POWDER RIVER, A PETTYGREE WESTERN ACT 3

 

PREVIOUSLY

https://generalpettygree.blogspot.com/2024/11/powder-river-pettygree-western-act-2.html

The Burdette Gang fled after a parlay with Red Hat's war party erupted in treachery.

While miles away, C Troop peacefully marching west....

Headed into unexpected trouble.

In moments you will join them down there beside a tributary of The Powder River as we listen to new orders being issued by Captain Brittles in....

ACT 3 - SURROUNDED

"Sergeant Quincannon, we have to get into cover fast. Take C Troop to the campsite just ahead and set up a perimeter. You know the place?"

"I do, Sir. It's just past them twin rocky outcrops I see now."

"Off you go then. I'll bring along the infantry and wagon directly. Also, send a trooper on the best horse we have to the fort explaining our circumstances and need for help."

"C Troop! You heard the Capn'. At the Canter. March! 

"Aye, there's fine cool water ahead for the harses' to drink and a shady bivouac for us."

"If you say so, Sergeant," smirked Bugler Daws.

A frowning Quincannon after hesitating said, "I say so."

Daws simply replied, "YO."

"There it is lads through them rocky peaks. Capn' Parmenter's infantry will be countn' on us to set up nice an' proper for their arrival."

"Lieutenant Carpenter, there's cover not far to the right. Double quick the men there firing at the hostiles on the way. Then follow the cavalry to the stream."

"Will do Captain Parmenter."

"Wagon! Follow the cavalry. Hurry unless you want to stay here permanent!," shouted the Captain.

"Independent fire as skirmishers," ordered Carpenter.

"Follow me lads while them Long Tom rifles...." 

"Give us covering fire," said Quincannon.

"Is that rain comin' in, Quincannon?," asked Daws.

"Well now, laddy. Didn't I say we'd have shade?"

"Yo."

"And here we are, bees and all!," offered Daws.

"Them's not bees, Daws, you ignorant recruit," scorned Trooper Riley. 

"We're tak'n fire at long rifle range!"

As the infantry followed along as quickly as possible pausing now and again to fire from behind a reverse slope mostly keeping the foe's heads down. So far there were no casualties.

THE MARSHALL AND THE BANDIT

"Good luck Marshall. Get 'em for my brother Frank and Pa."

"God willing Miss Polly, we'll bring the Burdette Gang to justice. I'm glad your brother is better. He'll make it with your love and care. Burdette only has a day's ride ahead of us. Now I'd better get along with...."

"The Posse."

TWO DAYS LATER

"Pa, we'd best rest the horses after escaping Red Hat. We've been rid'n hard fer two days since the robbery," said Joe.

 "Alright son. We'll rest in the shade to the left on that yonder hill. Then we'll...."

But Burdette's conversation was cut short when....

Marshall Chance shouted, "NATHAN BURDETTE! You're under arrest for...."

"Is that you Marshall?," asked Boss Burdette. "Fer what?"

"The robbery and near killing at Peabody's Mine Trading Post two days ago."

"That weren't us Marshall. You ain't got no proof!"

"Our six rifles and Colts is all the proof we need. Throw down your weapons, get off your horses and lie on the ground with your arms stretched out," demanded Chance.

"Pa, we ain't got a chance!," whispered Joe.

"You try'n to be funny, boy?"

Then Mumps shouted, "We got trouble boss. Lookee there!"

Burdette groaned, "Tarnation. Red Hat's after us!

"Marshall, we gotta talk," cried Burdette. Let's call a truce. Otherwise, we'll all lose our hair."

"Okay. A temporary truce. No time to talk more, Burdette. Everyone, turn around and head for the Little Powder River where there's plenty of cover," said the Marshall.

"We're gonna get cut off!, said Ryan.

"Hoka Hey!" (Charge!)

LITTLE POWDER RIVER CAMPSITE

"Riley, the Capn.' wants you to ride to the fort for help. Take Lone Bear with you and hurry," ordered Quincannon. "Here's...."

"The message for the Colonel. Now be off with ye while things are quiet!"

"Good luck Riley an' Lone Bear!" cheered Willis.

Meanwhile, at the opposite end of the camp, Lieutenant Parmenter saw a group of cowboys being chased by a war party. He ordered a section of infantry out to provide covering fire.

"The campsite is up ahead. Head for it," said the Marshall.

"Gotta turn a might to get there," shouted Burdette.

"Did you hear that, boys?" exclaimed Flint. "Look!"

A skirmish line fired their Springfield Long Toms covering the incoming riders.

Two warriors were brought down. Realizing the situation had significantly changed, the pursuers turned away as....

The cowboys halted their blown horses at the camp's east end.

"My name's Lieutenant Parmenter. You men are mostly darn lucky we are here. Are you Marshall John Chance?," asked Parmenter."

