The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1864-10-29
rwo No.ehe. on a p,lgrim,. stan.
NOTCH NO. 1.-THE INDIAN FIGHT.

i
After many minor incidents of travel had
been observed and registered in the Office of
7" the warder of the brain,'' / began to
think that the last stage of the route would
be almost eventless, but was soon unde-
ceiyed. Arrived as the Junction, whore
the road forks, one leading to Bannack, and
one to Virginia, we camped at small
creek fringed with willows, from which it
derives its name. Our FIRE was made, bread
baking, and that ever delightful operation,
dish-washing, fairly under way, when two
men rode up to the camp, and asked if we
had been to see the Indian fight. The
question seemed SO odd, that we naturally
sought an explanation, and were told that
portions of two tribes, the Bannacks and
Pen d'Oreilles were actually engaged in hot
Qndian thermometre) conflict, about mile
off. Out came rifles and pistols, and away
went our folks to see the scrimmage. The
sun was near the setting when we started,
and we found that the distance was prairie
mile, but ut last we reached the ground and
locked round for the combatants. By the
aid of an older settler, that is to say, {. man
who had been there half an hour, we dis
covered the following hostile operations:
Every now and then, puff Of white smoke
would burst from clump of willows at
the foot of hill, on which were lariated
some Indian ponies. Around three sides
Of this clump, rode band of Indians at
full speed, without any regularity. As each
came to a favorable spot, he let fly with his
rife among the willows and received q re-
turn without any harm being done. The
horsemanship was splendid, the yelling ter
rife, but the fighting burlesque.
Eight of the Per d'Oreilles had made q
raid into the Bannack territory, with q
view of recuperating their stock of horses,
and lifting a little hair Of the Bannacks, if
possible. Happening to obviate one gen.
tleman of the Bannack persuasion they
shot and scalped him, taking his rife ..and
horse. This being found out, the Bannacks
started in pursuit, and had corraled the
enemy in the bushes aforesaid, yet though
the Bannacks were fifty, and the Pen
dOreilies eight, not once did they even
think of a charge. The noble savage is O
coward at heart. Like cat, he will spring
on his prey, but, unless the odds are on his
side, no Indian ever thinks Of attacking ar
enemy. The whites took the matter as good
sport, walked about, criticising the shoot.
ing, mode of warfare, &C., without inter.
fering. 1t was evident that the Bannacks
were no match for their opponents, foI
though six to one in number, they continued
their circuituous operations until dark, ant
then off went the Pen d'Oreilles. We hav,
heard of Yankee bargains, and tough one'
at that, but We saw on instance of the"''dol
lar lever " here that completely put every
thing else in the shade.
The Pen d'Oreilles, having possession o
a scalp, was all the trouble: otherwise the!
would not have been attacked by the Ban
nacks, who have q wholesome dread o
their superior prowess. A Yankee on th
grourd hearing of the caSus belh, was imme
diately struck with the idea that q trad
might be made, and so off, he started for tn
Pen d'Oreillc lodgment, and offered a.
t ounce of gold for the scalp, but he failed t
| get it for that or any other price. On bein
asked what he wanted with SO disgustil
: an object, he replied thht he IS cac ate
e them Ingens would give good many pc
. news for that bit of har, if he could onl
/ manage to buy it. During the fight, bot
sides appealed to the whites for aid, an
l deprecated the affording any assistance
: their adverrsries.
r The party in charge of the wagon wa
: wondering when We intended to so bael
l when long train Of red cavalry appeared
q bowling lamentably, precisely as the keer
v ers at an Irish wake or funeral. Not bein
b posted on the variation of yells, the gentle
i men thought that his hair was about unde,
}, going some surgical operation, and felt az
8 cordingly. The howling company passe
% Oh, and were followed by band Of wa
ho n,
t. clamations of sstabbak," sc )" bishkest,o &c
J. and being attended to, departed. Two 4
1t three Bannacks were wounded, and one, {
3, the next day, showed us ball which 4:
,e entered the stock of his gun between Il
= heel plate and the butt and remained il
y bedded in the wood. Ills gun was pr
g sented in the act of firing, so his eseaI
T. was pretty close one.. The Pen d'Orcill
h had two wounded, but bore off the scalp
,e triumph. Ten horsemen could have swe
= the PEI; d,Orcilles from the face of I
y earth in half as many minutes. a....s.
y When our party awoke iii the mornln
c, we were surrounded by Bsnnacks-" 10
ID Iniins,'' {" no steal hoss, &C., VINO fed WI
l. en- appetite not affected by the loss on t
Of scalp on the preceding day. Powder, ba
l. and caps were what they wanted, and ha
le ine obtained supply in exchange
! mountain sheep meat and dressed dc
Ell skins, they retreated to their mounta
re Businesses and we bowled along to Virgin
=, SoxE of the qliidnuaacs are circulating
~ rumor that a large party of belligerentss
az az preparing to make a raid into Mexico fr'
% % the Western and Southwestern States,
~ behalf Of the Mexicans and against
p French, having been induced so to DO