Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1877-12-06

three or four scrubby trees OF, the knoll
= the soil was "A stiff clay. and in the cay;t
OF dip between that knoll and a small,
one sixty feet away, was a pond Of watt
containing perhaps five barrels of slim,
ill-smtlling liquid, collected there from til
hilisides. but yet wet enough to prever
thirst from destroying the party. Thre
months ago an army officer stood on til:
knoll. marked its advantages. and said:
"rcould hold this place with one hur
'lred men against !; whole division of We,
erans!"
Even before the teams were unhitche
from the wagons. and while the seven de
tenders faced the Indians. tie widow or
Cereti the women and children to collec
the water in every dish which would hol,
spoonful. The pond was nearly drainet
and tie wagons parked before the Indians
made move. One of the s,vages after
ward told an agency Indian that his bant
suspected trap. believing that Il large
force of white men had come up and Sc
crefed themselves the night before. anG
that the four wagons had been sent out as
a decoy.
However. after circling around and fol.
lowing the wagon trail back toward Dead
wood for three or four miles. the Indians
; cOmprelsended the situation and made re:;-
dy for an attack. The white men, with a
single exception. showed the cowartice of
children. and would have surrendered
themselves without defence but for tie
widow.
While she watched the movements of the
Indians she set the rest of the party to
work fortlfying the knoll. Tie stiff cl'y
was thrown up in Il circle inside the way-
ons. until they had breastwork two feet
high and bullet proof. and into this the
women. children. food. water and ammll-
milton were collected. The men Obeyed
their female captain without hesitation.
and when she saw the Indians preparing
to charge the knoll. she laid:
The four of us with Henry rifles will
open on them rs they come forward. The
other three will reserve their fire until |
give the word. Place your revolyers on
the ground beside you. and as soon as we
open fire let every one cheer at the top of
his voice -
'NOw." cried the widow. and tie four
1Ieniys opened fire into the bunch. TEey
had not iire,l five times apiece when rhe In
'ii;ins We're 1t the wagons. their fienlish
wells offset b.; the cheers OF the few Jefen-
ders.
''s;cady! steady! Al fire! Uurluh
i:gIrri.i.' cried the widow. and the sharp |
reports Of the rifles mingle'l into ste:,ply |
Gaa 81 Wtfe f;e shSIr hrsfW fWH WHsidlf It'd tYh Yhs 1pad
the wagons to break TIE line OF defense. /
and bullets cut the aii' in every direction.
1t seemed an hour. but il WAS hardly sixty
seconds before the Indians tell back from
that calling fire. and halted only when out
of range. ProspcctOrs standing on Eagle
Ileaths.One.'' nine miles away. looked
down that day and saw the cloud Of battle
smoke. and believed that full company
Of soldiers had struck band of hostiles.
The slope of tie hill, the dip. anil the
broken ground beyond. showed curious
sight as the smoke rolled away. There
wcr. two dead Indians almost under the
wagons then came Il dead pony; then Il
wounded one: then in the stagnant pond
was a dead Indian. Il wounded one. and a
pony that had been shot through the fore
leg. Further down two wounded red
skins had crawled behind the bOultlers for
shelter. and another was kicking his last
just below them. g' .|.'t--.
In the fort a child had been killed. tie
Widow Weeks had bullet wound in her
left leg. and one Of the men had his left
elbow shattered.
"Now. reload and get ready for another
tl,rrpe'' said tie little woman. as she
counted ND the casualties. Our animals
are gone. and we've got to keep the lndi-
ans off till help comes"
There vas no time for tears or lament;'-
tions. The dead cllild was removed to one
side. the wounds dressed rs well rs posi-
bic. and before the hour had ended the In
dians were ready for another attack. In
thc first Charge there were thirfy-siX; as
they formed this time. only twenty-:our
co,,ltl be counted. The widow made Use
of the fact to encourage the men. and her
wound did not prevent her from making
ready to use her rifle.
The knoll could be scaled from three
sides only. Instead of charging as before
the Indians charged in a se'ni-rirrlc' so
that the fire of the defenders could NOT be
concentrated. Several Of the redskins car
ried bundles OF dry grass. the use OF which
could not be guessed at by the whites.
When the little widow saw tile plan OF
attack she distributed her force to meet it,
and said: .s.s.+F
IL will take the left OF the circle, Mr..
Grayon vii! take the right. and You men
in the centre fire right straight ahead
Raise hurrah rs soon rs you hear my
rifle crack.
The Indians were no sooner In position
than they dashed at the hill ON wild run
opening fire rs they came. The TWO OF
the extreme left rolled from their horses as
the widows rifle spoke ont. and Grayor
wounded the one on the right. Not an
other shot was fired by the defenders unit
the Indians were right at the wagon.
Again the men on distant ''Eagle''
Hearthstone'' looked down on great
cloud of powder smoke, and they argued
that another company Of soldiers had coih'
ND and gone INTO action. The Indians
, fired through the wagon covers. betweel
the vehicle. and under them. and. they
pushed and tugged to separate the wag
oas and roll them down bill. A fierce vel
now and then came from their ranks Il
. prove that bullet had found target, ant
eroan or a scream from behind thu
brcastworks was evidenced Of thinnet
ranks. r " a T I
Cheer! cheer!'' shouted the widow, al
the fire OF the attacking party suddenly
ceased. and the defenders hurlahed AGAR
and again. Through the smoke they
caught sight of red flames. and as thu
cloud lifted It was seen that the lndt
. ans had used the bundles OF grass to SCI
I i, ssoC hYsYlnO