"Pleased to meet ya, Loo-tenant, answered Chance. Thank you for your support but, what do you mean mostly lucky?"

"Well Sir. Though it's not apparent, we're surrounded. The Lakota are massing piecemeal on the surrounding hills. Escape is unfeasible. The infantry would slow us down too much. We'd be cut down out in the open. So we deployed here in the best cover hear a bouts."

"Well Burdette. I expect this is where I'll stand with my men and take what comes. What about you?," asked Chance.

"Seeing as we have a truce 'tween us, I'll ask the boys. I reckon we'll stay," said Burdette.

Parmenter interrupted saying, "Let's retire into cover. We're exposed to desultory fire out here and the Captain will want to talk with you. C'mon inside. Sundown is not far off. 

"What do desultory mean?," asked Mumps.

Much later to no one in particular, Quincannon remarked, "There's more campfires out there tonight laddies. Meybe' they'll come calling at dawn."

COME BACK IN TWO WEEKS FOR

THE CONCLUSION OF POWDER RIVER IN

ACT 4 - THE ATTACK

----------          ----------          ----------

POWDER RIVER, A PETTYGREE WESTERN ACT 2

 

PREVIOUSLY

https://generalpettygree.blogspot.com/2024/11/powder-river-pettygree-western-chp-1.html

Nathan Burdette's Gang robbed gold from Peabody's Mine Co. Trading Post and escaped. Later....

Marshall Chance later arrived at the post and sent a deputy back to town for a posse. While....

Previously and elsewhere Burdette's son Matt was taken captive by The Lakota Red Hat as we resume our story at the latter's Village in....  

ACT 2 - WARPATH

"Yip; Hip!, Hiyah, Hiyah!," exclaimed Redstick. 

"Red Hat's war party arrives bringing in...."

"Captive, Matt Burdette."

"Let me go. I ain't done nuthin'," cried Matt.

"You lie!," charged Red Hat. "Take him to my lodge."

"Wait! What are yah gunna' do with me?"

On his pony facing Matt, the father of Running Water answered, "We wait until sundown." 

All then expressed approval shouting "Hoye!, Hoye!"

LATER

"Look, the father Burdette comes," shouted Standing Bear.

"There's the village. They're comn' to parlay," said Burdette.

Red Hat rode straight to Burdette asking, "The ransom?"

"He answered, "Back on the pack horse. Where's my son?"

"Behind us," said Red Hat. "Now we trade."

 

"Snake, bring up the pack horse," ordered Burdette.

Yesss, boss," he answered.

As the ransom was taken away....

Red Hat brought Matt Burdette forward.

He exclaimed, "Pa, I sure am glad to see you!"

"Never mind the jawing. Snake has a mount for you. Git."

"What'd you do, boye? You cost me my stake fer Californy! Mount up afore I let thisss here horse go," hissed Snake. 

"Shut up Snake! Move son before the Lakotas change their minds. We'll be lucky to git outta here alive," said Burdette.

But instead, Matt turned around to face the village, walked forward a might and made an insulting and vulgar gesture at the warrior who had been his guard.

The guard was the brother of  the young woman, Running Water, whom Matt had violated. This additional insult was too much. He aimed and fired.

Instantly killing Matt with a bullet through the head.

As reactive shooting erupted, Burdette, galloped to his son seeing he was dead.

One bullet slew Snake as the Burdette gang galloped away.

"Ride!," shouted a stricken Boss Nathan Burdette.

"Where Pa?," asked the other son, Joe.

"West. Follow the tracks we seen yesterday," said his father.

C TROOP

"C-Troop, Sing Yellow Ribbon!, ordered Sergeant Quincannon.

"Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon,
She wore it in the springtime, in the merry month of May.

And if you asked her why the heck she wore it,

She wore it for her sweetheart who was in the cavalry.

Far away. Far away.

She wore it for her sweetheart who was far, far away."

"Well done men. Now let's hear....," but he was interrupted by Bugler Daws.

"Sergeant, there's somthn' a stirring to the left."   

"Trooper, when you've been out here as long as me, one Lakota just means they want to keep an eye on our doings. Tis curious they are. Besides the war is over. Most of 'em went into Canada or back to their agencies since last year."

"But Sergeant," said Daws.

"The Lootenant' has taken notice of 'em."

"Aye Trooper, a good eye you have and now, what's this?"

"The Captain just hurried forward to the scouts. They must have something to say."

"Report," ordered Captain Brittles.

"Many Lakota," said White Cloud.

"Where?"

"There."

"Hmm. - Not too many," said the Captain. "Watch 'em and report any change without delay." 

"I'm going back to the column."

Closing Remarks

What about:

1. Marshall Chance and his posse?

and

2. Mr. Peabody who chased Burdette after the robbery and shootout at his trading Post?

COME BACK IN TWO WEEKS FOR

POWDER RIVER'S

ACT 3 - SURROUNDED

----------          ----------          ----------