“After you have escorted the wagon train, you are to report to Fort Marcy in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I will be the commanding officer there, and I need your help.” This made a big difference in Puma’s decision. By accepting a commission in the cavalry and being assigned duty in Santa Fe, he would be able to return to his home and family. He would be a long way from where there were people who owned slaves, and he hoped he might be able to help the Indians. He knew they were going to need a lot of help in dealing with the continuing onslaught of settlers moving into the west and occupying the hunting grounds of these Native Americans. Puma asked for and was granted time to visit his great-grandparents in Virginia and Georgia, on his way to his new assignment in Santa Fe.
Chapter 23
Fort Osage
The slave dispute was continuing to heat up. Some southern states were already threatening to withdraw from the union. The conflicts were social, political, and economical. War was becoming more and more imminent. Puma had seen the military might of the northern states and had witnessed the emotional fervor that the abolitionists were stirring up. He did not believe the South could win in a military conflict with the North. The driving force behind all that vehemence was the desire of the textile mills in the North to control the market of the cotton that was grown in the South.
Puma thought it was wrong for men to own other men. He also thought the northern industrialists should not be allowed to force their will upon the southern cotton growers. He could not, in good conscience, defend either side. He hoped cooler heads would prevail, the slave owners could be persuaded to free their slaves, and the northern industrialist could be persuaded to compete in fair trade with the nations of Europe for the purchase of the cotton. He expressed his concerns and his hopes with his great-grandparents. Then, knowing it would be his last time to see them, he bid them farewell and began his journey to Independence, on the Missouri River, where he would take command of a cavalry troop and escort a wagon train to Bent’s Fort.
Puma accepted the gift of the palomino stallion from Great-grandfather O’Hannon and rode this beautiful horse on his journey. Puma didn’t trust the paper money that was being issued by either side, so to meet his financial needs, he sewed gold coins into his saddle blanket. He would have to saddle and unsaddle his own horse to prevent his secret from being discovered, but he preferred to attend to his own horse, anyway. That was the way he was trained by his father and by the mountain men who were his mentors. He rode his palomino through the Appalachian Mountains and spent his nights in the open under the stars. His travels took him through Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee to the Mississippi River, where he and his horse traveled via freight-hauling paddle wheelers up the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers to Independence.
The discovery of gold had created a stampede of people going to California. There were stories of wagon trains being attacked by Indians. When he arrived at Independence, it was a madhouse. Many people were seeking travel accommodations to the gold fields. Among them were thugs, thieves, adventurers, gamblers, and a few miners. There were many people, from many backgrounds, traveling for different reasons. Mostly, they were a motley lot, but there were also families mixed in who were good people, going west to improve their lot in life. Some of these families were being victimized by the less savory among them.
Puma reported to the military commander at Fort Osage, where he presented his papers and was assigned to the cavalry unit he would be commanding to escort the wagon train. The commanding officer was a major who confirmed that Puma would be in command of the escort unit. Puma did not reveal to the major that this was his first command. Puma asked to see his next-in-command and was introduced to Sergeant Jack Hurly.
Sergeant Hurly was a big, trail-hardened man who had come up through the ranks. His dress was casual, but there was no nonsense about him. Puma liked him instantly and was amused as he watched the sergeant examining him closely. Sergeant Hurly expected a newly graduated lieutenant, hardly dry behind the ears. He instantly saw Lieutenant McBain as young and inexperienced, but he couldn’t quite make him out. With a name like McBain, he was expecting to see a blond, blue-eyed spit-and-polish young officer. He was surprised; this lieutenant was big and strong, with the look of steel in his eyes. The sergeant could see the lieutenant was new to command, but he was also a man of the west. This man has potential; I will reserve my opinion of our new officer, the sergeant thought.
