New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-16

} | UNDER these circumstances could ecarcel
be expected.
. Neither could the most careful aim of tn
cavslrymen produce much better resulte
It forced tho savages to keep at respectful
distance, however, and enabled us to max
! our retr0grade movement. A few of ou
! horses were shot by the Indians in thi
} irregular skirmish; none fatally, however
. As We we're falling back, contesting eacl
!. foot Of ground passed over, heard sud
den, sharp cry of pain from one of the mel
, | in charge of the horses; the next moment
saw his arm hanging helplessly at his side
! while crimson current flowing near hi
shoulder told that the aim of the indiana
had not been entirely in vain. The gallan
fellow kept his seat in his saddle, however
and conducted the horses under his charg,
safely with the rest to the timber. Ono,
concealed by the trees, and no longer re
quiring the horses to be moved, the mum
Der of horsehOlders was reduced so as tt
allow but one trooper to eight horses, the
entire remainder being required on the
skirmish line. The redskins had followed
us closely, step by step, to the timber
tempted in part by their great desire to OBJ
tain possession of our horses If successful
in this, they believed no doubt that tigh,
on our part being no longer possible, We
must be either killed or captured.
Taking advantage of natural terrace or
embankment extending almost like semi.
circle in front of the little grove in which
we had taken refuge, and at distance OF
but few hundred yards from the latter,
deter nired by driving the Indians beyond
to adopt it as our breastwork or line Of de-
tense. This was soon accomplished, and we
found ourselves deployed behind a natural
parapet or bulwark from which the troopers
could deliver carefully directed fire upon
their enemies, and at the same time be pro
tected largely from the bullets of the latter.
The Indians made repeated and desperate
efforts to dislodge Us and force us to the
level plateau. Every effort of this kind
proved unavailing. Several times savages
| us through the deep grass in our front, but
the whistllng of a few caTbine bullets about
their ears changed their determination,
| The Indians never ceased during the fight
to engage in their favOrite mode of warfare,
dashing at full speed along our front. firing
and drawing our fire. Thus they continued
SO long, that fearing to exhaust our supply
! OF ammunition, an object that our enemies
had probably IN view, directions were given
| to the troopers to reserve their fire as much
| as possible consistent with safety.
Rather remarkable instance of rifla
| shooting occurred in the early part of the
contest. l was standing in group of
troopers, and with them was busiy engaged
firing at such of our enemies as exposed
themselves. Bloody Knite was with rs, his
handsome face lighted up by the fire of
battle and the desire to ayenge the many
wrongs suffered by his people at the hands
OF the ruthless Sioux. All of US had had
our attention drawn more than once to q
Sioux warrior who, seeming more bold than
his fellows, dashed repeatedly along the
front of our lines, scarcely 200 yards dis
tant, and although the troopers had singled
him out, he had thus far escaped untouched
" hD1
cess, perhaps, he concluded to taunt us
again, and at the same time exhibit his
own daring, by riding along the lines at
full speed, but nearer than before We saw
him coming. Bloody Knife, with his Henry
rifle poised gracefully in his hands, watched
bis coming, saying that he intended 10 make
this his enemy's last ride; he would send
him to the happy hunting ground. told
the interpreter to tell Bloody Kuife that at
the moment the warrior reached a desig-
mated point directly opposite to US he,
Bloody Knife, should fire at the rider and /
at the same instant would fire at the pony,
A smile of approval passed over the
swarthy features of the friendly scout as he
nodded assent. held in my hand nv we'll.
tried Remington. Resting one knee and |
glancing along the barrel, at the same time |
seeing that Bloody knife was also souatted |
low in the deep grass with rifle leveled. / |
awaited the approach of the warrior to the |
designated point On he came, brandlsh. |
ing his weapons and Fl hunting his shield in !
our faces. detying US by his taunts to come
out and fight like men. Swiftly sped the |
gallant little steed that bore him, scarcely |
needing the guiding rein. Nearer and |
nearer both horse and rider approached the
fatal spot, when sharp and clear, and 60
simultaneous as to sound as one, rang forth
the reports of the two rifles The distance
was less than 200 yards. The Indian was
seen to throw up his arms and reel in his
saddle, while the pony made one f nal leap,
and both fell to the earth. A shout rose
rom the group OF troopers, in which Bloody
Knife and joined. The next moment q
ew of the comrades of the fallen warrior
'ushed to the rescue, and without dismount-
ng from their ponies, scarcely pulling rein,
'lutched mp the body and the next moment
disappeared from view.
Fooled in their repeated attempts to die
Odge us, the Indians withdrew to point
'eyond the range of our rifles for the ap-
'arent purpose of devising ne v plan of
ttack. OF this we soon became convinced. |
LASTLY returning to a renewal of the strug-
lie, We saw our adversaries arrange them
elves in groups along our entire front.
hey we're seen to dismount, and the quick
yes of Bloody Knife detected them making
heir way toward us by crawling through |
he grass. We were at loss to cOmpre-
end their designs, as We could not believe {
hey intended to attempt to storm our posi-
ion on foot. We were not left long in !
onbt. Suddenly, and almost as if by {
laglc, we heheld numerous small columns ,
smoke shooting up all along our front. I
Calling Bloody Knife and the interpreter
} my side l inquired the meaning of what | t
Q saw. They are setting fire to the long a
fass and intend to burn us out" was the q
outs reply, at the same time keeping his 4
yes intently bent on the constantly in q
'easing columns of smoke. His features I
ore most solemn look; anxiety was +
lainly depicted there. Looking to him
II suggestions and advice IN this new
1ase of our danger 1 saw his face gradu-
~ unbend and scornful smile part his
ps. The Great Spirit will not help our
lemies,' was his muttered reply to nv o
lestion. ''See," he continued, 1.-THE grass 0
fuses to burn" Casting my eyes along e
10 line formed by the columns OF smoke, Il
w that Bloody Knife had spoken truly b
hen he said 1.-THE grass refused to burn" t
This was easily accounted for. 1t was "
rly in the month of August; the grass had 81
vt ripened or matured sufficiently to burn 81
ould have swept us back to the river as fl
we had been surrounded by growth of E
lder. In few moments the anxiety u
used by the threatening Of this new and q
rribe danger was dispelled. While the fl
eatest activity was maintained in our o.
mt by our enemies, my attention was b
He'd to a single warrior, who, mounted on e.
> pony, had deliber ately, and, as / il
ought, rashly passed round our left | n
nk-our diminished numbers preventing n
from extending our line close to the O,
was then in the rear of our u
irmisher, riding slowly along the crest of | in
9 high river hank with as apparent I'M t.
ncern az if in the midst of his friends, in. Ii
lad of being almost in the power of his | al