The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1871-08-24
VOL. VII.
GRIGNON.


California, and had taken the over
land route in preference to. any other
1t was on my journey across the
plains that I made his acquaintance,
Our party overlook a single wagon,
It contained a solitary man. The
horses were dead, and the man near
" so. paid the utmost attention to
his wants. Being q medical man,
gave him all the benefit of myS skill
and care. AS he recovered, he natu-
rally entertained q strong friendship
for me. His wagon had fallen behind
the train to which he belonged, and
they had been compelled by their own
necessities to desert him.
The conjuTor, however, was destIn-
ed fora far more glorious fate than to
die niiserably in the desOlate Ameri-
can desert. He was to become an
astOnisher to the natives (Indians), a
savior to civilized lives, and lion IN
California.
We resumed our Journey. We had
started, however, like many others
in those -days, with Insufficient pre-
paraEons. AS soon as we found out
our mistake we had to be economical
in our provisions. WeRilIed buffaloes
whenever we found them, and al
ways repIenished our water casks at
every stream. At length, however,
we came to a dry and parched waste,
where there was scarcely drop of
water, scarcely a blade of grass, and
not single living animal of any de-
scription.
And now began the troubles of our
journey. We had come, into the
country of the Warlike Indians, and
they were not slow to acquaint US
with the fact. Every day they proWl-
ed around us in great numbers,
threatening and insulting us. Occa-
sionalIy they used to snatch up sOme-
thing and dart away on their fleet
horses. We did all that we could to
be friendly, and determined to avoid
an open rupture as far as possible, for
there were only twelve on our SIDE,
and on their side apparently twelve
hundred.
Every day, however, only made
matters worse. In spite of our precau-
tiOns the Indians grew more and more
abusive and insulting. We became
Watchful, and tried to be more for
bearing but our forbearance was
taken for rcowardice, and the savages
began to think that they could do
anything with us.
We held a council of war, and de-
termined to bring matters to crisis at
once.
The crisis soon came.
One day big Indian came riding g
along by us. He began talking in
cOntemptOus way, and gesticuIating
furiOusly. At last he asked one of
our men for his gun. The man re-
fused, the Indian repeated his ques-
ton, and attempted to take the gun
from his hand. The man drew back,
The Indian sprang forward, flourish
ing his knife and threatened. AT this
the man calmly leveled his piece,
and shot the Indian through the
heart.
AS the wretch fell shrieking from
his horse, the plain seemed to be alive
with other Indians. From behind
every cIun1p of trees, every hiIlock,
they poured forth in countless num-
bers. We had never seen SO many
assembled together as now.
And now our companion, the con-
juror, came out conspicuousiy. He
had been once in the French army,
he said, and understood all its adni-
rable discipline. A few words of
warning and a short explanation suf-
feed to make us form a circle of the
wagons, and draw up behind them,
with baggage heaped up for breast
works. There we waited for the saw
ages. .--.- 10y
But they did not come just then.
With loud whOOps and screams they
gathered upon the plains ut a distance
from us. The Wretched towards, as
soon as they saw our slight prepara-
tions, Were actually afraid to attack.
They waited till night.
Night came. Our defehces were
made. Our wagons were arranged
more closely, and the barricade of
baggage was made higher deep and
more effective. In the centre were
our cattle. Behind this little fortifica-
ton we awaited our foes.
Shortly after dusk the tramp of
thousands of hoOfs shook the plain.
Down upon us Numbered the Indians.
Shouts and yells burst around.
On they came, nearer and still
nearer.
We waited in breathIess suspense,
AtIast our voiley burst IN thunder
upon them. "a,
Shrieks arose from amid the gloom.
| We saw not what the effect of our
shots had been, but could only con-
| lecture that it had been deadly.
There was wild uprOar-the con
! fused sound of tTampling horses, the
noise of men calling to one another,
intermingled with groans and cries Of
pain. Without giving them time tC
! recover from their confusion, we
! poured in another vOlley, and yet an
| other, loading as rapidly as we could
and firing reyOlvers where We haC
them. O
The effect was terrible. Many mus
have been wounded or killed, Judging
by the awful uprOar that arose, FOl
| time there was a confused hubUuh q
/ sounds. Horses were trampling, mel
calling; groans were mingled viii
cries of rage. During all this time W.
fired at intervals whenever we hearC
a sound, husbandlngoUT ammunition
not willing to waste a shot.
At last there arose n wild tramp o
horses, the sound moving away from
us, and seeming to show that GU
enemies had retired, sbaflled from tn
result.
Yetwe were afraid of some plot
Grignon made us keep our watch, an
all that night we lay on our arms, eX
pecting every moment to hear th
, Indian yell which announced the rs
sault of the savages.
After long night, which SCENE
, | interminable, morning dawned. A
! the light illuminated the wide plaiI
we looked around anXiOusly for al
; enemies, but saw none whatever. w
took hasty breakfast, and then d,
liberated on what we ought to d.
whether to take advantage of this n
spite, and move on, or wait a Will
: Most of MS thought we had better hu
: ry on, but Grignon gave it as h
+ opinion that the Indians were waitin
to attack us on the march. He though
that it would be better to wait at lea
' another day. We all yielded to b
= opinion, and waited as best we eoul
After a few hours, at about 10 o'cloe
ten or a dozen hOrsemen appear'
$ over d hiilock in the distance, ridiI