Major Heidelberg was not impressed. “Leave the money here, Lieutenant. I’ll see that it’s turned over to the paymaster.” He turned to Hawkins. “You’ll be confined to an empty quarters on officers’ row. You are not to leave those premises without permission and an escort.”
“Yes, sir,” Hawkins said. He nodded at Dooley. “Mr. Dooley, will you be kind enough to go over to the agency and inform Miss Halverson that I’ll be a bit late calling on her.”
“Yes, sir!”
~*~
It took a half hour for Ludlow to ride the distance between Fort Sill and the Kiowa-Comanche Agency. When he arrived at Kristina Halverson’s house, he knocked loudly but got no response. Then he realized since it was in the middle of the day she was probably conducting classes at the schoolhouse.
Ludlow reached the school, and noted the children were out in the yard playing. He assumed it was recess and when he wasn’t able to see Kristina, he figured she would be in the building. He dismounted, secured his mount, and started for the front door.
“Hey, soldier!” came a boy’s voice.
Ludlow turned to see an Indian boy eagerly looking at him. The kid wore braids in the traditional way of his tribe.
“You’re with the scouts, ain’t you?” the boy asked.
Ludlow replied, “I sure am.”
“Can I join up?”
Two more boys joined him. “Hey, soldier!” one said. “We want to join too.”
“Now you fellows look like you would make jim-dandy scouts,” Ludlow said. “But you’re not quite old enough yet. When you’re the right age, Captain Mack Hawkins will enlist you.”
“My Uncle Red Moon is in the detachment now,” one of the youngsters said.
“And he’s an excellent scout too,” Ludlow said. “I’ll talk to you fellows later. I have to see your teacher.”
Ludlow stepped through the door and saw Kristina laying out notebooks on the desks. She looked up at him and smiled, then her face acquired a worried expression. “Is Mack all right?”
“He’s in good physical condition,” Ludlow said. “But an unexpected problem has arisen. Charges have been filed against him and he has been arrested and confined to quarters at Fort Sill. He sent me over to tell you.”
“I don’t understand,” Kristina said, stopping her task. “What sort of charges?”
“The main one is disobeying an order from a superior officer and several others.”
Kristina’s lower lip trembled. “How serious is this?”
“Oh, Kristina!” Ludlow exclaimed. “The situation is grave.”
Kristina took a moment to compose herself. When she spoke again, the anxiety was unmistakable in her voice. “Is it possible for me to see him?”
“I would think so,” Ludlow replied. “I’ll requisition a buckboard at Fort Sill and come back and pick you up later today.”
“I have classes,” Kristina said. “There is no way I can go today, but tomorrow is Saturday. Can you do it then?”
“Certainly,” Ludlow replied. “I should have more information at that time. This whole thing came as a big surprise.”
“What happened out there?” Kristina asked.
“We were supposed to guard an army payroll on a train, but we were attacked and the bandits took the money and fled. We tracked them down and recovered the loot. We also brought in the gang leader and two of his henchman. They’re in the guardhouse at Fort Sill.”
“If you accomplished all that, why is he under arrest?”
“Evidently a paymaster officer has some quarrel with Captain Hawkins,” Ludlow said. “I’m going back to Fort Sill now for a buckboard. I’ll be over in the morning to collect you.”
Ludlow left at the same time the children were lining up properly under the leadership of an older boy to reenter the schoolhouse after recess. The lieutenant noticed it was the youngster who was Red Moon’s nephew. He seemed to have leadership capabilities that would make him an excellent scout in the future. The youngster might well be a sergeant someday.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Kristina Halverson, with a picnic basket on her lap, sat on the buckboard seat beside Lieutenant Ludlow Dooley as he drove the vehicle down the row of officers’ quarters at Fort Sill. Captain Mack Hawkins, who had seen them turn onto the street, was standing on the porch of his assigned house when they arrived.
Hawkins waved at Kristina. “I’d come out and help you down, but I’m not permitted to leave the porch. You’ll have to depend on the gallantry of Mr. Dooley.”