Puma returned the sergeant’s salute. “At ease, Sergeant,” Puma said. “Have a seat. Let’s talk. I haven’t met the wagon master yet, but I’ll be meeting him after we’ve talked. The wagon master will communicate with this patrol through me. I’ll communicate with the men in this patrol through you. You’ll be in charge of the men. I’ll be in charge of the patrol. Are there any questions?”
“There is just one question for now. Shall I assign a man to attend to your horse and your needs?”
“No, I attend to my own horse and my own needs. I need no one to polish my boots. I’ll be out in front of the scouts at all times. I’ll discuss my findings with both you and the wagon master. If we encounter trouble, we’ll deal with it together.”
“Sir, are you sure you want to be out in front of the scouts? It can be very dangerous out there. A group of men riding through here, en route to the gold fields, killed some Indian women, and the Indians are seeking revenge.”
“Sergeant, I’m sorry to hear that there are men like that in the world. That’s why men like you and me are needed. We must try to keep order. It’s our job to try to protect both the Indians and the white men. There are some on both sides who make our job very difficult.”
“Yes, sir. Will there be anything else, sir?”
“No, Sergeant, that will be all. I’ll talk to you again after I’ve talked to the wagon master. Is there anything you and your men need?”
“No, sir, thank you, sir.”
They exchanged salutes and the sergeant walked out thinking, West Point is turning out better officers these days.
Puma went in search of the wagon master. He asked a family in one of the wagons, “Have you seen the wagon master?”
“Yes, he and his scout are over by the river.”
Puma walked to the river where he saw two men. They were dressed in buckskins and were obviously men of the west. He recognized them immediately. He called out in Arapaho, “Does anyone here know Puma McBain?”
Both men turned quickly. They didn’t recognize him in his cavalry officer’s uniform. They looked briefly, and then Puma saw recognition in their faces. They came running to greet him.
Pat Connors asked, “What in the world are you doing in that uniform?”
Puma grasped their extended hands and with a big grin said, “I’m in charge of the military escort that will be leading your wagon train to Bent’s Fort.”
Grant Davis, the wagon master, said, “You look great in that uniform, but I don’t know what the Arapaho are going to think when they see one of their own as an officer in the United States Army. They are at war with us now, or did you know that?”
“I just found out about it from my sergeant. Do you expect trouble?” Puma asked.
“Yes, we think there will be trouble,” Pat answered. “We’ve been holding the train waiting for you. Of course, we didn’t know it was you we were waiting for. All we were told was that a new West Point officer would be leading the cavalry escort. Everyone was expecting a green horn. Man, oh man, are we glad to see you. How many men do you have in your command?”
“I haven’t met my men yet. I’ve only met my sergeant. He looks like a good man. I assume I’ll have 24 men, two corporals, a sergeant and myself, making up a troop of 28 men.”
“I guess that will have to be enough,” Grant Davis said. “A couple of mountain men just came in from Taos. They sneaked by a band of warriors they estimated to be over a hundred men, all wearing war paint. They’re looking for revenge, all right.”
“What happened to the men who were resp
onsible for stirring up the trouble?” Puma asked.
“No one knows for sure,” Pat answered. “They were headed for the gold fields and should be half way to California by now. It’s a shame we can’t capture them and turn them over to the Indians. That would settle the whole thing.”
“Who’s leading the warriors?” Puma asked.
“Someone said that the chief’s name is Long Knife, and his sub-chief is called Black Crow,” Grant answered.
Puma was astonished. “I know those men! Black Crow is my stepfather. I thought they were dead. Maybe I can talk to them.”
“You can’t talk to them wearing that uniform,” Pat said. “They won’t trust you, and the warriors with them might want to take your scalp.”
The wagon master said, “Better get your men ready; we’ll be pulling out of here tomorrow morning at daybreak. We’ll have to deal with Chief Long Knife when we see him.”
“All right, my men and I will be ready,” Puma replied. “Pat, I’d like to introduce you to my men.”
Puma took Pat to where his men were quartered. Sergeant Hurly was addressing them. When Lieutenant McBain rode up, the sergeant called out, “Attention!”
