The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-07-19
sIBLEY's SCOUT.
Details of One of the Most rhrillingiEsea-
pades Ever Known in the Annals of
the Border.

f -
sons, under the command of Second
Lieutenant sibley, of the Secondcavalry,
was sent from Crooks eampJuly 9th to
observe the movements and position of
the Sioux Indians, and learn if possible
the whereabouts of Terry. On the 9th
they returned, ON foot, after a terrible
retreat of two nights and one day.
They were surrounded by the enemy
in prodigious number, and only escaped
~miraculously by the sacrifice of all their
equipments and all their ammunition.
including thirty-three packed horses
and two mules. But for the sagacity
and caution of the guides, Gruard and
Baptiste, and the judgment and gal
lantry Of Sibley, none wonld have sur
vived. They marched all night of the
9th toward the sources of the Little
Big Horn. On the 18th, after a light
meal, they pursued their course through
some foot hills verging toward the
mountains. AT about half past four "A
large body of Sioux.was espied from the
top of the bluffs, marching eastward.
They seemed to spread all over the
plains, and were evidently moving to at
tack the camp Oh Goose creek.
Sibley's party remained concealed
and in horrible anxiety for an hour,
watching their movements. Soon a
tremendous shout warned them that the
trail they seemed to be looking for was
found. Quickly hundreds of savages
were upon it, and set out upon the
chase at full canter, uttering those ter
rible wolfish. cries, peculiar to the.
Sioux and Cheyennes. The Sibley par
ty mounted and galloped towards the
mountains, the Sioux yelling as they
caught a glimpse of them. Like
hounds on the scent they continued the
pursuit, but had broken into two bodies,
and were making a double circuit to
gain the high points, which they knew
the pursued must pass.
The scouting party climbed the outer
ridge and were approaching shelter,
when suddenly a volley of fifty shots
was poured from the surrounding rocks,
where savageS were massed. As many
more of them charged down ON them
like fury, and every man of the little
party felt despair chill them, and they
wheeled and galloped for the timber in
the valley, followed by another volley.
Before they reached shelter three horses
were wounded. They dismounted on a
knoll, covered by a grove, and they
could see the enemy Swarming on the
foot hills below, while constant REIN
forcements gained the higher points
around them. The roar of the volleys
was perfectly deafening. The bullets
were all too high, but the enemy was
gradually perfecting their aim.
All the boldest attacking Indians
seemed to shout Cheyenne war-cries.
The fusilade continued an hour, the
scouts replying but seldom in order to
saw ammunition, when suddenly there
was a lull, seeming to pOrtend some new
mischief. The party held a brief oun
Gil, and it was determined to attempt
to escape further into the mountains,
leaving their horses tied to the trees
that they might engage the attention
of the Sioux. All the ammunition was
taken from the saddles, and the party
then moved stealthily from the ground
and dashed behind projecting rocks.
The Sioux did not see them and they
climbed up over slippery precipices un-
til exhausted.
While resting they heard firing re-
commence louder than ever; the vol
leys were terrific, the Sioux thinking
they still had them in their clutches.
The scouts resumed their climbing,
and continued to hear the sound of
rifles until it died away in the distance.
They toiled over the mountains until
dawn of july Sth. resting under the
cliffs. They once more abandoned all
hope when they saw a large band of
Sioux among the foot hills, moving as
if to intercept them. 1t, however,
turned toward the Tongue river, and
they supposed it was the rear guard of
the larger force, which had been adj
vancing to attack the camp or wagon
train.
Their hunger was great, as they had
abandoned all their rations. About
dawn on the ninth, they reached the
bank of Tongue river. Two men were
so worn out that they could not ford
the swift current. They therefore hid
themselves in the thicket and were left.
One of them was crazed by exhaustion
and fear.
A few miles farther south the Sioux
were seen, but luckily the fugitives es-
capped observation. Four miles from
camp, a packer who was hauling, loaned
his mule to one of the scouts and the
news was carried to the Colonel who
was commanding during Crooks alb
sence. About two companies of cav
airy were sent out with horses to bring
them in. Before meeting their re-
lief they were SO fatigued they could
only march 100 yards without dropping
to the ground.