The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-08-04

HitHai w AVA "s@~~~N'~e 1922 - -
store for us.
A few moments found us in our sad
ciss and sallying forth from the timber
10 try conclusions with the daring in
truders. We could only see halt a
dozen Sioux warriors galloping up and
down in our front, boldly challenging
us by their manner to attempt their
capture or death. OF course II was an
easy matter to drive them away, but rs
we advanced il became noticeable that
they retired, and when we halted or
diminished our speed they did likewise.
II was apparent from the first that the
Indians were resorting to stratagem to
accomplish that which they could not
do by an open, direct attack. Taking
twenty troopers with me, headed by
Colonel Custer and Calhoun, and d.
recting Moylan to keep within support
ING distance with the remainder, fol-
lowed the retreating Sioux up the val
ley, but with no prospect OF overtaking
them, rs they were mounted upon the
fleetest of ponies. Thinking to tempt
them within our grasp, |, being mount
ed on Kentucky thoroughbred in
whose speed and endurance l had
confidence, directed Colonel Gus
ter to allow me to approach the
Indians accompanied only by my
orderly, who was also well mounted;
at the same time to follow us cautiously
at distance Of couple of hundred
yards. The willy redskins were not to
be caught by any such artitice. They
were perfectly willing that my orderly
and myself should approach them, but
at the same time they carefully watched
me, and permitted no advantage. We
had by this time almost arrived abreast
of an immense tract of timber growing
in the valley and extending TO the
waters edge, but distant from our rest
ing place, from which we had been so
rudely aroused, about two miles.
The route taken by the Indians, and
which they evidently intended US to
follow, led past this timber, but not
through it. When we had arrived al
most opposite the nearest point, sig
nailed to the cavalry to halt, which
was no sooner done than the Indians
also came TO halt. then made the
sign to the latter for parley, which
was done simply by riding my horse N
a circle. To this the savages only re-
sponded by looking on in silence for
few moments, then turning their ponies
and moving off slowly, as if to say,
"Catch us if You can" My suspicious
were more than ever aroused, and sent
my orderly back to tell Colonel Custer
10 keep q sharp eve upon the heavy
bushes on our left and scarcely three
hundred Yards distant from where sat
on my horse. The orderly had deliv-
cred his message, and had almost re-
joined me, when, judging from our halt
that we intended to pursue no further,
the real design and purpose Of the saw
ages was made evident. The small
party in front had faced toward us and
were advancing as if to attack. 1 could
scarcely credit the evidence of my eyes,
but my astonishment had only begun
when turning to the wood on my left
/ beheld bursting from their conceal
ment between three and four hundred
Sioux warriors mounted and capari-
soned with all the flaming adornments
of paint and feathers which 90 TO
make up the Indian war costume.
When first obtained glimpse of them
and a single glance was sufficient
they were dashing from the timber at
full speed, yelling and whooping as on
" Indians can. At the same time they
moved in perfect line, and with as seem
ing good order and alignment as the
best drilled cavalry.
To understand our relative positions
the reader has only TO imagine TRAN
gle whose sides are almost equal their
length in this particular instance being
from three to four hundred yards, the
three angles being occupied by Colonel
Custer and his detachment, the Indians,
and myself. Whatever advantage there
was in length Of sides fell to my lot, and
lost no time in awaiting myself of it.
Wheeling my horse around and driving
the spurs into his sides, rode as only
man rides whose life is the prize, to
reach Colonel Custer and his men, not
only in advance Of the Indians, but be-
fore any of them could cut me off. Moy-
Ian with his reserve was still too far in
the rear to render their assistance avail
able in repelling the shock of the
Indians first attack. Realizing the
great superiority of our enemies, not
only in numbers, but in their ability to
handle their arms and horses in fight,
and fearing they might dash through
and dispense Colonel Clusters small
party of twenty men, and having once
broken the formation Of the latter, dis
patch them in detail, shouted to Col
onel Custer at almost each bound of my
horse, "Dismount your men! Dismount
your men!" but the distance which
separated US and the excitement of the
occasion prevented him from hearing
me.
Fortunately, however, this was not
the first time he had been called upon
to contend against the sudden and I'M