailing of the women and the cries of children, some looking for their parents. He tossed the dregs in his cup on the ground, placed the cup with his gear then began the walk to the village. Looking up at the morning sky he saw that the vultures were beginning to circle, riding the air currents as they looked down on the dead bodies of horses, dogs, old people, warriors, women, children and infants.

When he entered the village he stepped over bodies then watched the camp dogs stand and bark or sulk away with their tails tucked between their hind legs. What he saw made him sick. Sioux bodies, some whole others blown apart by the constant bombardment of Sully's artillery lay in different positions on the blood soaked ground. Daylight not only brought the vultures but it also brought the flies and they landed on the faces of the dead, so many at times that the features of the victims were completely covered. Then, he saw her. He saw her blond hair and his heart began to beat faster and tears of joy welled in his eyes. He wanted to run to her, to shout her name, but he took his time walking to where she sat in front of one of the only tipi's still standing. Her deer skin dress was soiled with dried blood and soot covered most of her face, but her strawberry blond hair stood out like a beacon that drew him to her.

She heard his footsteps as he approached her. Raising her head she looked at him and began to cry. Between deep sobs she spoke to him, “James, James Wellington. Is that you?”

He stopped where he was as disappointment filled him. It wasn't Virginia. Then, regaining his composure he walked slowly up to the woman. “I'm sorry, but I don't think I know you and if I do I don't recognize you”, he said.

“I'm Kathleen Higgins James. Kathleen Higgins from Ulm. They took me during the uprising. I've been a captive ever since. It's been hell James. Please don't ask me what they did to me. It's too embarrassing, but as bad as it was it was nothing compared to yesterday when the army guns killed my baby”, she said as she began to cry.

Jim looked at the deerskin bundle that she held in her arms a bundle that contained the remains of her child. What could he do? What could he say to a woman who the army had in a way rescued her from captivity, but at the same time indirectly took the life of her baby?

“Kathleen, I'm sorry. I didn't recognize you. I haven't seen you since we went to school together. Then, your family moved to Ulm. Listen, I'm here now. I'll take care of you. I'll see to it that you get fed, have the army doctor look at you, and make sure that you get new clothing and transportation back home”.

“Home? There is no home James. They burned it to the ground the day they took me”.

“Come, come with me. We'll have the doctor look at you, then we'll get you something to eat. You'll get a new dress at Fort rice”, said Jim.

“I can't leave my baby James. The dogs will get it' “I'll come back and take care of it”, he answered.

 

 

“Promise me?”

“I promise”, he replied.

As they walked back to the Army Surgeons tent, erected to tend to the wounded Jim asked,