The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1876-08-01

Indians, accompanied only by an order
ly, who was also we'll mounted; at the
same time to follow US cautiously at
distance Of couple OF. hundred yards
The willy redskins were not to becaught
by any such arti6ce. They were per-
iectly willing that my orderly and my.
self should approach them, but at the
same time they carefully watched the ad-
vance of the cavalry following 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 10 the waters
edge, but distant from our resting place.
from which we had been SO rudely
aroused, about two miles. 's
The route taken by the Indians, and
which they evidently intended US to fol
low, led past thistimber, butnot through
it, When we had arrived almost oppo-
site the nearest point, / signaled to the
cavalry to halt, which was no sooner
done than the Indians also came to a
halt. ] then made the sign to The latter
to parley, which was done simply by
riding my horse 'iE circle. To this
the savages only responded by looking
on in silence for few moments; then
turning their ponies and moving off
slowly, as if to say: "Catch US, ifiyou
can" Ny, suspicious we're more than
ever aroused. and 1 sent my orderly back
to tell Col. Custer to keep sharp eye on
the heavy bushes on, our left, and scarce /.
ly three hundred yards distant from
where I sat on my horse. The orderly
had delivered his message, and had al
most rejoined me, when, judging from
our halt that we intended to pursue no
farther, the real design and purpose of
the savages was made evident. The
small party in front had faced toward
US, and were advancing as if to attack.
Iconld scarcely credit the evidence of
my eyes, but my astonishment had only
begun when. turning to the wood on my
left, l beheld bursting from their con-
cealment between three and four hun:
dred Sioux warriors, mounted and ca
parisoned with. all the flaming adorn-
ments.of paint and feathers which go to
make up. the Indian war costume. When
Ifirst obtained glimpse; of them-and
single glance was sufficient-they were
dashing from the timber at full speed,
yelling and whooping as only Indians
can.a At the same they moved 10 perfect
line, and with as seeming good order as
the best drilled cavalry, 6oI1sg 1ss asa
To understand our relative positions,
the reader has only to imagine a triangle
whose sides are. almost equal; their
length in this particular instance was
from three to four hundred yards, the
three angles being occapied by Col. Gus.
ter. the Indians and myself. Whatever
advantage there was in the. length OF
sides fell to my lot,and / lost no time in
aysiling myself of it. Wheeling my
horse suddenly around, and driving the
spurs into his side, rode only as a man
rides whose life is the prize, to reach
Col Custer and his men, not only in ad-
vance of the Indians, but before any OF
them could cut me off. Moy'an with
his reserve was still too far off TO render
their assistance available in repelling the
shock of the Indians first attack. Real.
izing the great superiority of our enc.
mics, not only in numbers, but in their
ability to handle their arms and horses
in ight, and fearing they might dash
through and dispsrse Col. Custer's small
party of twenty men,. end having once
broken the formation of the latter, dis.
patch them in detail, shouted to Col
Custer at almost each bound of my
horse, "Dismount your men! Dismoun'
your men!" but the distance which sep
arated US and the excitement OF the oc
casion prevented him from hearing me
4 Fortunately, however, this was not The
first time he had been called upon te
! contend against the sudden and unfoIe
seen. onslaught of sayages, and although
failing to hear my suggestion.he realized
instantly that the safety Of his it'll
band of troopers depended upon til,
adoption Of prompt means of defense.
!, Scarcely had the long line of spleD
didly mounted warriors rushed from
! their hiding-plsce before COL Custer
voice rang out sharp and clear, "Pre
Epare to fight on foot" This order re
quired three out of four troopers to lea,
from their saddles and take their posi-
ton on the ground, where by more de
liberate aim, and being freed from th
: management of their horses, more ef
fectiveresistance could be opposed t,
! the rapidly approaching warriors. Th
fourth trooper of each group of "fours
remained on his horse, holding the rein
, of the horses of his three comrades. Is,
Quicker than words can describe, th
fifteen eavalrymen now on foot, and ac'
ing as infantry, rushed forward a fe,
I PAGES in advance Of their horses, ,deploy
ed into open order, and dropping on on
or both knees in the low grass, with thei
LOADED carbines-withs finger, gentl
D pressing the trigger-awaited the ar
b proach of the Sioux, who rode boldl
down as If apparently unconscious ths
e the small group of troopers were O
their front. .Don't fire, men, until
/ give the word, and when you do FIRE, air
.