Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1876-08-10
obliged to run and leave us and sue

obliged to run and leave us and sue
ceeded in joining the command, he
would notify Colonel Reno, the COM
smander, of my position. During our
5transit through the open plain we
passed many Indians returning to
their village and could hear but not
see them, as the night vas very dark.
We reached the wood near what we
took to be the ford we had passed
in the morning, but We were mista-
ken and had to hunt for the crossing.
Once we forded the stream, but found
it was at bend and that we would
have to ford it again. When we re-
crossed the river we ran full into 8
band OF eight sarages.
ANOTHER THRILLING ADVENTURE.
The two mounted men ran for
their lives; the soldier and myself
jumped into the bushes near us. I
cooked my revolver, and, in kneel-
ing position, was ready to fire at the
savages if they stould approach me.
They evidently thought from the
precipitate retreat of the two mcnas-
ed men that all o. us had decamped,
and began to talk among themselves.
In few minutes, to my surprise,
they continued their course, and soon
after went out of hearing. I raised
up from my position, approached the
bank Of the river and called to the
soldier. who immediately answered.
We then saw that the fords were all
well guarded by the savages, ssand
that it would be very dangerous to
attempt to cross any part of the riv-
| er. Of course, we did not know the
condition of our regiment, and knew
nothing about the extent of their de-
feat, so that we hoped if we could
find a good hiding place for the night
we could wait for the probable re-
turn of our command in the morn
ing, and could then easily join them.
We also hoped that the Indians
would leave during the night. Ac-
cordingly We searched for good
place in the thick underwood and
briars near the river ard there wait
ed with much anxiety our fate on the
morrow. The night passed, and in
the dim dawn Of day we heard an
immense tramping as of q large cav
airy command, and the splashing of
the water convinced US come troops
were crossing the river. I imagined
it was our command, as I could dis
tinctly hear the sound of the horses
shoes striking the stones. I cautious
ly stepped to the edge Of the bushes
to look out I was then no more than
three yards from the bank of the
river), and thought I recognized some
gray horssa mounted by men in mill
tary blouses and some Of them in
white hats. They we're. I thought,
going out Of the valley, and those
that had already crossed the river
were going up very steep bluff,
while others were crossing after them.
I saw one man with a buckskin jack
ct, pants, top boots and white hat,
and felt quite sure l recognized him
as Captain Tom Custer, which con-
vinced me that the cavalrymen were
Of our command.
A DANGEROUS MISTAKE.
With this conviction I ptepped
boldly out on the bank and called to
Captain Custer, "Tom, don't leave
us here !" The distance was only q
few yards and my call was answered
by an internal yell and discharge
of 800 or 400 shots. I then discov-
cred my mistake and found the saw.
ages were clad in clothes and mount
ed on horses which they had captur.
ed from our men. Myself and the
soldier jumped into the bushes (the
bullets moving down the branches at
every volley) and crawled off to get
out of range of the fire. In doing
so we moved the top branches of the
underground, and the Indians on the
top of the bluff fred where they
saw the connection, and thus covered
us with their rifles. We now decided
to cross a clearing of about twenty
yards and gain another wood, but
before doing this I took the precau.
ton to look out. The prospect was
terribly discouraging, for on our i'm
mediate right, not more than fifty
yards distant, l saw four or FIVE In
dams galloping toward US. Near by
me there were two cottonwood stumps
nearly touching each other, and be.
hind this slender barricade myself
and the soldier knelt down, he with
his carbine and I with my revolver.
ready to do for few of the savages
before they could kill us. We de-
termined not to fire until they came
so near that we could not miss Their,
and there we waited. I had given
up hope and made my mind up to it
| that the end had come. They had
not seen US, and when the foremost