The troop lined up in formation and stood at attention.
Puma and Pat dismounted. Pat remained standing beside their mounts while Puma walked down the line looking closely at each man. This was more than a formality for Puma; he wanted to get a measure of each man and know what kind of men he was commanding. Most of them were seasoned troopers; a few were new recruits. He walked to the front of the command, and the sergeant called, “At ease!”
For a moment, Puma stood looking at the men. Then he said, “In a few days I’ll know each of you by name, but until then I’ll address you by rank. We are to ride escort for a wagon train. We’ll be riding in rough terrain, and we’ll possibly be riding into hostile territory. Any man who is trying to harm you, or anyone you have been assigned to protect, is your enemy. You’ll be expected to deal with him in that manner. But we’re not here to kill Indians. We’re here to escort this wagon train safely to Bent’s Fort. If we’re called upon to do battle with anyone, we’ll do whatever is necessary to do our jobs.
“We are lucky to be riding with some of the best men in the West. The wagon master is a friend of mine, and he has been in charge of many wagon trains going west. He knows what he is doing. Now I would like to introduce you to the civilian scout for the train. This is Pat Connors. He has been in the West for many years. Before he was a scout, he was a mountain man. He speaks five Indian languages, and don’t let that gray hair on his head fool you. He’s a curly wolf and a good man to have on your side in a fight. If he tells you something, listen! Your life may depend on it.”
Pat addressed the men. “We were expecting a green horn from West Point. I can tell you with absolute certainty this officer is no green horn. You couldn’t possibly have a better man leading you. I’ve known many fighting men, but I’ve met only one who is as good as your commanding officer, and that man is this man’s father. I am proud to be in the company of such a man.”
Puma continued, “Men, we will be departing tomorrow morning. Should anyone want to talk to me, tell Sergeant Hurly, and he will arrange for us to talk. Sergeant Hurly, dismiss the men and stand by for orders.”
“Dismissed!” Sergeant Hurly yelled.
“Sergeant, if Scout Connors asks anything of you, and I’m not around, do as he asks. Is that clear?”
“Yes, sir. Will that be all, sir?”
“We will move out at dawn,” Puma said. “Have the men ready, and get me a new saddle blanket. Good night, Sergeant.”
Puma said to Pat, “I need a favor.”
“Just ask,” Pat answered.
“I need a wagon to put my saddle blanket in, and I need a buckskin outfit: pants, jacket, the whole works.”
Pat replied, “The saddle blanket is an odd request, but we can provide it, and the wagon is no problem. The suit will take some doing. I know a man who makes them, but you’re so big I doubt he’ll have anything ready-made that will fit you. He can make a buckskin suit for you tonight, if we pay him enough.”
Puma said, “Lead the way.”
While they rode to the tailor’s establishment, Puma asked, “Have you seen my family?”
“Yes. Grant and I stopped in Santa Fe on our way back from California. Your family is doing well. The army is buying all the horses and beef they can raise. The gold mine has kind of played out, but there’s still plenty of silver in the mines. They have one serious problem. There are people moving in, who want to claim the land that belongs to the ranchers and to the Mexicans. The landowners are going to have to fight to protect their property.”
“Can’t the army keep order?” Puma asked.
“The settlers claim the army is supposed to make the ranchers file claims for the land the same as everyone else. The settlers say Mexico lost the war, and the land ownership recorded under Mexican law no longer applies.”
“I think my father realized that might happen, so he, being an American citizen, registered all of his and Juanita’s land with the state and U.S. Bureau of Records.”
“Yes, I know that, but his claims are still being challenged.” Looking around, Pat said, “Here is the business establishment of the man who’ll make a buckskin suit for you.”
After being measured for the suit and telling the tailor that he would be departing early tomorrow morning, Puma arranged to pick the suit up later that night. Then Puma agreed to meet with Pat and Grant before the wagon departed in the morning. Pat went back to the wagon train. Puma rode to his quarters and carefully examined the crude maps the army had provided of the route the wagon train would be taking.
