Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1876-08-10

revived when we heard the familiar
cheer Of our comrades, but despon-
dency followed fast, for rye discover
ed that our wood was on fire.
IN TIE csUc1BLE AGAIN.
The sharp cracking of the burn.
ing timber approached nearer and
nearer with awful rapidity, and we
had to shift our position. We crawl
ed almost to the edge Of the wood,
when we discovered that the fends
had fired both sides. We moved
around until we found thick clus-
ter of what they call bull berry troes,
under which we crept.
The grass on the edge of this place
was very green, and as it had been
raining a little before, and there was
no wind, when the fire approached
our hiding place it ran very slowly,
so that was enabled to smother it
with my gauntlet gloves. The fire
consumed all the underwood around
us, and was almost expended by this
time.
There we were in little oasis,
surrounded by fire, but comparative
ly safe from the element, and with
the advantage of seeing almost eve
rything around us without being
seen. We could see savages going
backward and forward, and one stand
ing on picket no more than seventy
or eighty yards from us, evidently
put there to watch the progress OF
the fire. At about four o'clock 2.
M. this picket fred four pistols shots
in the air at regular intervals from
each other, which I interpreted as a
signal of some kind. Soon after this
fire we heard the powerful voice Of a
savage crying out, making the same
sound four times, and after those two
signals we saw 200 or more savages
leave the bluffs and ford the river,
evidently leaving the ground. About
one hour after the same double sig
nails were again repeated, and many
mounted Indians left at gallop.
Soon the remainder of those left on
the bluffs also retired.
HOPE BRIGHTENs.
Hope now revived, the musketry
rattle ceased and only now and then
we could hear far-off shot. By six
o'clock everything aroundus was ap
parently quiet, and no evidence or
signs Of any Indians were near us.
We supposed the regiment had left
the field, and all that remained for
us to do was to wait for the night
and then pass the river and take the
route for the Yellowstone River, and
there construct raft and descend to
the mouth of Powder River, our sup
ply camp. Of course during the
thirty-six hours that we were in sus.
pense we had neither water nor food
at ten o'clock P. M. we dropped our
selves into the river, the water reach.
ing our waists, crossed it twice and
then carefully crawled up the bluffs
and finally reached the broken, high
country, took our direction and slow
ly and cautiously proceeded south
ward.
A CAMP FIRE IN THE DISTANCE.
After marching two miles I thought
/ would go up very high hill tc
look around anil see if we could dis
cover any signs of our command, and
on looking around saw fire on my
left, and in the direction where We
supposed the command was fighting
during the day, probably two miles
from us. Of course we made two
conjectures on this fret might be
an Indian fire and it might be from
our command. The only way to as
certain was to approach it cautiously
and trust to chance. Accordingly
we descended the hill, took the direc'
ton of the fire, climbing another and
another hill we listened a while
and then proceeded on for mile OF
more, when on the top of hill We
again stopped and listened. Wecould
hear voices, but not distinctly enough
to tell whether they were sayages OF
our command. We proceeded a little
further and heard the bray of a
mule, aud soon after the distinct voice
of a sentry challenging with the fa-
miliar words,
halt WHO GOES THERE ?"
The challenge was not addressed
TO US, as we were too far off to be
s.en by the picket ana it was too
dark, but this gave US courage to
continue our course and approach,
though carefully. lest we should run
into some Indians again.
HOPE FULFILLED.
We were about 200 yards from
the fire, and I resolved to call out to
the picket and tell him who was.
I told my companion to be ready to
follow after me, and when I had
we'll surveyed the ground I cried out
&C rinket don't fire.. II 10 Iientanant