Mariposa Democrat., 1857-08-27

came upon them, and with loud hurrah bore
down upon them. They stood for short time
and showed fight, but our guns brought several
to the ground, and they scattered in all direc-
tions and fed we pursued the main body for
two or three hours, occasionally getting shot,
but without doing much execution, until we
found ourselves in the midst of body Of two
or three hundred of the devils. Our Captain
deeming it prudent to retreat, called US on,
and without the loss Of man we retired, hav-
ing to force our way through crowd that had
surrounded us.
1t was nearly night when we camped, and
after again placing our guards we retired to
sleep, but feeling sure the Indians would fol-
low. In the morning we resumed our march,
and about 10 o'clock coming to cool and Sc
questered spot we lay down, not even placing
sentinels. The place was in ravine, on either
side studded with thick chappara, while right
behind us was large pine tree which lay OBJ
liquely across the ravine. We had lain thus
for two or three hours, most Of us asleep,
when one of the most horrid yells broke upon
us ever heard in my life-succeeded by the
rattle of musketry and fight Of arrows. We
sprang to our feet in an instant, seized our
guns, and, with word, formed ourselves in a
! line two deep. Hardly had we done so, when
the Indians were upon us. So impetuous was
their attack that they had seized hold Of some
of our guns ere we fired, but when the word
was given seventeen Of the devils bit the dust.
The Indians fell back, we were excited and
rushed on them--discharging our second bar
rel as we did so. Old Grizzly was always in
the advance, he fought like tiger. The
Indians made another rush at us and we all
fell back save him. He was surrounded.
We saw his danger in a moment, and club
bing our guns rushed to his relief; we were
too late, he had fallen, but with Indians piled
around him. His body was covered with ar
rows, his face and head broken and bloody
and the blood was gushing from his wounds.
The only gesture he made was a feeble wave
Of the hand, and he sank back dead Madden
ed with the sight of our companion, we again
rushed on the Indians, terrific fight ensued
hand to hand; they fought like demons and
we with the desperation Of certain death, and
desire for revenge. In a short time the In
dams in the centre fell back, and unmindful Of
aught but our fighting, we did not see until
warned by the shouts of our Captain that they
were on our fanks. We fell back to the pine
tree which was behind us, feeling our way
step by step backwards until we reached it.
Springing upon its body reached out my
hand to the help Of one of my companions who
was wounded, but just as l took his hand
shot struck him in the neck, I felt his grasp
relax-and giving hasty glance at his face
felt that he was dead. | sprang behind the
tree and found ten more of my companions
with me- The remaining six had made their
last struggle, and three of those with us were
badly wounded.
Hastily binding up their wounds we had
time to reload our guns and pistols which had
been discharged long before. The scene of
the late battle lay before us. There lay our
late comrades side by side with their enemies,
around Old Grizzly"a dozen or more of the
devils lay, and the dark ground seemed dark
er with their gore. The main body were hid
den by bunch of chapparal-and seemed to
be in consultation, and it was only when one
more daring than the others, endeavored to
get some Of the arms of the dead, shot from
our guns would be the reward for his temerity.
But they again broke upon us-we now had
the advantage and were determined to keep it.
Then several times did they endeavor to dis
lodge us from our stronghold and as often were
they driven back. They would leap upon the
very tree behind which we were laying-a dark
face would peer upon US and with look of
anguish, and yell of pain his dark body would
fall back.
They then attempted to secure by strata
gem what they had failed to do by force For
an hour nothing was seen or heard Of them
until suddenly they burst on us from above,
and we were exposed to their attack on both
sides. Our number was soon diminished to
five, certain death was staring us in the face.
The enemy were between us and our horses,
and fight to death was our only apparent re-
source. On consultation it was determined to
endeavor to fight our way to the horses as the
only chance for US to save even one to tell the
tale. We started; the wild devils were around
us on every side their yells, their savage ges-
lures, mingled with the crack of our pistols and
the fall of bodies was fearful But three Of
US reached the horses, and just as we did so
shout from below, followed by a discharge of
fire arms--and the sudden retreat of the In
dams proclaimed the approach of friends.-
With wild cry of delight sprang on my
horse but just as ] reached the saddle, ball
struck me in the leg, and falling on my head,
| became unconscious
have since visited the spot-it is hallowed
to me by the remembrances Of the past. Four
teen graves are ranged side by side behind
the pine tree-and a shingle at the head Of one