When he felt he was prepared to lead the troop, he rode back into town to get his suit. It was ready, and he put it on to make sure it would fit. The buckskin fit well, and he decided to just wear it. He had brought along his ax, his brace of six-shooters, and his knife. Now he felt properly dressed.
While Puma was riding back to his quarters, he passed a saloon and heard a commotion going on inside. Sergeant Hurly came out of the saloon. He appeared to be looking for someone.
Puma stepped down from his horse and asked, “What’s the trouble, Sergeant?”
Because of how he was dressed, the sergeant didn’t recognize his commanding officer. Puma asked again, “What is the problem, Sergeant?”
Recognizing his commanding officer, he replied, “Our two new recruits are involved in some serious trouble with men looking for a way to get to the goldfields in California. These men have been boasting of killing Indians. It seems that the Indians they killed were women and children, and now the rest of the tribe is out to take their scalps. The warriors were after them, and they had to return to Independence to join up with a wagon train for the protection the train would provide, so that they could continue their journey to California.”
“How are the recruits involved?” Puma asked.
“They refused to take the men to see the wagon master, and the men who have been boasting of killing Indians are threatening them. I was going to get more troops to help me handle them.” The sergeant stared at Puma. “How come you’re dressed like that?”
Puma said, “Never mind how I’m dressed. Come with me; we’ll take care of this.”
“We can’t handle it by ourselves. There are six of them, and they’re all heavily armed,” the sergeant said.
“All right, I’ll take care of it myself. I’m not in uniform, and it’s better that the army doesn’t get involved in a civil matter.”
Puma walked through the door with the sergeant following him. When they got inside, they saw the two recruits standing with their backs to the bar facing the six rough-looking miners. Their faces showed relief when they saw the sergeant. One of the miners was standing by the wall holding a knife in his hand, prepared to throw it at one of the recruits.
Puma walked between the men and the recruits and said to
the man holding the knife, “Put the knife down.”
The miner said, “Do you think you’re big enough to make me?”
In the blink of an eye, the man holding the knife found his hand pinned to the wall; Puma’s knife was sticking through it. One of the other miners went for his gun. Puma drew and shot the gun out of his hand, and then said, “Is there anyone else who doubts that I’m big enough to stop this fight? I’ll not shoot the gun out of the hand of the next man; I’ll kill whoever draws a gun. Now back up against that wall. Sergeant, disarm them, and take them into custody.”
“Yes, sir!” The sergeant and the recruits disarmed the troublemakers and, together with the lieutenant, tied their hands and took them into custody.
Puma said, “Take them to the jail. Have the sheriff lock them up for the night. We’ll be taking them with us when we leave in the morning.”
When the sheriff was told that the men had been boasting of killing Indians, and that they were under military detention, he gladly locked them up. He agreed to turn them over to the cavalry in the morning. Puma explained to the sheriff that he would see if the Indians could identify them. He hoped to prevent an Indian uprising.
The sheriff said, “These thugs have been causing trouble, and I’m glad to turn them over to you. I’ll have them ready for you tomorrow morning.”
“Leave them in leg irons,” Puma said. “I’ll be here before sunrise. The wagon train is leaving at dawn.” Then he turned to the sergeant and said, “I know this is your last night on the town before going out on escort duty, but stay out of trouble and get some rest. I want you in my office in time to pick these prisoners up at sunrise.” Then he turned, left the room, and rode away into the night.
His men asked the sergeant, “Who the hell is that officer? It’s going to be an honor to serve with him.”
Puma went to the wagon master to explain what had happened and to discuss his plan of taking the men who had killed the Indian women to Chief Long Knife in an attempt to negotiate a peaceful settlement. Pat was there, talking to the men in the wagon train; they were making preparations to depart.
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