The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-08-20

II was taken ana aScertalne0 60 Oe Tor
.ty-four and forty-four and one half de-
grees respectively. The next morning,
although 10th to leave o enehantlng
locality, we continued to ascend this
valley until gradually, most impercept-
IDLY, we discovered that we were on the
crest Of the western ridge Of Black
Hills, and instead of being among bar
rem heaths- as might be supposed, we
found ourselves winding our way
through little park whose natural
beauty may well bear comparison with
the loyeliest portion of Central Park.
Favored. as we had been in having
Floral Valley for our roadway to the
crest Of the Black Hills. we were scarce
ly less fortunate in the valley which
seemed to rise to meet Us in the inte--
rior slope. A running. stream of clear,
cold water, the counterpart Of that we.
had assembled the day before, flowed at
our Sect, and pointed out the way be-
fore US, while along the banks grew
beautiful flowers, surpassed but little in
beauty and profusion by their sisters
who had greeted us the day before.
After advancing down this valley about
fourteen miles, oar course being almost
southeast, we encamped in the midst of
grazing whose emily fault, if any, was
the great luxuriance. Having preced-
ed the main column, as usual, with an
escort of two companies of cavalry (E
and G. and Lieutenant Wallace's de-
tachment Of scouts, came upon
Az INDIAN CAMP FIRE,
still burning. and which, with other in
dications- showed that small party of
Indians had encamped there the pre-
vious night, and had evidently left
that morning in ignorance Of our close
proximity. Believing that they would
not move far, and that collision might
take place at any time unless friend
ly understanding was arrived at, sent
my head scout, Bloody Knife and
twenty of his braves to advance a few
miles and reconnoiter the valley. This
party had been gone but few minutes
| when two of Bloody Knife's young men
came galloping back and informed me
that they had discovered five Indian
lodges few miles down the valley, and
that Bloody Knife, as directed, had
concealed his party in a woody ravine,
where they awaited further orders.
Taking compvny with me, which was
afterward reinforced by the remainder
of the scouts and Col. Harris company,
| proceeded to the rayine where Bloody
Knife and his comrades lay concealed,
and from the crest beyond obtained a
full view of the five Indian lodges,
about which considerable number of
ponies were grazing. l was able to
place my command still nearer to the
lodges undiscovered. Ithen dispatched
a guard, the interpreter with flag of
truce, accompanied by two of our Sioux
scouts, to acquaint the occupants of
the lodges that we were friendly dis
posed and desired to communicate with
them.
TO PREVENT EITHER TREACHERY OR FLIGHT
on their part, l galloped the remaining
portion Of my advance and surrounded
the lodges. This was accomplished al
most before they were aware of our
presence. I then entered the little viii
lage and shook hands with the occu-
pants, assuring them, through the in
terpreter, that they had no cause to
fear, as we were not there to modest
them. invited them to visit our camp,
and promised presents of -four, sugar
and coffee to all who would accept.
This invitation was accepted. At the
same time entered into an agreement
with the leading mea that they should
encamp with us few days, and give us
such information concerning the coun-
try as we might desire; in return for
such service was to reward them with
rations. With this understanding /
left them.
The entire party numbered twenty
seven. Later in the afternoon four of
the men, including the Chief Zone
Stab" visited orr camp and desired
the promised rations, saying that the
entire party would move up aid join
US the following morning, as agreed upon.
| ordered presents of sugar, coffee, and
bacon to be giver them, and to relieve
them of the pretended anxiety Of the
safety of their village during the night.
| ordered party of fifteen of my COM
mand to return with them and protect
them during the night; but from their
great dissemination to wait few min
utes till the party could saddle up, aud
from the fact that two of
the four had already slipped away,
II was of opinion that
they were not acting in good faith. In
this I was confirmed when the two re-
manning ones set off a. gallop in the
direction Of their village. l sent a
party of our scouts to overtake them
and request them to return; not COM
plying with this request, sent sec
ond party with orders to repeat the re-
quest, and if not complied with, then
to take hold of the brides Of their
ponies and lead them back, but to offer
no violence. When overtaken by my
scouts, one of the two Indians seized
the musket Of one Of the scouts and en-
deavored to wrest it from him; failing
in this he released his hold, after the
scout became dismounted in the strug-
gle, and set off as fast as his pony could
carry him, but not before the musket
of the scout was discharged. From
ihl0od discovered afferrard II vac owl.