The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-02-16

them, with baggage heaped up for
breastworks. There we waited for the
savages.
But they did not come Just then
With loud whoops and screams they
gathered upon the plains ut distance
from us. The wretched towards. as
soon as they saw our slight preparations,
were actually afraid to attack.
They waited till night.
Night came. Our defenses were made.
Our wagons were arranged more closely,
and the barricadc of baggage was made
higher, deeper, and more effective. In
the centre were our cattle. Behind this
little fortifcation we awaited our foes.
Shortly after dusk the tramp of thou
sands Of hoois shook the plain. Down
upon us Numbered the indians. Shouts
and yells burst around,
On they came, nearer and still nearer.
We waited in breathless suspense.
AT last our volley burst iu thunder
upon them.
Shrieks arose from amid the gloom.
We saw not what the effec. of our shots
had been, but could ouly conjecture that
il had been deadly.
There was wild uproar-the con-
fused sound of trampliDg horses, the
noise Of men calling to one another, in-
termingled with groans aud cries Of pain.
Without giving them time to recover
from their confusion We poured in another
volley, and yet another, loading as rap.
idly as we could, and firing rcvolvers
where we had them.
The effect Was terrible. Many must
have been wounded or killed, judging
by the awful uproar that arose. For a
time there was a confused hubbub of
sounds. Horses were trampling, men
calling; groans were mingled with cries
Of rage. During all this time we fred
at intervals whenever we heard sound,
husbanding our ammunition, not will
ing to waste shot.
At last there arose wild tramp OF
horses, the sound moving away from us,
and seeming to show that our enemies
had retired baffled from the assault.
Yet We were afraid of some plot.
Grignon made us keep our watch, and
all that night We lay on our arms, cx-
pecting every moment to hear the Indian
yell which announced the assault of the
savages.
After a long night, which seemed in-
terminoble, morning dawned. As the
light illumined the wide plain, welooked
around anxiously for our enemies, but
saw none whatever We took hasty
break fast, and then deliberatcd on what
we ought to do--whcther to take ad.
vantage of this respite, and move on, or
wait while. Most Of us thought we
had better hurry on, but Griguon gave
it as his opinion that the indians were
yet in the neighborhood, and were
waiting to attack us on the march. lie
thought that it would be better to wait
at least another day. We all yielded to
his opinion, aud waited as best we could.
Alters few hours, at about ten o clock !,
ten or dozen horsemen appeared over
hilloek in the distance, riding slowly
toward US.
"They wish to have parley," said
Griguon. "Some Of you step forth aud
see what they want. wish to have a
little to say, but will wait"
Ono of our men was selected, aud
went outside Of our enclosure to meet
them.
Meanwhile Grignon lifted trunk out
OF the wagon which belonged to him,
drew it outside, aud busted himself
coolly in arranging aud turning over
the things. We all thought this was
done for the purpose of assuming an
air Of indifference. So none of us no.
ticed him particularly.
Our representative stood outside wait
ing for the Indians. Ton Of them dis.
mounted, and walked toward us in a
friendly manner, while the rest held the
horses.
One Of them addressed our men in
broken English.
The Indians he said, did not want
our lives. They wanted powder. II
we would give them what we had, they
would let us 60 in safety, and protect
us from other tribes till we got beyond
the plains.
Give them our powderl A pleasant
request. 1t scarcely needed debate
We refused
Well, then, would we give them oul
bullets? They were very much in wauI
of bullets.
One Of US said in low voice thai
bullets were the only thing they would
get from us, but the Indians did moi