Non-fiction account #1 told by Angus This is a campfire story in the old oral tradition. Some ghost stories are written... some are created but i bring you one handed down to me from my grandfather It is said to be true and there is documentation to prove it I do not have it written down I tell it to you as it was told to me and, no, I am not Scottish by birth but by tradition My Scottish great grandfather married a native woman so I am of two great clans :) this is a story of the old west in a time when cowboys were still Caballeros before the time of the gunslinger there was a great trade route opened up through the plains brave men made their way 700 miles from Missouri to Santa Fe there was the traditional route through the mountians but it was longer and harder the short route was called the Cimarron cut-off it had a great danger not as much water on this route this tale occured in 1866 The American Civil War was over but there was great unrest the natives had used the opportunity to increase depredations on the trains they were, after all, trying to protect their lands, their peoples as a result, the government increased military patrols created forts Mexico had lost this area to the US in the Mexican-American war Fort Union was established earlier on the east side of the Rockies, a refuge to weary travelers Lieutenant Anderson was newly assigned to the fort As was customary, he brought with him his young bride Anne They were deeply in love and glad to be together after the long War between the States he had been conscripted as a private (( Right at this point, Angus lost connection to the internet... When reconnected, he resumed his story...)) we are sitting around a campfire on the old Santa Fe Trail we are now going to step into a camprire of that era what we relive now happened the man that lived it told this to my grandfather who told it to me there are plenty of sounds out here to make ones hair stand on end The lonesome howl of the wolf The yipping of coyotes off in the far distance The hooting of burrowing owls and the eerie scream of the Mountain Lion but none of those have the impact of what will happen to us tonight it is after dark people are preparing beans, dried meat stewing dried fruit When out of the dark rides a cavalry troop they are white with the dust of the trail A young Lieutenant gets off his horse and asks directions to Fort Union The trail boss scratched his head, for surely the soldiers knew But having traveled the trail many times, gave directions.. The fort was some 35 miles to the southwest The soldiers, saying nothing more, rode off in the direction he gave. The train, consisitng of some 50 wagons ladened with goods bound for Santa Fe, left the next morning. And three days later arrived at Fort Union. On arrival, the trail boss inquired after Lt Anderson and his troop The old sergeant paled at the query Surely you jest, he said. The trail boss said no. He asked us for directions not three days ago The sergeant said come, we must talk The sergeant told him a tale of woe. It seems a few years ago, there was a Lt Anderson at the fort. He had gone out on patrol one winter's day.. during the height of the conflicts with the naitves there. There was to be a grand Christmas ball at the fort that week. Anne was desperate for her young groom to return for it she pleaded for him to be back, and made him promise to do so He made an oath to be there for her and to dance with her. As the ball approached, the party was not to be seen. They were then a day overdue, for he had made arrangements to be back for it. The ball started, no Lt Anderson. She was not to be consoled It came for the last dance, the grand recessional. In those days , dancing was quite different than what we are accustomed They were grand coreographed events each knew their part.. She could not participate without him just as the band started to play he came through the door she ran into his arms and they danced all eyes were upon them over 200 officers, men and their ladies were present many accounts have been written of this after the dance, he slipped away No one knew where he went. But three days later, a party arrived with the bodies of Lt Anderson and his men, dead for more than a week's time. End of story