Kristina smiled at him. “Then I’ll be in good hands.”
Ludlow jumped off the vehicle and secured it, then walked around and held out his hand for Kristina. She handed him the basket, and stepped to the dirt street, then walked toward Hawkins with Ludlow a couple of steps behind her. When she reached the porch, she stopped. “Hello, Mack.”
“Hello, Kristina.”
She tried to be brave, but it was an effort. “Oh, Mack!”
They gazed into each other’s eyes, their mutual ardor creating an incredible tension that Ludlow sensed. “I guess you two would like to be alone, wouldn’t you?”
“You are welcome to stay, Mr. Dooley. It wouldn’t be appropriate for Kristina to enter my quarters, so our visit will have to be a respectable one held on the porch.”
“I understand,” Ludlow said. “But if you would like me to take a stroll, just let me know.”
“Your consideration is much appreciated, Mr. Dooley.”
“Kristina fixed a lunch for the three of us,” Ludlow said, setting the basket on the porch.
“That’ll be a blessing,” Hawkins said. “I’ve been sending out to the post trader for a few things. His merchandise consists of canned fruit, sardines, and various sorts of crackers. At least I get bread from the post bakery in lieu of hardtack. But I’m still stuck with salt pork.”
“I’ve brought cold fried chicken, lefsa and preserves,” Kristina said. “And some boiled eggs. There’s enough to last you a few days even after the three of us eat.”
Ludlow interjected, “I don’t need anything.”
Kristina gave him a stern look. “You are going to eat with us, Ludlow.”
Hawkins chuckled. “You’ve been given your orders, Mr. Dooley.”
“Oh!” Kristina exclaimed, taking a more careful look around the porch. “You have a swing.”
“It, like these quarters, isn’t mine,” Hawkins explained. “I ranked two bachelor lieutenants out of their living space while I’m confined here.”
Kristina was puzzled. “I don’t understand.”
“I am a captain and must be billeted among others of my own rank even though I’m facing a court-martial,” Hawkins explained. “So the lieutenants had to move down the line. It’s army custom.”
“I still don’t understand,” Kristina said.
“You’ll notice the different sizes of quarters here on officers’ row,” Hawkins said. “The smallest are for lieutenants, the next largest are for captains and the biggest are for majors and colonels. There was a shortage of a captain, so the lieutenants moved in here. Then I came along and they had to move down to a lieutenant’s abode.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the Army,” Kristina said.
“If I were an enlisted man I would have been housed in the guardhouse,” Hawkins said. “That would mean getting fed hardtack, salt pork with only water to drink. Not even coffee. Also, during the times I wasn’t at my court-martial, I would be required to perform rather demeaning hard labor. So, I’m not going to complain about these quarters.” He indicated the swing. “Shall we?”
As Hawkins and Kristina settled down, Ludlow found himself a place to sit on the other side of the steps. He felt awkward and intrusive and wanted to be as inconspicuous as possible.
Hawkins turned his full attention to Kristina. “I noticed the Indian agent Elmer Jordon was locked in the guardhouse. I always knew he was as crooked as a dog’s hind leg. What happened
that brought about his just deserts?”
“He had been stealing government property meant for Indians and selling it to a man by the name of Colin Hamm,” Kristina explained.
Hawkins nodded. “I know Hamm from some illegal liquor dealings involving Indians.”
“It seems that Hamm had taken some farm tools, blankets and other items up to Guthrie to sell them to various stores,” Kristina continued. “The government markings on the goods caught the attention of a couple of merchants and they called the U.S. marshal’s office. An investigation ensued, and Hamm was arrested. He made a deal with the Federal district attorney and confessed about his dealings with Jordon. A few more legal steps were taken and Jordon was arrested. He’ll be taken up to Guthrie for trial. An interim agent has been appointed to take over the Kiowa-Comanche Agency until a permanent one can be assigned.”
