In the early stages of the encounter, Sunny Bear avoided fighting with blue coated soldiers. Who are my people, he wondered, pistol in hand, as his horse skittered nervously. What should I do with myself?
He knew that he looked like an Apache, and it wouldn’t be surprising if somebody tried to kill him. As predicted, a blue coated corporal appeared out of the gun smoke and dust, riding a chestnut gelding. The corporal spotted Sunny Bear, steered toward him, and lowered his pistol for the shot.
Sunny Bear held up both hands. “Don’t shoot! I’m a United States Army officer!”
The corporal seemed not to hear, as his horse closed with Sunny Bear. The white Apache was forced to draw his own pistol, as the corporal fired. The bullet went wild, the corporal thumbed back his hammer for another try, now ten feet away.
“God forgive me,” whispered Sunny Bear, as he pulled the trigger …
