Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-05-15

vines. coming together aid dsmounting GU
of sight. The Captain being reinforced
hard fighting cnsucs. the Indians gettin:
some good shots; the Captain decides Il
charge them, and a'cint is made Oh thel
right flank by few Of our men. when tin
charge is made successfully. They are rout
cd. leaving four killed and several ridcrles
horses. by this time strong party OF In
dams come Into a rayine on the south side
opening a heavy fire on the corral, and It i
evident they must be driven from this strong
hold, as their fire is beginning to be effect
i've on the stock, one horse being killed. Tho
Adjutant forms charging party; the ground
to charge over being uneven, they are obliged
to rest midway in small hollow, under COW
or OF a terrific fire from our men. The final
charge is now made, the men making it num-
bcrinX twenty-five. Our fire is so effective
the Indians cannot put up their heads to see
the charging party advance, and they are
upon them like thunder-b0lt. The Indians
rush out Of the ravine in great disorder, but
many Of them gre lcf:. behind; few fine
l,ors are also lett by them. They throw
away their guns ami everything to cscape-
a great many being shot considerable dis
lance from their place Of flight. One Indian.
seeing they are about to fall into our hands.
rides within 200 yards of the men Oh swift
horse; rides back and forth for several min
utcs. making good target for US. lie rides
under terrible fire, and is meyer seen to
dodge. Ills horse is finally disabled, when
he dismouhts ard escapes. His object in
taking::such desperate chances soon becomes
apparent to Allie divcrts the attention OF
the men while the other Indians are carry
ing of their dead.
This last ciIarge is the most gallant and eff
fcctivc one made on the Sioux since our first
encounter. Twenty horsemen scour the
hills sqon after, running the struggling In
dams in every direction, as the main body
has withdrawn. going TO our I'd lamps.
The artillery in this fight was rot Of much
service, owing to the nature OF the ground,
the timber being the only place from which
1t dislodged the Indians.
1t must be remembered the tweive-pOund
shell was not lost sight OF. In the distance
the Indians, after rctrcating, fail back on our
old camp and soon see the grave; crow.ling
around it, anxious to know its CONTENTS
They are evidently at work, when a loud ex-
plOsou is heard by us. IIideous wells follow
and the crowd is torn to pieces, our glasses
showing everything distinctly. it being only
about one mile and half distant from us.
How many Indians have been killed by this
shell is unknown to us.
The corral is broken and we resume our
line of march over some rolling hills, keep
ing at all times on high ground Where prac-
ticablc, travelling three miles from the battle
ground when we srO infO CHlnY,
The number OF Indians in this fight may
be, according to various estimates, safely
put down at 1000 warriors. The formation
OF the country changes but little-the indi-
dlcations Of 4 better wash become apparent. |
prospecting being done on every stream that |
gives any indication Cf gold.
Camp is again broken. Travelling OH some |
very billy country for shor: distance we
descend to Rotten Grass creek. which heads
closely to Grass Lodge creek, leaving it as it |
leaves the mountain. 1t forms another large |
valley, containing rich coil. TIE command
crosses this creek and travels northwest,
going into camp on large bench overlook
now almost worn out, several horses dying
of disease. and good many oxen abandon
ed. the ammunition running short, rs are
the provisions, nothing more is beard Of
Goose creek, although travelling in that dir;
IS known to be short distance iiom us as
We are close to the Big Horn Mountains and
within about forty miles Of old FOit Phil.
kearney.
lamp is again broken, and we travel in
the direction OF the Emigrant Road. lie
mud becomes deep and sticky, and were II
not for descending. frcm high ground the
teams would be unable to travel. We reach
the Emigrant Road, when the command
tu,ns its back on Goose creek, seeing the
teams could not get there from the nature
of the road. None of the men who voted
Goose creek here appeal to the Captain as to
the route. They all keep still. and Goose
creek is left in our rear. The mud now be-
travel more than two aid three miles per
day. The road is barely pcrceptible. owing
to the numerous buffalo trails running IN
various directions. We come in view OF the
valley surrounding Fort Smith, and descend
ing from high ridge. the valley is rcached.
The walls of the tort are in sIght-it Is final
~ reached: Camp Is made on the on par
mains OF the cd stOckadc. Here the men
arc rested for the first time since leaving
POmpey's Pillar. In throwing up breast |
works for the night, the adobe walls answer
the purpose. A short distance from the tort
is the graveyard where nineteen out OF tweh-
tv-thrce graves were created ny Indian muir
(crs. The Indians have destroyed every !
thing within its walls, save aud except
0ranitc shaft. which tells the tale. They
have tried to remove it by fire and every
means they could conceive.
The grass around here is short, owing to
the immense herds OF buffalo in every dir
cctiOn. Camp is again broken. The COM
mand cross tile Big Horn river by detach-
ments. One piece OF artillery and twenty
five men cross over first, continuing success
siycly until all cross over on good ford.
The road is followed, leading us from the
valley upon high ground, and cainp Is mate
and buffalo slaughtered everywhere. Short
drives continue to be made. rs the teams are
still weak, and we travel slowly until AFTER
passing through PryOr's Gap. when some OF
The men are anxious to leave the command,
considering it out OF danger. "A PARTY leave
it next day tor B0zcman; The teams get
ting into better road travel from SIX 10
eight miles day. This country 10 Wen Wa
tered, aud good grass abOunIs. -,
Before leaving PryOr's Mountain, small
war party of Crows appear. They find II
very difficult to approach the command as
they encounter the lett nankers. One OF
them disarms himself when he is permitted
to advance and they oil sOOp afterwards JOIN
the command. Some Of the men give them
a few Sioux scalps, when they become iran
tic with delight, and camp Is made soon al.
forwards. when their Chief. War Eagle,
orders war dance. Then .he - warriors
I'm his band Ill assemble around the scalpS
suspended from poles; all the other trophies
captured from the Sioux are brought anu
put in pile, wheli the war-whoopis gwen