Peacekeeper

Previously:

The Traveler reminisces about his time in the cavalry.

Chapter 12

During my final year in the cavalry, I was a runner for Captain Springs. He and I had grown close. Perhaps that was the reason I saw a side of him that other men didn't.

He always treated the Indians fair and respected their traditions. Unlike some commanding officers, he didn't take part in routing Indians just to harass them.

When an Indian was caught committing a crime, Captain Springs would give him a fair hearing, then execute him.

Soldiers wrote to their wives and told them not to worry. They were riding with the best captain in the army. Still, their wives worried. It's one thing to be told not to worry, and another thing to put it into practice.

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Soldiers in the west did everything they could to entertain themselves. Wherever there were soldiers, there were prostitutes. Soldiers and their wives had an understanding about the needs of a man away from home. Whatever happened while a soldier was away from home was never talked about when he got back.

Gambling was another way that soldiers passed their time. Some men were so bad at it that they served four years in the cavalry, and never had a dime when they went back east.

There were a hundred ways a man could occupy himself in the west. The men had dances, even when there wasn't anyone to dance with, and some of those boys could sing as fine as any bird you ever heard.

Robin Harrison was about the finest singer I ever heard, and that soldier could dance like there was no tomorrow. He was the only clean-shaven man in the outfit, and he always danced the part of the woman. Said he didn't mind. Truth be known, I think he liked it. He always laughed when someone twirled him.

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Under Captain Springs, there was a lot of free time. He avoided unnecessary fighting. He wouldn't tolerate fighting among the men, and with the Indians, when a dispute arose, he always looked for a solution that everyone could live with.

Once there was a threat of war between an Apache tribe and a Comanche tribe over land. The Comanche claimed that a piece of land belonged to them, and the Apache said no man owned land. The Great Spirit owned everything and men only lived on it.

When Captain Springs got wind of it, he stepped in. He told the Indians that each tribe was to choose five braves. The braves would fight for their whole tribe and the winner's claim would prevail.

His rules were that they were to fight barehanded, and no one was to die. When an Indian was exhausted, he must leave the fight. On the day of the contest, soldiers, Apaches, and Comanches gathered to watch and cheer on their favorites. The competition went on for three hours. The fighting went back and forth as the onlookers shouted instructions and approval. In the end, the Apaches were victorious, and the matter was settled. After the fight, the Indians slapped each other on the back and congratulated the winners. An Indian war was averted and everyone had a rousing good time.

Captain Springs gained respect as a wise judge among the Indians. He was often called on to settle disputes. The Indians trusted Jeremiah because he respected them.

Captain Springs was the best negotiator I ever saw. I always felt that he could make peace with everyone if he had the chance to get them together. He was what the Bible meant when it said the lamb would lay down with the lion. Jeremiah Springs could make it happen.

To be continued . . .