The Story of the First Trans-Continental Railroad Part 14

Commencing as far back as Station three hundred and forty-five, and producing tangent to Station four hundred and thirty-eight by twenty-seven. We then bore to the left with a two degree curve and continued to Station five hundred and forty-one, leaving the line for the night. The location of the line was continued on Tuesday to Station seven hundred and nine and ninety-five hundredths, making a total distance from Sheridan of eight and nine-tenths miles. The line is an easy one for gradients; no heavy work occurs on it, but the many crossings of the stream obtained, make frequent bridges necessary.

These should be of such a character as to allow a water-way of at least thirty feet, but bridges of simple construction could be used, stone of any kind being difficult to obtain. The soil is sandy and easily worked, but will make a substantial road-bed. Having received your verbal orders to run a rapid line from a point west of here on the North Fork, where that valley makes its deflection to the South, eastward to the three hundred and eighty-fifth mile post, I provided myself with ten days' supplies and rations, and on Wednesday, the sixteenth, moved up the North Fork as rapidly as the nature of the ground permitted, camping at night near the four hundred and twenty-fourth mile, on Mr. Reynold's preliminary line. Before camp was fully arranged, a heavy squall struck it, tearing down all the tents, destroying one old one used as a cook tent and injuring some of the new ones. The herd was also stampeded, but was recovered without loss.

The next morning I went up the valley about ten miles and ascended the divide to take observations. I found the course of the valley here was south of west and continued four miles westward. Several large branches, with deep, broad valleys, almost as large as the main stream, came in from the North, which it would be impracticable to cross. I returned, therefore, to a point in the valley near the four hundred and thirtieth mile of Mr. Reynold's line, where ascent from the valley seemed easy, and commenced my line at Station fifteen hundred and fifty-seven by eighty-three and ascended to an upper plateau in about one and a half miles, with a grade of fifty-two and eight-tenths feet per mile. I then turned to about Magnetic east, and we held this course with some deflections northward until night. This day's work, some six miles, is extremely heavy, the first two miles averaging about forty thousand cubic yards of earthwork each. On Friday we continued the line, swinging more to the northward, as the heavy ravines and rough country forced us away from our course.

Running ten miles, we found a good camping place at end of line, at night, in a large branch of the North Fork, (the same which comes in two miles west of Sheridan), where there were numerous large ponds of water, the drainage from the late rains. The line during the day had crossed the water courses at that immediate level, between the heavy breaks near the divide and those near their outlets; still, the work is very heavy, the crossings being wide and deep. Any attempt to improve the line would only result in throwing it northward to the divide, coinciding with your preliminary line of 1867. At the end of the work, Friday, I obtain a grade of sixty-three feet per mile for six thousand and one hundred feet with extremely heavy work on straight lines. Sat.u.r.day morning we made one and a half miles further and were obliged to abandon the line for the day. On seventeen miles of this work we obtain average per mile:

Excavation 5,500 cubic yards.

Embankment 9,600 cubic yards.

Total per mile 15,100 cubic yards.

I have suggested in the transit notes a change for three or four miles, which will save considerable work and improve the alignment materially.

On Sat.u.r.day morning while looking up the line about two miles ahead of the party, I was attacked by ten mounted Indians who came out of a ravine and were very close before I discovered them. My horse was wounded by a pistol ball in the hip at the first start, but I was able to dodge them and was gaining enough distance to enable me to dismount and fight them on foot, when another party, about forty in number cut me off in front and surrounded me, leaving as I supposed, no chance of escape.

Shooting down the nearest as they closed in, my horse, though wounded in four places and drenched in blood, carried me bravely and broke through their line, they closing up in my rear. One having a fast horse closed in with me as mine stumbled and partially fell. He emptied his revolver at me, but without other effect than to tear my clothes, then striking me on the head with his lance-staff told me in good English to "come off," which, under the circ.u.mstances, I did not feel justified in doing. Having him then in good range, I placed my gun against his side and fired, shooting him diagonally through the body and dismounting him.

Feeling my horse giving away I threw myself from the saddle and catching the nearest Indian as he turned disabled him so that he fell to the ground in a short distance.

They were now all scattering under whip and spur, having turned the moment I leaped from my horse. I had now come in sight of the party and observed a fresh band endeavoring to cut off the level party and back flagman.

Mr. Morton (rear flag) finding his pony too much excited to be managed jumped off, successfully repelling the Indians with his carbine.

Messrs. Schuyler and McCarty, rodmen, went to his a.s.sistance, though only armed with small revolvers. The Indians shooting as they pa.s.sed, struck Mr. Schuyler in the leg, the ball pa.s.sing through the fleshy part of the thigh, wounding him severely, but not seriously.

The mules of the line wagon becoming unmanageable were unhitched and fastened to the wagon securely while the instruments were being secured and preparations made for a general attack. By the time I had reached the wagon the men were concentrated and prepared for any attack in force. The Indians now molested us but little, occasionally making a dash and firing a few shots then dashing away again. We moved slowly towards camp keeping out-flankers and in a short distance met Lieutenant Smith with a few dismounted men. The first alarm being given by Morton's pony coming in followed close by a few of the red devils, camp had been struck and the wagons loaded preparatory to moving out to meet us. An attempt was made to stampede the stock, but it resulted in a miserable failure, the Spencer carbines of Lieutenant Smith's detachment telling with effect.

As it was unwise to separate the force, and as Mr. Schuyler's wound needed attendance, we deemed it best to come into Sheridan, it being only fifteen miles. I cannot too highly commend the conduct of the men, they were all cool and ready. Messrs. McCarty, Morton, Schuyler, Scott and Wheeler (leveler), were especially noticeable for presence of mind and cool courage at a very critical moment. Lieutenant Smith and his men, by prompt and vigorous action alone, saved the stock and rendered the safety of the line wagon certain. About seventy Indians were engaged, of whom four are known to be killed. Several others seemed hurt from their actions though nothing certain is known.

The fight has demonstrated to me the inefficiency of our escorts and the need of more men upon the line, especially with the front and rear flag and level party.

These men, engaged as they are, have no chance to observe any movements about them and could be surprised very easily and shot down without an opportunity of defense. The fact of my being surprised myself, and allowing these Indians to get behind me and within fifty and seventy-five yards before discovering them, although always on the lookout, proves that we cannot feel safe without extraordinary precautions. My horse was severely wounded, but was able to come in here where he will receive every attention and will in a short time, I think, be fit for service--say one or two months. I must repeat urgently what I have before reported, the necessity for a good strong horse, fast enough to outrun an Indian pony, strong enough to carry my heavy weight, with endurance to keep up his speed for miles if necessary, and hardy enough to stand constant hard riding such as will enable me to see all of the country as we pa.s.s it.

Our loss in property was as follows:

Two shovels--(abandoned from necessity.) One flag-- One chain--overlooked and left lying on the ground.

Private loss.--One field gla.s.s (mode of loss unknown, probably cut off by a ball.) One spur--(cut off by ball, saving the foot.)

Part of this property may be recovered.

I shall start on the line again tomorrow and try and get through to Carlyle Station.

I omitted last week to report some changes in the party.

I have been too much occupied as yet to send in an estimate for my supplies for the month of July, but will do so from Monument Station.

Very Respectfully,

Howard Schuyler, Resident Engineer.