The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-07-20

distant, a strong force of Indians was
found holding It. But the troopers
dashed over them, crossed the river,
and began to ascend the high bank OPP
posite. 1t was a mere Indian trail
leading UP the face OF a bald hill. The
Indians rallied, and, taking shelter in
the bushes about the ford, opened a
deadly lire on the soldiers rs they
torueu anu a5cehdcd the Opposite bank.
SLAUGHTER At THE FORD.
On account Of the narrowness of the
ford u great crowd soon collected about
| the crossing and became jammed there;
and into this mass of men and horses
the Indians fired at short range. The
loss of life here was fearful. Lieut..
Hodgscn fell while gallantly endeavor-
ing to get his men across the stream.
Hodgson had already crossed the
stream himself and was ascending the
opposite bank when his horse was shot
and rolled down the bank with him.
Detaohing himself from the fallen AMI
mai he grasped tho stirrups OF n pass
ing soldier To help himselt up the
BANK ana hat nearly reached the top
when Il shot struck him ana nc fell
c Inc Sioux, mounted on their
swift ponies DASHED up by the SIDE OF
the soldiers ana ilred at them, Killing
ooth men ana horseS' Lutte resistance
was offered, II II was
COMPLETE RouT
to the ford Just AS | got out my horse
stumbled and fell anu / Tcs dis,nounted,
the horse running away after keiio's
command. l saw several soldiers who
were dismounted, their horses having
been killed or having run away. There
were also some soldiets mounted who
had remained behind. should think
in all there were MS many as thirteen
soldiers, and, seeing no chance to get
away, | called on them to come into the
timber and we would stand OH the In
dians. Three of the soldiers were
wounded, and two of them so badly
they could ros nse their arms. The
soldiers wanted to get OUT but said
no, we can't get to the ford, and, be-
sides, we have wounded men and must
stand by them. The soldiers still
wanted to SO, hut told them was an
Old fronticrsman, understGc" l"oli'nS'
anu II 'neS "ou'o "o III saul, i "o"'"
se' '"e"i ou' Vi 'ho s'r'Pr' ""''n was
no "orSe .h"h sel"Pes ! """ "o'" III
oelore' ABOUT nan vi tno men were
uhouh'e", "nu 'hey ""n'e" " ho'p 'h.l.
horses WITH 'he"i' pu. l 'oi' '.e'h W .e'
inc horses 50 anu hsh. oh ioo'' we
stalu IN INC ousi aDout 'hree hours' anu
l cou'o hear hon'y h'ihs oeio" III ."o
ri'er' aPP"ren''y "oo"I WV '
distant uiu not kho" VINO IL was
out kne" the iho,ah' were hS"'ns
someoi our men, anu iearicu a''cI"","
| II was custer command N.",'S
l all the dla III the upper Il Oh lhe
valley drew on oo"h ''e r''e'' I'LL" inc
t hSht win custer taste" apou' chs ho"r'
wheh inc hea'y hrinS ceasco' "he''
the shoot'nS peio" oeS"h 10 oio away
; Saio 10 the poyss' .ooilc' ho" Is tne
; time 10 Set out MoSt oi thelh oiu
not co. !. "a''e" ior "'Snt, 'oi'
5 mem 'he lho'ahS wo"iu COME oaeN a'''
$ we hau peI'er oo Oh III o"ce'
x A NARROW A
. Eleven of the l3 said they would go,
but two stayed behind. | deployed the
5 men as skirmishers, and we moved for
ward on foot toward the river. Whcr
we had nearly got to the river we met
five Indians on ponies, and they fire.
e on us. | returned the fire and the In
+ dams broke, and we then forded TIT
c river, the water being breast deep. W.
d finally got over, wounded men and all
+ and headed for heno's command whici
| could see drawn sp on the pluiiS alohs
= inc river aoou' rn'I on' "n,
= leho III SAFETY We ~.
. neno more .''n n''o.' ,ama,
s"" Tue ihuia's oo,n's up Az '.
from ous'er nsh'' noio was
y moving his W"o,o
. riusc .o""fo ouS','
cr'Se" 'no NV, "u 'Ian ,s,a
s""rnnou up II oi'i s,
, sNiran'sh,'s WIN 'ne,i ,ono "o"'
. 10 ms o'u Po''.'o"' WHO" wa, ",
:, Tue h'snos, po'n .'S 'no .ns suL
was ~" aoou' oi'o "r' n7"
iis'eo ui',' ~ was poa
y shoo'' A SUM "' wa, '" gu
loon ,he PACKS anu Saa'ies vi VI
inuies anu horses "''' n''uo N
OF them' ZIG also arasSeu 'ne oeu
horses ana inuios On 'ho inio ~ '
~ tered the men Dehinu 'he,h' oo"'o ,
IL the men dug rihe pts WIN their pu'c"
III ~er-knives, M all slept on their arms