The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-07-20

three angles being occupied by Colonel
Custer, the Indians, and myself. What
ever advantage there was in the length
of sides fell to my lot, and / lost no time
in availing myself of it. Wheeling my
horse suddenly around. and driving the
spurs into his side, / rode as only a man
rides whose life is the prize, to reach
Colonel Custer and his men, not only in
advance of the Indians, but before any
of them could cut me off, Moylan with
his reserve was still too far off to render
their assistance available in repelling the
shock of the Indians first attack. Realiz-
ing the great superiority of our enemies,
not only in numbers, but in their ability
to handle their arms and horses in a
fight, and fearing they might dash
through ard disperse Colonel Clusters
small party of twenty men, and having
once broken the formation of the latter,
dispatch them in detail, l shouted to
Colonel Custer, at almost each bound of
my horse, +" Dismount your menl Dis
mount you menp but the distance
which separated us and the excitement
of the occasion prevented him from hear
ing me.
Fortunately, however, this was not the
first time he had been called upon to
contend against the sudden and unfore-
seen onslaught of sayages, and although
failing to hear my suggestion, he realized
instantly that the safety of his little
band of troopersdepende upon the adop-
ton of prompt means of defense.
Scarcely had the long line of splendidly
mounted warriors rushed from their hid
ing-place before Colonel Clusters voice
rang out sharp and clear, Prepare to
fight on foot.n This order required
three out of four troopers to leap from
their saddles and take their position on
the ground, where, by more deliberate
aim, and being freed from the manage
ment of their horses, a more effective re-
sistance could be opposed to the rapidly
approaching warriors. The fourth
trooper of each group of "fours" re-
manned on his horse, holding the reins
of the horses of his three comrades.
Quicker than words can describe, the
fifteen cavalrymen now on foot, and act
ing as infantry, rushed forward a few
PAGES in advance of their horses, deployed
into open order, and dropping on one or
both knees in the low grass, with their
loaded carbines-with finger gently
pressing the trigger-awaited the ap-
proaeh of the Sioux, who rode boldly
down as if apparently unconscious that
the small group of troopers were on their
front. "Don't fire, men, until l give the
word, and when you do fire, aim low
was the quiet injunction given his men
by their young commander, as he sat on
his horse intently watching the advanc-
ing foe.
Swiftly over the grassy plain leaped
my noble steed, each bound bringing me
nearer to both friends and foes. Had
the race been confined to the Indians and
myself, the closeness of the result would
have satisfied even an admirer of the
Derby. Nearer and nearer u paths
approached each other, making it appear
almost as if / were one of the line of
warriors, as the latter bore down to ac-
complish the destruction of the little
group of troopers in front. Swifter seem
to fly our mettled steeds, the one to save,
the other to destroy, until the common
goal has almost been reached few
more bounds, and friends and foes will
form one contending mass.
The victory was almost within the
grasp of the redskins. 1t seemed that
but a moment more and they would be
trampling the kneeling troopers beneath
the feet of their feet-limbed ponies;
when, "Now, men, let them have it,"
was the signal for a well-directed volleY,
as fifteen cavalry carbines poured their
contents into the ranks of the s%hrieking
sayages. Before the latter could recover
the surprise and confusion which fol-
lowed, the carbines-thanks to theinven-
ton of breech-loaders-were almost in
stantly loaded, sad a second carefully
aimed discharge went whistling on its
deadly errand. Several warriors were
seen to reel in their saddles, and were
only saved from falling by the quickly
extended arm of their fellows. Ponies
were tumbled over like butchered bull
locks, their riders glad to find themselves
escaping with less serious injuries. The
effect of the rapid firing of the troopers,
and their firm, determined stand, showing
that they thought neither of fight or sur
render, was to compel the savages first to
slacken their speed, then to lose their
daring and confidence 10 trample down
the little group of defenders in the front.
Death to many of their number stared
them in the face. Besides, if the small
party of troopers in the front were able
to oppose such plucky and destructive
resistance to their attacks, what might
not be expected should the main party
under Moylan, 10Y swiftly approaching
to the rescue, also take part in the strug-
gle7 But more quickly than M 9uggish
pen has been able to describe the
scene, the battle line of warriors exhib
tied signs of faltering, which Don degen.
Grated into an absolute repulse. In
moment their attack was transformed
= into flight, in which each seemed only
, anxious to secure his individual safety
A triumphant cheer from the cavalry
J men, as they sent a third installment o
. ! leaden messengers whistling about tn,
ears Of the fleeing redskins, served Il
> spur both pony and rider to their utmos
I I speed. Moylan bythis time had reached
the ground, and had united the entir
y force. The Indians in the meantime ha,
< plunged out of sight into the recesses O
|, the jungle from which they had frs
u made their attack.
a In York, Pa, while a child of abou
two years of age was sitting on the dool
. &c ~ foAl l-.zz oA1E- -