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

the first glimpse of approaching succor
Our enemies seemed equally aware OF
our hopes and fears, and strange IN
say, their quick eyes, added 10 better
points for observation, enabled them 10
detect the coming of our friends sooner
than did we whose safety depended
upon IL.
Before we became aware of the fact
that succor was near at hand we oh.
served an unusual commotion in tho
ranks OF our adversaries, and soon after
a gradual withdrawal from in front of
our right and concentration of their
forces opposite our left The reason
for this was soon made clear Ia ns
Looking far TO the right and over the
crest of hills already described, we
could see an immense column of dust
rising and rapidly approaching. We
could not be mistaken; we could moi
see the cause producing this dust; but
there was not one OF us who did not saw
to himself, Relief is at hand.n 4
few moments later shout arose from
the men. All eyes were turned TO the
bluffs i'm the distance, and there were
to be seen, coming almost with the
speed of the wind, four separate
squadrons OF Uncle SANS
best cavalry, with banners fyinr.
horses names and tails floating on the
breeze, and comrades squirting forward
in generous emulation as TO which
squadron should land its colors first
in the fight. 1t was "A grand and wei.
come sight, but we waited not To en-
So f.et4 II
wearied from fighting on The defen-
sive, now was our time 10 mount our
steeds and force our enemies to seek
safety in light, or TO battle on more
even terms. In a moment we were i'm
our saddles and dashing after them.
The only satisfaction we had was to
drive ut full speed for several miles
force outnumbering us five TO one. In
this pursuit we picked up few ponies
which the Indians were compelled to
abandon on account of wounds or ex-
haustion. Their wounded, OF whom
there were quite number, and their
killed, rs afterward acknowledged bv
them when they returned TO the agency
to receive the. provisions and fresh sup
plies of ammunition which senti-
mental government, manipulated and
directed by corrupt combinations, in
sists upon distributing annually, were
sent to the rear before the flight of the
main body. The number of Indians
and ponies killed and wounded in this
engagement, as shown by their subse-
quent admission, almost equaled that
of half our entire force engaged.
That night the forces Of the expedi-
tion encamped on the battle-ground,
which was nearly opposite the mouth Of
Tongue River. Ny tent was pitched
under the hill from which had been
SO uncercmoniously disturbed at the
commencement Of the fight; while I'M
der the incorporating branches of a
neighboring cottonwood, guarded and
watched over by Borrowing comrades
who kept up their lonely vigils through
the night, lay the mangled bodies of
two Of our companions Of the march,
who, although not present nor partici-
pating in the fight, had fallen victims
to the cruelty of our foes. The descrip-
ton of the manner in which this was
brought about, and how by an accident
the intelligence of our situation was
carried back 10 the main expedition,
resulting in the prompt arrival of the
-four squadrons to our assistance, must
be reserved for a future chapter.