Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-08-12
SEPHERSTOWN JEFFERSON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA. SATURDAY, Al

river, on tue IelI Utuh, lOI Two iuIlSs ds
hard as we could go, for # discovered
there by the savages we could only halt
and die together. Fortune favored us,
and we made the right bank of the
stream unobserved, being then about
twenty-five miles from Crooks head
quarters. In our front were the plains
of the eastern slope, fall of hostile In
dians, while our only avenue Of escape
was to climb over the tremendous preci-
pice which formed the right side OF the
canyon But the dauntess Grouard
was equal to the crisis. He scaled that
gigantic wall diagonally, and led us
along mere squirrel path not more
thar foot wide, with an abyss 500 feet
below, and a sheer wall of rock 200 teet
high above. After an hours herculean
toll we gained the crest and saw the
point OF the mountain, about twenty
miles away distant, where lay our camp.
This, as may be imagined, was blisstul
vision, but we were half dead with IA
tigue, and some of us were almost fam
iue-stricken. Yet the indefatigable
Grouard would not stop until We reach
ed the eastern foot hills, where we made
a dive into the valley to obtain water,
our only refreshment on that hard, rug
ged road. Scarcely had we Stacked our
thirst when Grouard led rs up the hills
again, and we had barely reached the
timber when, around the rocks at the
point we had doubled shortly before,
appeared another strong party Of Sioux.
This made US desperate. Every man
examined his rifle and looked to his am
munition. We all felt that life would
be too dearly purchased by further
flight, aud following the example OF the
brave young Sibley and the two gallant
scouts, we took up our position among
the rocks on knoll we had reached,
determined to sell our lives as dearly as
possible. "Finerty,' said Sibley to me,
I'VE are in hard luck but damn them,
we'll show the red scoundre!s how white
men can die. Boys 0urhing to the sol
ders,) we have a good position; let eve
ry shot dispose of an Indian"
At that moment not man among
us felt any inclination to get away.
Desperation and revenge had usurped
the place Of the animal instinct TO
preserve our lives. In such moments
mind is superior to matter and soul to
the nerves.
But we were spared the ordeal. The
Sioux failed to observe us, as, very tof-
tunately, they did not advance high
enough to find our trail, but kept east
ward on the lower branch Of Tongue
River. Thoroughly worn out, We all
feel asleep, excepting the tireleSs scouts,
and awoke at dark somewhat refreshed.
Not a man of us, Sioux or no Sioux,
could endure the mountain journey
longer so we took our thirty jaded,
haunted lives in our hands and struck
along the valley, actually wading Big
Goose Creek up to our armpits, at three
o'clock Sunday morning, the water be-
ing cold as the mountain snow could
make it. Two men. Sergeant Cornwell
and Private Collins, were 100 exhausted
to cross, so they hid in the brush until
we sent two companies of cavalry after
them when we reach camp. After
crossing Big Goose we were nearly
dozen miles from Our camp on Little
Goose Creek, and you may judge how
badly we were used up when it took
tour hours to make six miles The
rocks had skinned our feet and starya-
ton had weakened our frames. Only a
few were vigorous enough to push on.
At FIVE o'clock we saw a few more In
dians, bat we took no pains to conceal
ourselves further. They evidently
mstook US for a camp outguard, and,
being only handful, kept away. AT
seven o'clock we met some cavalry out
hunting, and we sent into camp for
horses, when all of us arrived soon
after.-J f. Fneriy, in Chicago
Times.