Indian Wars + 

We started to march o’er the plain, + 

And looked for shelter long in vain, + 

At last a scout brought in the news, + 

He found a house to rendezvous. + 

A large block house in the valley + 

Where the company could rally; + 

And soon they start a cheerful fire + 

With all the comfort they desire. + 

But when the wind went howling by, + 

It bore along an infant’s cry; + 

Men rushed out on the prairie + 

For to find the little fairy. + 

They found child in arms of mother, + 

And met its father and its brother, + 

And a young sister who was quite small, + 

With kitten wrapped up in a shawl. + 

These folks were drawn by an ox team, + 

And of such storm they did not dream; + 

O’er wagon canvas erection, + 

It gave them but slight protection. + 

But though this family was in gloom, + 

The soldiers gave them warm room, + 

Where they slept till dawn of day, + 

Then emigrants went on their way. + 

But soon a soldier gave alarm, + 

Which to us seem’d to bring us harm; + 

He thought, or was it but a dream, + 

That he heard the baby scream. + 

Horror on all it did hefal, + 

When soldier said ’twas wrapped in shawl; + 

We knew not how it should be fed, + 

And feared that soon it would be dead. + 

The mess we fixed is historic, + 

For to feed it milk and paregoric; + 

Just then we heard Indians yell, + 

And thick ’mong us their arrows fell. + 

But they found they could not trifle + 

With us, when each seized his rifle; + 

But so quick they us surrounded, + 

Several of our men were wounded. + 

But soon quiet did reign supreme, + 

Then infant once more was the theme, + 

Though no more the babe doth squall, + 

For arrows have transfixed the shawl, + 

Each soldier’s heart was grieved sore, + 

For blood it trickled to the floor; + 

So much witl, grief they were smitten, + 

They opened shawl and found dead kitten. + 