The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-08-04

The fourth trooper in each group Of
"fours ~ remained on his horse hold
ing the reips of the horses Of his three
comrades. AZ
Quicker than words can describe, the
fifteen cavalryman now on foot, and
acting rs infantry, rushed forwards few
PAGES in advance OF their horses, de-
ployed into open order, and dropping
on one or both knees in the low grass,
waited with loaded carbines-
finger gently pressing the trigger-the
approach of the Sioux, who rode bold
ly down as If apparently unconscious
that the small group of troopers
were on their front. ..Don't fire, men,
till give the word, and when you do
fire, aim low" was the quiet Injunction
given his men BY their young COM
mander, rs he sat on his horse intently
watching the advancing foe.
Swiftly over the grassy plain leaped
my noble steed, each bound bearing
me nearer to both friends and foes.
Had the race been confined to the In
dians and myself the closeness Of the
result would have satisfied an admirer
even of the Derby. Nearer and nearer
our paths approached each other, max
ing It appear almost MS il | were one Of
the line of warriors, as the latter bore
down to accomplish the destruction Of
the little group of troopers in front.
Swifter seem TO fly our mettled steeds,
the one to save, the other to destroy,
until the common goal has almost been
reached-a few more bounds, and
friends and foes will be united-will
form one contending mass.
The victory was almost within the
grasp of the redskins. 1t seemed that
but II moment more, and they would
be trampling the kneeling troopers
beneath the feet Of their tleet.limb bed
ponies; when, "Now, men, let Them
have it - was the signal FOR a well Iii
rected volley, as fifteen cavalry carbines
poured their contents into the ranks OF
the shrieking savages. Before the lat
ter could recover from the surprise and
confusion which followed, the carbines
thanks TO the invention of breech-
loaders--were almost instantly loaded,
and a second carefully aimed discharge
went whistling on its deadly errand.
Several warriors were seen to reel in
their saddles, and were only saved from
falling by the quickly extended arms OF
their fellows. Ponies Were tumbledover
like butchered bullocks, their riders
glad to find themselves escaping with
less serious injuries. The effect of the
rapid firing of the troopers, and their
firm determined stand, showing that
they thought neither of flight nor sur
render, was to compel the savages first
TO slacken their speed, then TO lose their
daring and confidence in their ability to
trample down thelittle group of defend
ers in the front. Death to many of their
number stared them in the face. Be-
sides, if the small party of troopers in
the front was able to oppose such
plucky and destructive resistance to
their attacks, what might not be ex-
pected should the main party under
Moylan, now swiftly approaching to the
rescue, also take part in the struggled
But more quickly than my sluggish pen
has been able to record the description
of the scene, the battle line of the war.
riors exhibited signs of faltering which
soon degenerated into an absolute re-
pulse. In moment their attack was
transformed into fight in which each
seemed only anxious to secure his in.
dividual safety. A triumphant cheer
from the cavalrymen as they sent third
installment of leaden messengers whist.
ling about the ears of the fleeing red,
skins served to spur both pony and rider
to their utmost speed. Moylan by thi,
time had reached the ground and had
united the entire force. The Indians in
the meantime had plunged out Of sight
into the recesses of the Jungle from
which they had first made their attack
We knew too well that their absence
would be brief, and that they would re.
sumo the attack, but not in the manner
of the first.
We knew that we had inflicted no lit
tie loss upon them-dead and wounded
ponies could be seen on the ground
passed over by the Indians. The latter
would not be satisfied without deter
mined efforts to get revenge. Of this
we were well aware.
A moments hurried consultation be
tween the officers and myself, and VIZ
decided that as we would be forced &c
act entirely upon the defensive agains
a vastly superior force, it would be bet
ter if we relieved ourselves as far as pos
sible of the care of our horses, and tax,
our chances i'm the fight, which was YET
to come, on foot. At the same time WI
were then so far out on the open plain
and from the river bank, that the Indian.
could surround us. We must ge
nearer to the river, conceal oui
horses, or shelter them from fire
then with every available maj
form line or semicircle, with oul
backs TO the river, and defend ourselve
until the arrival of the main body o
the expedition, an event we could no
| expect for several hours. Az IL divinin,