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Show WHERE SHALL WE SETTLE? 619 Again and again did the Texans, led by Lockhardt, penetrate almost to the camp, only to be driven back ; and, on each advance, they dis tinctly heard the voice of Minnie calling on them for help, and dreaded lest their attack should be the signal for her death. But it appears the savages were bent on preserving their captive if possible. A double line of warriors surrounded the tent in which she was bound; and at last the wretched father, bleeding from a dozen wounds, was forced away by his men, who saw that the attack was hopeless. Having received reinforcements, they renewed the fight the second day after, but the Indians had also collected their force and taken a still stronger position ; and to the father, lying helpless', with his wounds, the men at last reported that the attack was hope-less, unless with a force large enough to surround the Comauche stronghold and reduce it by a regular siege. Successive bands of Texans arrived, and in a few days the father again urged them to the attack ; but the Indians had managed to re-treat, carrying Miss Lockhardt with them. With thedevilishness in-herent in the Comanche nature, they were all the more determined to keep her when they saw the general anxiety of the whites for her recovery. But she proved a troublesome prize. The fact of her cap-tivity nerved every ' Texan to desperate measures, and in a short time the Indians were attacked at all points, and forced back towards the Pecos. Then, as afterwards appeared, the band having possession of Miss Lockhardt, sent her northward, and disposed of her to the Arapahoes. Convinced that she was the daughter of a great chief, by the exertions made to recapture her, this tribe opened negotiations with the commandants at Fort Union and Lancaster. But before any thing could be accomplished, the Utes and Apaches were raiding the entire New Mexican border, and the captive girl in some way was transferred to the former tribe. Despite the awful hardships of a winter among the savages she survived, and in some way managed to make known her existence to the American commandant at Fort Massachusetts, New Mexico. About this time the Territorial Gov-ernor called out five hundred New Mexican volunteers, who were put under command of Colonel Ceran St. Vrain ; and, joined by the First Regiment of United States Dragoons, under Colonel T. T. Fauntleroy, the whole force marched into the Indian country early in 1855. They defeated the Indians in one general battle and several minor skirmishes, but no trace of Miss Lockhardt could be found. The noted Kit Carson was then intrusted with the task of settling with the Utes and recovering all captives ; but other means were at work. |