“Justice is served,” Hawkins said. “There are white people that work hard to see that the Indians are treated fairly, but just as many take advantage of the inadequate organization of the agency system to enrich themselves.”
Kristina lost her composure and tears came to her eyes. “What’s going to happen, Mack?”
He showed a smile of encouragement, fighting the desire to embrace her. Instead, he gave her a peck on the cheek. “Not to worry, sweetheart.”
“But what is your legal situation, Mack?”
“Basically I’m charged with disobeying orders given me by Major Dewey the pay officer in charge of the payroll that was stolen. He ordered me not to pursue the bandits, and I took my detachment after them anyway. That’s it in a nutshell.”
Kristina was confused. “But Ludlow said you not only retrieved the money but brought in three prisoners as well.”
“That’s true,” Hawkins said. “But that doesn’t refute the fact that I had been ordered not to chase the bandits, and I did anyway. So on Monday morning my court-martial begins. They’ve assigned me a captain as a legal counsel.”
“Is he a lawyer of some sort?” Kristina asked.
Hawkins shook his head. “He’s in the cavalry regiment here at Fort Sill. An old fellow by the name of Early.”
“Can’t you get a proper attorney?”
“I don’t know where I’d find one out here,” Hawkins said. “The best I can hope for is that they’ll take in consideration I got the money back along with capturing some of the bandits. That would be a blessing of sorts. That would result in a reprimand, but I’d never be promoted beyond the rank I have now.”
Kristina was worried. “What is the worst that could happen? Would they send you to prison?”
“No,” Hawkins replied. “That’s another advantage of being an officer. But I could be cashiered and kicked out of the Army.”
Kristina was close to crying. “It’s not fair!”
Hawkins didn’t want her to get upset. He called, “Mr. Dooley! Let’s take a look at that picnic basket.”
~*~
At eight o’clock on the following Monday morning, the court-martial of Captain Mack Hawkins, United States Cavalry assigned to the Kiowa-Comanche Scout Detachment at Fort Lone Wolf, Indian territory, began in the post hall of Fort Sill, Indian Territory.
This particular military trial, called a general court-martial, was the most serious and formal of such procedures. It had been convened by the commander of the military department who had the authorization to call for such a significant trial.
The military judge who would supervise the proceedings was no less a personage the Colonel John Bennington who was in command of Fort Lone Wolf and the cavalry regiment stationed there. His rank and position would have precluded his having to take on such a duty, but he volunteered for the task. He had done so at the urgent behest of his wife who reminded him it would be an excellent opportunity to rid the Army of Captain Mack Hawkins once and for all. The Mrs. Colonel also urged her husband to include officers he commanded, thus Major Ernest Carpenter, a squadron commander in the regiment; and Lieutenant George Watson the regimental adjutant were appointed members of the court-martial.
Hawkins’ counsel Captain Theodore Early was an elderly gray-haired captain who commanded a cavalry troop at Fort Sill. He had been in the army a bit over thirty years, but would never be promoted beyond his present rank. The best rating he ever received in his career had been “adequate.” He was staying in the Army beyond retirement age because he couldn’t face the prospect of the genteel poverty of eking out a living on a three-quarters pay pension.
Captain Early faced Captain Charles Patterson, the assistant judge advocate of the military department, who would act as the prosecutor. Patterson had had two witnesses to call to the stand: Major Harold Dewey of the paymaster department assigned to the paymaster general at Fort Sill, Indian Territory; and Second Lieutenant Ludlow Dooley, United States Cavalry, assigned to the Kiowa-Comanche Scout Detachment at Fort Lone Wolf, Indian Territory.
The court-martial opened with Captain Mack Hawkins, accompanied by Captain Early, standing in front of the presiding officers. Colonel Bennington, reading from the charge sheet, recited, “Captain Mack Hawkins of the Kiowa-Comanche Detachment of United States Scouts, the charges and specifications against you are as follows. Willful disobedience of a direct order by a superior officer; disrespect toward a superior officer; issuing illegal orders to soldiers under your command; and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. Do you understand these charges and specifications, Captain Hawkins?”
