The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-08-10
MisfeAanenus.
A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.
A STORY STRANGER THAN FIC-
TION.

CAMP CLOUD PEAK, Wy. T.,
,JnlV II 1870


the wagon train every moment, deter
mined to send ont accommodating party
along the base of the mountains, north
west, to discover where the Indians were
aud to take general observation of the
country. Lieut.. Frank W. Sibley, of Co.
E, Second Cavalry, with twenty-five
picked men drawn from the regiment,
was detailed to accompany the scouts,
Frank Grouard and Baptiste Fourier, on
reconnaissance John Becker, mule
who had some experience as guide,pack-
er, was also ofthe party, The scouts had
ventured forward some twenty miles
two nights before, but saw Indians and
returned. An officer came around to my
tent on the morning of July 6 and in
formed me of the plan. He said the par
ty were going in the direction of the Lit
tie Big Horn river northwest, and if no
Indians were discovered they would pro.
ceed still further. As was still out here
to see the country, and not to dry rot
around camps, | made up my mind TO 60
with SibIey, who is fine Young officer
and son of the late COL Sibley, of Chi
cago. / obtained Crooks permission,
which he appeared rather reluctant to
give, and was ready to start when the
party mustered at noon. Each Of us car
ried l06 rounds of ammunition and pro-
vision to last week. The scouts led us
to camp on Big Goose creek, but thirteen
miles from Camp Cloud Peak, where we
remained until night. When evening
had sufficiently advanced our little par
ty, thirty men all told, moved forward
for the most part on the old C. F. Smith
road, Grouard keeping a sharp lookout
from every vantage point ahead. The
full moon rose upon us by eight o'clock,
and we continued our ride along the foot
ofthe mountains until two o'clock that
morning. Then we hailed at point 7
miles from the Little Big Horn, in Mon
tana, and fully forty miles from our per-
manent camp, half Corraled our horses
and slept until daylight, our pickets
KEEPING WATCH FROM THE BLUFFS
above our encampment, At half past
four on the morning of Friday, July Z,
we we're again in the saddle. pressing on
towards where the scouts supposed the
Indian village to be. Reaching the foot
of rocky mound Grouard told us to halt
while he took observations. By this time
we had moved about four miles from our
late bivouaC, We observed Grouard's
movements with some interest, as we
knew we were in the enemy's country,
and might encounter Indians at any mo-
ment. Scarcely had the scout taken a
first look from the crest of the ridge when
a peculiar motion of his hand summoned
Baptiste to his side. Both left their po-
MES below the bluff and observed the
country from between the rocks on the
summit. A minute afterward they had
mounted their horses, and came gallop-
ing back to us. "Quick, for your lives "'
cried Grouard. Wemounted immediate.
" and followed him. He led us along
hills of red sandstone, the footstool of
the mountains, and we were obliged to
make our horses leap down on rocky led
ges as much as six or seven feet to follow
his course. Within fifteen minutes we
reached hill sufficiently large to con-
zeal our horses, while those Of us who
were furnished with glasses-namely,
Grouard, Fourier Lieut.. Sibley and my
self-V emf into the rocks and waited to
see what was coming What did you
see. Frank ?" asked Sibley of the scout,
"Only Sitting Bulls war party" replied
Frank. "Knew they were up here with
out coming at ALL" We did not have to
wait long for the confirmation Of his
words. Almost at the same instant
GROUPS OF MOUNTED sAvAGEs
appeared on every hill north and east OF
us. Every moment increased the num-
bers, until they seemed to cover the Coun-
try far and wide. "They have not seen
us yet" said the scout, UNLESS some OF
them hit upon the trail we are compara-
lively safe"
Gradually the right flank of the Indi-
ans approached the ground over which
we had come that morning and the pre-
vious night. We watched their move
ments with breathlessinterest Sudden
ly an Indian, attired in red blanket halt
ed, looked for moment at the earth
and began to ride around in a circle
"Now look out" said Grouard, "that fel
low has found our trail, and they will be
after us in five minutes"
"Whatl Are we going to die?" asked
the young officer,
"Well, we have but once of escape,
said Grouard ''let us lead our horses
into the mountains, and try to cross
them. Meanwhile, prepare for the worst
Then we left the rocks and went dowr
among the soldiers. Lieut.. Sibley said t.
them-"Men, the Indians have discover
ed us. We will have to do some fight
ing. If we can make an honorable es
cape all together we shall do it. If re
treat is impossible let no man surrende
DIE IN YOUR TRACKS
for the Indians show no mercy"
"All right, sir" said the men, and tn,
whole party followed the scouts and Off
Ger up the steep mountain side, which a
that point was steep to discouragin
extent. The Indians must have seen us
they were scarcely more than a mile dis
tant, for hundreds of them had halte,
and appeared to be in consultation. w
continued our retreat until we struck a.
old Sioux trail on the first ridge. "Thi
path leads to the snowy ridge" sal
GrOuard. "If we can reach there withou
being overtaken or cut off, our chance
| ,,o ,>,ott,, Civ Moot of Ibn rool ~,