Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1870-05-06

Capt. Frank, writing again from
Atlantic City, wy oming, gives tn,
result of his scout after Indians:
ATLANTIC CITY, April II, 1870.
got back none the worse for wear
though we had n tough time of i
descending and ascending higf
mountains, snow storms in the
mountains and q hot sun (Which
though was quite we'come) in the
Wind River valley. We turned out
about $50 strong in all. some from
South Pass, some from Atlantic and
Miners Delight, and were joined by
about 20 valley men. About one
third mounted on horses and mules
/ the balance on foot. The first day,
Thursday, we marched about twenty
miles under q severe snow storm.
The second day 2 O'Clock, We fell in
with some red devils and killed
about ten of them, amongst which
were two chiefs, one called Black
Bear and perhaps the most cruel of
of all Arapahoes. They fought like
devils, and fred even after they had
not strength left to stand up; we also
killed one squaw, who tried to get
away, but no one knew, at that dis.
stance, whether it was LADY or
gentleman" ArapahOe. We took
Black Bears squaw and her papoose
prisoner. By this time, we were
Joined by eight Bannock Warriors,
who are friendly Indians, and belong
to Washak ie, Chief of the Shoshou.
avs, who are pretty good DEVILS
1t was sight to see these warriors
painted aid dressed as If they were
going to an old country wedding, all
kinds of colored material about them
and brass jewelry enough to fill a
store, an Indian war flag, and each a
leather shield to ward off arrows
About 3o'clock, we moved on toward
the lower valley to attack the first
Arapahoe camp, under their chief
Friday, but before our cavalry got
near, he moved quarters pell nell
toward the middle village under Lit
tie Shields, and he also moved to the
lower one under their big chief, Med
icine Man. Occasionally we would
see few Arapahoes on the bluffs to
the right of us, hotly chased by cur
cavalry, who managed to kill and
scalp a few more, but still Onward We
went until III o'clock at night, when
we reached the Big Wind River and
camped, having made So miles that
day. We cooked little supper and
laid down to rest our weary limbs for
action in the morning. Ipicked out
as nice spot as l could, and was
soon fast asleep, dreaming an old
fashioned army dream, which how
ever l was not to enjoy very long, for
about one o'clock in the morning the
Indians attacked our camp. The
first whizzing of the bullets made me
jump, "buckle on my armor," and
my rifle was ready for the
onset. They attacked at three diff
ferent points, one after the other. 1t
first seemed quite a panic, but We
soon laid flat on the ground in lines
guarding all approaches. The night
was cold and DRILLING rain made
it more unbearable as " e laid shiver-
ing and chattering our teeth and
thus we laid guarding, watching and
locking into darkness for
what was coming, awaiting Indians
and daylight; and by the way it just
to be my birthday, the 9th
of April, and as my mother often
told me, paid my respects about one
in the morning, it so happened TO be
just the day and hour. A pretty
birthday present, l thought, an Indi-
an bullet or an arrow into my ribs,
but no matter which, was there and
would do my best and abide the re-
suit. Fighting Indians is plain
piece of business. You must whip
them or die. Better to blow ones
own brains out than be taken and
tortured to death in the most APP
proved Indian style.