“Yes, sir.”
“How do you plead, Captain?”
“Not guilty, sir.”
With that formality taken care of Hawkins and Early settled down at the defense table as the court-martial began. Captain Patterson called his first witness Major Harold Dewey of the pay department. After Dewey was sworn in, he identified himself for the record. “Major Harold Dewey, Paymaster Department.”
“Major Dewey, will you explain what duties your were performing on the fourteenth of July of this year?”
Dewey cleared his throat. “In my capacity as a major of the pay department, I had been ordered to take military payrolls to three posts in Texas. Those were Fort Richardson, Fort Griffin and Fort Concho.”
“What mode of travel did you use to perform that assignment?”
“By railroad. I was to depart from the railhead north of Fort Sill to Texas.”
“I see,” Patterson said. “Would you be able to reach each garrison via train travel?”
“No,” Dewey responded. “I was to leave the train at depots near the posts, and travel overland to the garrisons to deliver the money.”
“Were you provided with an escort for protection?”
“I was,” Dewey said. “Much to my surprise I was assigned a detachment of Indian scouts under the command of a Captain Mack Hawkins.”
“Is Captain Hawkins present in this room?”
Dewey pointed over at the defendant’s table. “He is sitting with his counsel there.”
“Give us the details of your leaving the railhead.”
“I had problems with the captain almost immediately. I ordered him to take his second-in-command—another white officer—the Indians and their mounts to a cattle car attached to the train. He argued that he wanted the members of his detachment to be in the same car I was to ride in. He was quite argumentative about it. I issued him an order to obey my instructions.”
“Did he obey?”
“Yes. But in a surly, disrespectful manner. And with that, our trip began.”
“Did the trip progress properly?”
“It did for a couple of hours until we were well into Texas,” Dewey said. “Then the train was stopped by some logs stacked on the tracks. As soon as it came to a halt we came under heavy fire from bandits.”
“What was the result of that attack?”
“We were overwhelmed, and the bandits took the payroll box and escaped. After they fled the scene, Captain Hawkins approached me and I informed him the money had been stolen while he and h
is detachment were hunkered down in the cattle car. He ignored my reprimand, stating he was going to mount an immediate pursuit. I gave him orders to the contrary. I stated firmly and clearly that he was not to chase after the bandits.”
“I see,” Patterson said. “What was your reason for that?”
“Well! I certainly didn’t want a bunch of wild Indians turned loose in Texas,” Dewey said. “It hasn’t been too many years ago that those savages were massacring whites on isolated farms and ranches in the area. My plans was to inform the commanding officer of Fort Richardson of the robbery and allow him to mount any necessary pursuits.”
“What was Captain Hawkins’ reaction to your order?”
“He told me that when I got to Fort Richardson, I should tell the post commander that the Kiowa-Comanche scout detachment was in pursuit of the bandits. I told him to remain on the train.”
“Did he obey that particular order?”
“He did not!” Dewey exclaimed angrily. “He told me to piss up a rope. Those were his exact words. Piss up a rope! And with that, he, his lieutenant and those Redskin savages galloped off into the hinterlands.”
Patterson turned to Colonel Bennington and the two officers of the court-martial. “I have no further questions of this witness.”
Bennington glanced at Captain Early. “Do you wish to cross-examine the witness, Captain?”
“Yes, sir,” Early said. He conferred for a moment with Hawkins, then got up and approached Major Dewey. “When you ordered Captain Hawkins to take his detachment to the cattle car, did he advise you that was an unwise decision?”
“He simply groused about not wanting to ride in the cattle car.”
“You are from the War Department in Washington, are you not?”
“I am one of fifty majors assigned to the pay department there,” Dewey replied. “I have recently been given a temporary posting to the Indian Territory.”
“Have you been sent to deliver payrolls before, Major?”
Crossed Arrows (A Long-Knives Western Book 1) Page 21