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The Comanche though, had established their own reputation. Fearless in battle, lethal with the bow, they were arguably the finest horsemen to have ever lived. They’d developed flawless tactics that drew wasted fire from their enemies, enabling them to swoop down upon them with overwhelming force as they dismounted to slowly reload. So, when the scouts peered over the flinty ridge along the Pedernales River and saw only fifteen Rangers circling a campfire, they raced back to their camp to tell of the advantage.
Before those scouts even mounted their horses, Captain John Coffee Hays had already begun speaking softly to his men.
“I reckon’ you all saw that... probably have a little war dance tonight and attack when the sun comes up. Now, they’ll be seventy-five... at least. And they’ll try to draw us apart; don’t let ‘em. Wait ‘til they form up. We stay mounted. Now get some sleep.”
The next morning unfolded as predicted, and when the Rangers fired their single-shot rifles, the Indians confidently advanced with a terrifying cry. Facing five to one odds on open ground, not a single lawman should have been left alive. But the Rangers had some five to one odds of their own. For the first time, the new Colt Paterson 5-shot-revolver was used in the field; “one bullet for every finger.” Fifty-three Comanches fell in those violent fifteen minutes while the Rangers suffered only four casualties.
A new era in American/Indian relations was dawning.
6 comments:
+JMJ+
I feel simultaneously chilled and excited by the last line.
That's an interesting observation ma'am. It all depends on what race/nationality you are and what the depth of your understanding of history is. I find myself always in awe of the old rangers despite my personal feelings on a lot of the aspects of their behavior/duties. I don't think that feeling will change, ingrained into my experience as it is. History should always be viewed by "perspective", meaning - what's important?
+JMJ+
I know what you mean--but I think that the mixed nature of my feelings were magnified by the fact that I don't know which side to take in this conflict. If I were sympathetic to the Rangers, I'd be all, "YEAH!" If I were sympathetic to the Comache, I'd be writing a letter that begins, "Dear Mr. Gibson, I think you need to direct another epic movie about the death of a civilisation . . ."
LOL You need to comment more here, ma'am. But actually, you're reaction is what I hope to (but so rarely) achieve in these vignettes.
+JMJ+
Well, if makes you feel any better, I do read everything. =)
(And last night I even told my brothers about the Poe Toaster, whom they at first thought was cousin to the Hello Kitty Toaster and the Darth Vader Toaster.)
and she returns, badabing!
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