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Show porty ear5 /} mor;< 2 tfye Ir; diaps. CHAPTER I. Cross the Plains with Volunteers to Engage in War with Mexico Attacked by Mounted Comanches Remain in Mexico about Three Years after the War Indulge in many of the Wild and Reckless Ways of the People, but Abstain from Strong Drink and the Worst Vices Acquire a Knowledge of the Spanish Language. IN THE year 1847, I crossed the plains with the volun-teers from St. Louis, Missouri, going out to take part in the war with Mexico. At that time the Com-anche Indians were a power on the plains. The Battal-ion I belonged to was attacked while in camp on the Arkansas River. On the opposite side of the river were sand hills. Wood was very scarce in the region and on arriving in, camp, it was customary for a number of the most active young men to go out in search of fuel, gen-erally " buffalo chips." On looking across the river there was seen a few small piles of what looked like driftwood. This had been placed there by the Indians as a decoy ; but no suspicion was felt at the time, as we had heretofore seen no Indians, neither was there anyone along who understood the In-dians' " tricks." Some thirty men started in haste for this wood. Only one man taking his gun, one other had a small pocket pistol. A few of the most active men secured the wood piled up, whilst the others remained gathering |
