The weekly Butte record., 1861-12-28
Running the Gauntlet.

rie) some thirty feet high and perpendicular
on all sides but one, and that plaguey hard to
climb" His only companion in this predica-
ment was an itinerant preacher named Lang
| worthy, who was brave man and a dead
shot. Five of their comrades had been killed
by the Kioways before they could reach the
shelter of the rock. Joe and the preacher had
plenty of powder and about fifty bullets each /;
for provisions they had couple of wild tur>
keys which Langworthy had shot little while
before; and their Notifications consisted of
loose stones erected around the summit of the
rock. The way 10 which they defended them
selves against the Kioways l will give in
Gholsons own words, as he told it to a COM
pauy of Rangers before their bivouac fire
After few preliminary remarks the old
Ranger went on as follows:
at was not long before we discovered that
many of the Indians had gone to their camp,
and were now returning mounted. In little
time they were all on horseback, and began to
make wide circuit about US, which they gra-
dually diminished, till when they were within
rife shot distance, they threw themselves upon
the outer side of their animals, so as completes
ly TO cover their bodies. In this position they
would fire upon us, from under the necks of
their mustangs. Thick and fast the arrows
fell about us; some falling upon the spot
where we stood, and sticking into the crevices
of our breast-works
"But all this time we were not idle The
parson watched his chance, and when an arm
or foot of our enemies was left uncovered, he
planted a shot into it, and sent the owner yell
ing from the ring. Now and then one of them
would receive a mortal wound, and tumble
from his horse and when his comrades gather
ed about him to bear him from the ground, we
would both pour, into them as rapidly as we
could load and fire. In this way we soon dis,
posed of eight or ten of the red rascals when
they withdrew again to the edge of the timber,
and held another council of war. Whatever
their decision was, they did not make any at
tempt to renew the fight that evening.
Fortunately for US, it was calm, moonlight
night and, though at a distance, we could
perceive that mounted patrols continually cir,
cled about US, to prevent our escape, none ap-
preached within reach of our rifles. | took
advantage of this to descend to the plain, and
run out to little clump of dwarf oaks, where
| obtained an armful of dried limbs, with
which | returned to the rock and kindling a
fire, we regaled our empty stomachs with one
of the parsons turkeys cooked upon the en-
bers. This comfortable meal, though without
water to wash it down, was Of great benefit to
us, as it enabled US the better to endure the
anxious and dreary watch of that long night.
AT length, however, the gray streaks of
dawn streamed up from the horizon announc-
ing the approach of another day, in all proba
and prolonged yell from the timber warned US
of the approach of our enemies.
They had collected their pack horses, cover
ed them with tents, tent-poles and other para
phernalia of their encampment, and having fas
tened them together by their heads, started
them out on the prairie, themselves keeping
close behind them on foot. At first they drove
them directly towards US but soon changed
their course to the right, and made wide cir
cult about US always keeping the animals be-
tween US and themselves. Thus they proceeded
till they reached the western side, when they
turned their horses heads again towards u.s.
We now OWNED their intention, which was no
other than to assault US on that side, under
cover of their novel breast-works. 1t was o
strategy worthy of more enlightened warriors,
and one likely to prove serious to US.
"Now my FRIEND" said the parson, as he
examined the condition of his rifle, "now
comes the tug of war. But our shots must be
directed against their moving breast.works.-
We must shoot down their mustangs and bring
them to stand" And as he spoke he ranged
his eye along his rifle and fired. One of the
horses fell. But without halting, an Indian
ran up from the rear, between them, and cut
the dying animal from the rest. Again and
again we fred, each time killing or wounding
an animal and throwing them into considera.
BILE confusion. Still, however, the Indians
continued to approach, and soon began to re-
turn our fire, and in few moments discharged
a rapidly falling shower of balls and arrows
upon US. | am certain we did not lose many
bullets and in less time than it takes to tell it
we had killed and disabled twothirds of their
mustangs and a good number of the savages,
now with no other shelter than the bodies
strewed along the prairie. The parson was
better shot than l. and preferred to leave the
Indians to him while continued to fire upon
the packed horses.
about fifteen or twenty Of the Indians had
now succeeded in reaching within about one
hundred yards of the rock, when raising wild
whoop, they sprang out from beneath the cov-
er of their remaining horses, and charged fu-
riously towards u.s. At first we received them
with our rifles, but We had no time to reload
before they were upon US, hurling their arrows
through the air and brandishing their knives
and lances with most savage ferocity.
Il C.:n -. ,pburt o,l 49,. H.,