The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-04-07

Buffalo Hunting on the James
River Flats.
EXPLOITS OF ANA.
TEUR SPORTSMEN.
Fort WADswoRTH, D. T., March

To the Editor of the Pioneer:
The only incident tending to intercept
tho quiet of this region during the past
two weeks, was the arrival of Mr.. Brewer,
Paymaster's clerk, and the payment of
the troops at the post up to the LIST of Feb
ruary.
Mr.. Brewer was accompanied by DR..
Stees, of the volunteer service, who was
anxious to see the elephant from the pla-
teau around Fort Wadsworth.
After the payment was made, the
weather being fine and buffalo abundant
on the James River flats, Major Rose de-
termined to treat the visitors to aibufalo
hunt. An expedition for that purpose was
therefore organized, consisting of officers,
soldiers, scouts, Indians, suffers, &C., &C.,
habited in every style, from the fine pa
rade dress of the commanding officer, to
the shirt, breech cloth and blanket of the
sutler, making up motley squad whose
appearance far surpassed the conceptions
of Shakespeare when describing the ludi-
crons appearance of Falstaff 3 troops.
The party left the Fort at quarter to
ten O'Clock A. M. on Saturday the 18th
inst, and at half past twelve reached the
edge of the plateau, where they were
treated to sight, grand, beautiful and
imposing beyond all power of imagination.
At the base of the plateau, some six
hundred feet below stretches off level
plain extending westward to the Missouri
plateau and north and south between the
two plateaus, to the northwestern termi-
nus Of the eastern plateau.
The James River, skirted by timber,
meanders through this vast plain and may
be seen in clear weather from either pla-
teau. The passage of the James River
through this vast level plain, has caused it
to be designated as the James River flats.
But the natural beauty and grandeur of
the scene was enhanced, in the estimation
of the hunters, by the numerous and inn
mense herds Of buffalo that met the eye.
The plain being covered with snow, each
individual buffalo within q range of many
miles, was seen by the hunters from
their position on the top of the plateau,
and the contemplation of the scene for q
few minutes caused every member of the
party to be seized with severe attack of
buffalo on the brain, and under its inf1u-
ence the party started pell NELL down the
side Of the plateau, and toward the near
est buffalo.
Upon reaching the fiat, each hunter at
tempted the execution Of flank move
ment in his own way, and therefore each
horselnan
Took the road that pleased himself"
Tor his horse), and soon the fight of buffa-
10, the pursuit of horsemen, tho report of
small arms, and the rising and drifting Of
the snow, created an excitement equalled
only by that which resulted from the gal
liant charge made by our troops upon
Washington after the first battle of Bull
Run.
Doctor 8. was mounted upon steed
well trained a. q Bull Runner. He had
been taught to approach the buffalo BY
succession of sunmersaults, which added
materially to his speed, while his respirs-
ton was facilitated. Under this system
of locomotion the horse got along side of
the herd in very few minutes, but the
Doctor was not with him, a. he had dis
mounted about half mile back, to oh.
serve the peculiar working Of this new
system of progress adopted by his horse.
But the Doctor lost nothing by remain
ing behind, a. his steed, true to bis train
ing, selected and drove towards the Doc
tor . fine fat bull, which the Doctor
brought to the ground without emptying
but one of his three Henrys, or discharg-
ing either of his six revolvers. One of
his swords, however, was used in opening
the animal, and after he had taken cut
and skinned the calf, he was satisfied with
| his days work and started for the fort.
where he arrived without accident, except
losing his seat few times, in bis attemnts
to master the turnover system of horse
manship.
Mr.. Brown, less fortunate than the Doc-
tor, had to approach the buffalo on a horse
that travelled fright side up" BE opened
fire at long range, which range was
eventually shortened until the race became
a contest Of leg to leg trial of muscular
power on the part of the horse and buffa-
10, and of rapid dispensation of Henrys
cartridges on the part of the man. The
number of buffalo killed by Mr.. B. has not