William Meador - The Last Hill

The Last Hill

Copyright 2012 by William R. Meador

All rights reserved. Copying or reproducing by any mechanical, photographic, or electronic processes, or in the form of any phonographic recording, shall violate the copyright. No transmitting or copying for public or private use is allowed, other than as brief quotations embodied in articles and/or reviews, without the express written permission of the author and publisher.

ISBN-13: 978-0-9825340-4-5

Military records include events that may or not be fact. This story is one such event. It falls somewhere between truth, fiction, fact and folklore.

Major Samuel Nathan Kidd commands his regiment into the field against an apparent Apache myth called Red Hawk. Red Hawks reported bands lead the cavalry on a long and difficult campaign covering an area the size of many states. Major Kidd, with his cavalry, leads the chase from Fort Davis, Texas to the Mexican border, back north through the mountains along the Rio Grande, to the southern edge of the Territory of New Mexico. The campaign finally leads to a mesa north of the Davis Mountains in pursuit of Red Hawk. This is where all the bravery, cunning and wit of both sides will be tested.

This is a story of the men of the 8th, 9th and 10th Calvary, showing unusual bravery, devotion and loyalty to their commander, fellow troopers, and the regiment. Men of several races, colors and backgrounds find they are molded together in a struggle to overcome tremendous odds.

Its a story of three Indian tribes, led by a myth, as they try one or more desperate efforts to free themselves of their oppressors and regain their homelands.

The story may be myth or legend. Real or not, these men displayed great valor and strong convictions. The courage of every man is challenged on The Last Hill.

All rise.

Five officers, including one general, two full colonels, and two lieutenant colonels filed into the crowded fort chapel, now converted into a temporary hearing chamber for the inquiry, with the chapel furniture removed and stacked in a rear room. A long table sat on the dais at the front and a temporary witness stand erected at the side. Two tables, one for the defense and another for the prosecution, were placed on opposite sides of the aisle in the front of the pews.

The five officers uniforms covered with decorations, medals and combat ribbons demonstrated many years of service. The officers, representing the five forts of the area: Fort Bliss, Fort Quitman, Fort Concho, Fort Stockton and Fort Hancock, were seated.

A lieutenant to one side announced, Be seated.

It required a few moments for the shuffling of chairs and feet to cease. A few coughs broke the near silence and throats were cleared as the crowd settled in place.

The sounds of the fort drifted through the open windows. These sounds were a part of every man in the room. They could hear the calling of orders, the jingling of harness, the stamping of hooves in the gravel, and the snapping flag in the breeze. The scents of a recent shower, damp earth, clean air, and the aroma of blossoming flowers filled the room on this spring day.

Everyone recognized the general sitting at the center of the table. His hair white and thinning falsely marked his age, as he carried himself like a man half his age. There were few wrinkles in his face, which glowed with good health.

He claimed to the other members of the board, It is clean living and pure West Texas air makes me feel and act like a young man. The other men only laughed, for they knew he was stating the truth and not bragging.

General Wilbur Lawrence Ray, Inspector General from Fort Bliss, was best known for his work in inquiry cases and court-martial hearings. General Ray cleared his throat, waiting for all conversation to cease so he could open the proceedings.

Some of the other Board of Inquiry members were just a little overweight and lost most, if not all, of their hair. Some faces reflected too many battles and too much pain. Lines of grief etched in the hard faces of the board. Theyd witnessed to many years of blood, death, and destruction.

General Ray surveyed the room and spoke, This Board is convened to consider whether formal charges for a court-martial shall be brought against Captain Jesse Philip Cobb, Commander A Troop, 5th Regiment, 8th Cavalry, Lieutenant Mitchell John Winters, Commander B Troop, 5th Regiment, 8th Cavalry, and First Lieutenant Matthew Scott Long, Commander C Troop, 5th Regiment, 8th Cavalry.

Major Taylor Sherman Gillespe, 3rd Regiment, 10th Cavalry, Fort Bliss, brings these charges. These alleged charges stem from the actions of Captain Cobb, and Lieutenants Winters and Long at Hueco Wells on or about the 30th of March 1881. Let me repeat, this is not a court-martial. This is a preliminary hearing. Lieutenant Ray Franklin Charles, Adjunct Majors Office, Fort Sam Houston will serve as the prosecutor, and Major Paul Marshall Manning, Commandants Office from Fort Union will act as the defense for the Captain and the two lieutenants. Lieutenant Steward, you may read the charges.

Lieutenant R. A. Steward, overweight and ruddy faced, with a shock of red hair, stood and cleared his throat.

Yes, Sir, the lieutenant responded, then asked formally, Gentlemen of the Inquiry Board, if I may?

General Ray nodded and the lieutenant continued, On or about the 30th of March, 1881, Captain Cobb, Lieutenant Long, and Lieutenant Winters disobeyed the written orders of their commander and the orders of a superior officer from Fort Bliss. Their commanders orders stated they were to proceed to Fort Bliss from Hueco Wells and await further orders. Further, they disobeyed and cursed Major Gillespe. Final item for consideration is the striking of Major Gillespe by Lieutenant Winters.

A tittering of laughter ran through the room. General Ray hammered a gavel and growled, Silence! I will not tolerate any outburst or disturbance at this hearing! Is that clear? The laughter quickly ceased. Again, the commander of the hearing waited for the shuffling of feet and chairs to cease.

General Ray barked, Lieutenant, proceed.

Yes, Sir, snapped the lieutenant. Further, they refused to obey the direct orders of Major Gillespe. The charges, therefore, are refusal to follow orders, disrespect to a superior officer, and striking a superior officer.

Lieutenant Steward moved to the side and sat at the prosecution table. His face was shiny with sweat on this first week of May. He would suffer more from the heat when the blazing hot summer came in July and stretched into late fall.

Lieutenant Charles, you may make your opening statement.

Yes, Sir, answered the Lieutenant, a spit and polish officer if ever there was one. His black hair, beard and mustache were neatly trimmed. Before he spoke, he moved up to stand at the end of the table where the presiding officers were sitting. He stood at rigid attention and faced the officers.

I will be brief.

His eyes flashed superiority and contempt at the three men being charged and then turned back to the five officers.

This is a case, pure and simple, of three lower-rank officers disobeying the orders of a superior officer. The officers in question did disobey a higher-ranking officer, were disrespectful to him, and finally one of them struck him. That is all there is to it, and the evidence will show it. Thank you, Gentlemen.