The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-08-03
RECALCITRANT REDSKINS.
How Gen. Merritt Drove Back the Mu.
tnous Chey ennes-BufYslo Bill Gets
In His Work ON Yellow Hand.

How Gen. Merritt Drove Back the Mn.
tinous Cheye nnes-Bufslo Bill Gets
In His Work ON Yellow Hand.
dispatch to New York Herald.l
FORT LARAMIE, July 22.-At noon on
Saturday, the 10Th inst, the Fifth Cav.
airy, under Gen. Merritt, were BIZ
vouacked on Rawhide Creek, IS miles
from Fort Laramie, to which point they
were ordered in from the Cheyesne
River, 100 miles to the north, en- route
to join Crook. A courier suddenly ap.
peared from the Agency with dispatches
stating that 800 Cheyennes were max
ing preparations TO leave at once for tn.
northwest to join Sitting-Bull; that he
was to throw himself across their line
OF march in time to intercept them.
Merritt had to make 80 miles before
they could make 80, but of he went,
and Sunday night found him with seven
companies hiding under the bluffs on
War Bonnet or Hat Creek, square up
their front.
II INDIANS APPEAR.
AT daybreak Monday morning Lieut..
King, commanding the outposts of the
southeast, sent in word that the war
parties were coming over the ridge from
the direction of the reservation. Join.
ing him Mt the advanced post, Gen
Merritt found the report correct. The
command noiselessly mounted and was
massed under the bluffs, a quarter of a
mile to the rear, out of sight of the In
dams. At the same time the wagon
train was some six miles off to the south
west, slowly approaching, and the In
dams were closely watching it, but
keeping concealed from the view of its
guard. The two companies Of infantry
with it were riding in the wagons. AT
6 O'Clock the Indians were swarmine
all along the ridge to the southeast,
some three miles away. Suddenly a
party of eight or ten warriors came
dashing down a ravine which led direct
ly under the hill were Lieut.. King, with
his six men, was watching.
WAITING FOR sCALPs.
The object was as suddenly apparent
Two horsemen, unconscious of tn,
proximity of the foe, had ventured on
ahead of the train and were making
rapidly for the creek. They were cour.
iers with dispatches for the command
The Indians, utterly ignorant of tn,
rapid move of the Fifth, were simpl,
bent on jumping on the %couriers and
getting their scalps. "Buffalo Bill"
chief of the scouts, lay on the hill with
King, and instantly sprang to his horse
down off the hill.
"All of you keep out of sight," said
the General. "Mount now, and when
the word is given, of with YOU"
Then, turning TO the officer of the
picket, he said:
"Watch them, King. Give the word
when you are ready"
C%roHching behind the little butte.
Bill and his party of two scouts and SIN
soldiers were b~reathless SLY waiting; hall
way up was the General and his staff.
The Lieutenant lay at the crest watch
ing the rapidly-advancing foe. Dow
they came nearer and nearer, the sun
flashing from their brilliantly painted
bodies and their polished ornaments.
Then, just as they are dashing by the
front of the hill, King shouts:
snow, lads, in with YOU"
With IA rush and yell the troopers are
hurled upon the Indians flank, not 81
yards away.
II FIRST REDsKIN SHOT.
Gen. Merritt springs up to see the at.
tack just as a tall Indian reeled in his
saddle, shot by Corporal Wilkinson, OF
X Company. An answering buller
whistled by the Generals head, when
king-still on the watch-sung out.
"Here they come by the dozens"
The reserve Indians came swarming
down from the ridge to the rescue
Company X. was instantly ordered to
the front. But before it appeared from
behind the bluffthe Indians, emboldened
by the rush of their friends to the res
enc. ,urned savocelv nm Rnfr,lo Riu and
the LITTLE Marty ,t tho outnost
cnnv viz, yp,,ow u,~n
The latt, + sprang from their horses
and met the daring CHARGE with n vol.
lay ye,,ow UorJ yorrn Chororro
brave. came foremost, sino,;no Ri, ass
foan,,n uyor,b,, of he .,oG cod,
ooollv L,o,t and ,aL;nn aaI;hor,,oo az,