American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-08-05
RECALCITRANT REDSKINS.
How Gen. Merritt Drove lack the Mu-
dnous Cheyennes-Buffa1O Bill Gets
I'm His Work Yellow Hand.
to New York Herald. ]


tinous Cheyennes-Bufalo ELL Gets
| I'm His Work on Yellow Hand.
dispatch to New York Herald
| F6Rr LsRAMrE, July Sat noon on
Saturday, the 18th inst, the Fifth Cav
airy, under Gen. Merritt, were BIZ
vouacked on Rawhide Creek, IS miles
from Fort Laramie, to which point they
were ordered in from the Cheyenne
River, 100 miles to the north, en- route
to join Crook. 4 cotrier suddenly ap-
peared from the Agency with dispatches
stating that 800 Cheyennes were max
ing preparations to leave at once for the
northwest to join Sitting Bull; that he
was to throw himself across their line
of march in time to intercept them.
Merritt had TO flake 80 miles before
they could make 80, but off he went,
and Sunday night found him with seven
companies hiding under the bluffs on
War Bonnet or Hat Creek, square up
their front.
THE INDIANS APPEAR.
At daybreak Monday morning Lieut..
King, commanding the outposts of the
southeast, sent in word that the war
parties were coming over the ridge from
the direction of the reservation. join
ing him at the advanced post, Gen.
Merritt found the report correct. The
command noiselessly mounted and was
massed under the bluffs, a quarter of a
mile to the rear, out of sight of the In
dams. At the same time the wagon
train was some six miles off to the south
west, slowly approaching, and the In
dians were closely watching it, but
keeping concealed from the view of its
guard. The two companies of infantry
with it were riding in the wagons. At
O'Clock the Indians were swarming
all along the ridge to the southeast,
some three miles away. Suddenly a
party of eight or ten warriors came
dashing down a ravine which led direct
ly under the hill were Lieut.. King, with
his six men. was watching.
WAITING FOR sCALPs.
The objectwas as suddenly apparent.
Two horsemen, unconscious of the
proximity of the foe, had ventured out
ahead of the train and were making
rapidly fo- the creek. They were cour-
iers with dispatches for the command.
The Indians, utterly ignorant of the
rapid move of the Fifth, were simply
bent on jumping on the couriers and
getting their scalps. Buffalo Bill, )"
chief of the scouts, lay on the hill with
King, and instantly sprang to his horse
down off the hill.
"All of you keep out of sight, said
the General. ''Mount now, and when
the word is given, off with you.''
Then, turning to the officer of the
picket, he said:
"Watch them, King. Give the word
when you are ready.n
Crouching behind the little butte,
Bill and his party of two scouts and six
soldiers were breathlessly waiting; half
way up was the General and his staff.
The Lieutenant lay at the crest watch
ing the rapidly-advancing foe. Down
they came nearer and nearer, the sun
flashing from their brilliantly painted
bodies and their polished ornaments.
Then, just as they are dashing by the
front of the hill, King shouts:
Now, lads, in with you.''
With rush and yell the troopers are
hurled upon the Indians flank, not so
yards away.
THE FIRST REDSKIN SHOT.
Gen. Merritt springs up to see the at
tack just as tall Indian reeled in his
saddle, shot by Corporal Wilkinson, of
X Company. An answering bullet
whistled by the Generals head, when
King-still on the watch-sung out.
s'Here they come by the dozens"
The reserve Indians came swarming
down from the ridge to the rescue.
Company X. was instantly ordered to
the front. But before it appeared from
behind the bluff the Indians, emboldened
by the rush of their friends to the res
cue, turned savagely on Buffalo Bill and
the little party at the outpost.
CODY KILLS YELLOW HAND.
The latter sprang from their horses
and met the daring charge with vol
ley Yellow Hand, young Cheyenne
brave, came foremost, singing Bill as
foeman worthy of his steel. Cody
coolly knelt, and, taking deliberate aim,
sent his bullet through the chief g leg
and into his horses head. Down went
the two, and, before his friends could
reach him, second shot from Bills
rifle laid him low.
A GRAND SURPRISE.
On came the others, bent on annihi-
lating the little band that opposed them,
when, to their amazement, long blue
line popped up in their front, and X
Company, with Col. Mason at its head,
dashed at them. Leaving their dead,
the Cheyennes scattered back, heller
SHELTER, to the ridge, but their fire was
wild and their stand short one. Com
pany after company debouched from
behind the bluff, and, utterly disheart-
ened, the Indians rushed for the reser-
walton, leaving behind all their provis-
ions. Gen. Merritt pursued them till
night, when the whole command went
into camp at the Agency.
THE INDIAN LOSSES.
The Indians left their dead, and adj
NIT having more wounded. They also
lost six ponies Their friends at Red
Cloud say they never dreamed the Fifth
Cavalry could get there in time to head
them off.