Delaware State journal and statesman., 1867-05-28
INDIAN WARFARE--THE sEIGE OF
FORT BUFORD.

A correspondent of the Chicago Republican
gives the following account of the seige of Fort
Buford by the savages;
During the latter part of the fall different
members Of the friendly tribe of Indians came
and told Major wilkinson and Col. Rankin that
the hostile Indians were going to make an attack
upon the forts along the river, commencing at
Fort Union. About the first Of December, Old
Crows Breast, noted chief among the Gross
ventres, made the journey from Fort Berthold
to Fort Union. distance of $50 miles. on foot,
and told the Colonel and Major that the Uncapu-
pas would soon attack them that they had men
enough to cover the entire plain like blanket
that they had sent tobacco and presents to all of
the neighboring tribes, and requested them to
join the grand army of determination. and if they
refused to comply, that they would henceforth
Le considered as enemies. But the friendly
Indians remained true to the whites and not
only refused to join the Unoapapas (Sioux,) but
came and kept them posted as 10 their move
ments, and also offered to join the whites for
the purpose of exterminaling the entire force Of
posed to number about three thousand warriors
The Indians made their first attack on the 10Th
of December. There were about two thousand
of them, and they came up within about four
hundred yards of the fort (Buford) and rode
entirely around both forts. They took pair of
Company, and also killed horse with which
Mr.. Farwell had started for Fort Union from
| Fort Buford. When be had reached about half
way, some twenty-five Indians fred upon him
with their arrows. His horse was hitched to o
sort of jumper, but he soon unhitched him, and
jumping upon his back, and using his revolver
for a whip, he made for Fort Buford, the Indians
close behind. AT length shot from an arrow
killed bis horse, when he sprang to his feet and
ran for his life, wheeling at times and shooting
at bis pursuers until the shots in his revolver
were exhausted when he took his rife, which until
this time had remained strapped over his shoul.
der, and taking aim at the savsges, still retreat
ed toward the fort, they pursuing, until they saw
him stop to take aim, when they would turn and
run As soon as the alarm was given at th'
fort, the soldiers ran 10 his rescue, and sooI
brought him safely within the walls of woOder
fort. Ia q few minutes the entire brush seemet
to be alive with Indians. During the chase
whenever Farwel shot at them, they would al
throw themselves over on the horses sides, an
nothing could be seen but hand and limb-i
fact, they would seem to dodge the shots of til
revolver.
On the 2lst they came again and tried to sc
FIRE to the mill, which was about four hundre
yards distant. At night they tried to burn Tn
hay which belonged to the fort, but the soldier
drove them off. Old Red Stone, an Assniboi
chief, told the whites to move their wood, ha
and whatever else they had outside, within, al
- old Setting Bull, the commander in-cbief of q
~ the hostile tribes, had told him that they ht
= ! eleven camps, and were going to kill off eve
white map, woman and child, on the Nilsson
" river. and in the entire Northern country.
" time was lost. Hay, wood and every thing moy
u able, was brought within the stockade, viii
0n was built of slabs. Here, again was troub
" There was no water within the fort, and t
"' Missouri river could not be removed, The
WAS then but one alternative, and that was
.'' dig well. So they went to work, aud day a
- uight they worked until at fifty feet they stru
water Then there was Joy among the lii
band, which, from all appearances, was soon
Ut be massacred, since the Indians told them
NV the 25ih of December that they should kill th
all; and they have since acknowledged q
bic they intended to burn the hay and the mill, {
| kl,a fnrt aT nd n1
his but in this they failed. From the 25th Il
to kept up constant seige until the middle
,ys March, except at times they would stay av
to er for three or four days.
u.s. On the Sd of February, twenty soldiers
her four or five citizens went from Buford VI
can Union, distance Of two and half mi
no. When on their return two of the citizens fe
the little behind, and were but q few rods from
ker. gate when they were attacked, and one Of th
red Thomas Ward, formerly from Illinois, had
ices arrows and one bullet shot into his body.
pre-. killed three Indians and the soldiers drove
hen rest off and carried him to the fort, but be
ling the next morning at four o'clock. He was
and only man killed, and he might have eseal
calls but he would not run, but stood mis- ground
his fought his pursuers. He was a native of IrelI
wife where all his relatives live except one sit
whose residence is unknown,
ory. The safety of the fort is alone due to divis
own which arose in the camps of the Uncapa
the Among their warriors were dozen or |
and chiefs, who were jealous of each other
pro. wanted to fight others did no:-at least Vi
him, each could have bis own wsy. Hence dvi
nped arose, and at three different times they fc
lledl among themselves. A number of warriors
mild. by the hands Of their own men Only for
th- there probably would not be one left to tel
nv story of the three months seige of last "
a NOT at forts Buford and Union.
odly ----''s''--
4 up- A JAPANESE IN "SToRE CLoTHEs."-A
rered correspondent of the Springfield Reput
10 90. writes:-"The other night l saw o ludi
stance of the progress of civilization eonse