The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-03-08

boys" said Maxwell, "and we will sool
have it hot and heavy, so rest while YOU
can.
In about two hours Indians were seel
coming in from the south and Joining thos,
on the hills. Very soon they came dow
toward the fort, and several advancin,
called out, "How, how Come out ant
give up" Maxwell replied he would dt
no such II thing, and for them to come OF
if they wanted fight.
1t was now light and the Indians mad,
steady advance, crawling through tn,
grass and sheltering themselves 6ehint
every little mound of earth. Look a
hat fellow flattening himself on the earth, )
cried Maxwell; but / can get him if h,
was as thin as II pane of glass;
The firing now became rapid and was
Kept up constantly for two hours. The
Indians came very near getting into the
fort, but the scout says, "Maxwell and h
men stood their ground like lions" "Fol
three hours" said Caliee, "nothiug could
be heard but the roar Of the rifles, the yell
ny of the Indians and the cries of the
women within the fort"
a council. Then they divided into fiv,
parties, went on the hills, built large fir,
and camped. Several of them came down
to the fort and wanted to talk, but the
white men warned them to be gone Max
well said, Boys, keep close; they want to
| ma out how many men we have in the
| tort" One fellow was inclined to be very
| sociable and came up quite near, when a
| ball sent him bowling with pain to the
rear Mrs. Maxwell cooked and carried
| the victuals to the men, who ate with one
hand while they held their guns in posi-
tion with the other. May Maxwell was as
brave us she could be, and went from
man to man, giving them water to
drink.
During the remainder of the day and all
the following night the situation remained
unchanged. The Indians sat by their fires
| and every now and then made an ineffect
ual attempt to talk with the men in the fort.
On the morning of the second day, which
MIR. Cafee thinks was the 18th of January,
the Indians renewed the attack. The Ii tie
band of white men were surrounded on
every side and the charge was most deter
mined, but after half an hours fighting the
Indians fell back. They next commenced
shooting with their bows and arrows, firing
in the air so the arrows would drop within
the fort. This is most dangerous game,
as an Indian Can throw an arrow so it will
come down point foremost within an inch
of any mark. The men did not have their
backs and heads protected from above, and
one was soon wounded, but all lay still and
did not expose themselves. Toward noon
an Indian, who had been sitting smoking
on the hill, got up and walked down to-
ward the fort. He continued to approach,
despite the bullets, until within sixty
yards OF the breastworks, when he fell
dead The savage was probably med-
cine man and thought the whites could not
hit him or he may probably have been tired
OF living and took the opportunity to make
an end Of himself.
Failing to accomplish anything with
their bows and arrows, the Indians fell
back and again cuuncilled. They seemed
to think the only way was to watch the
fort and starve out the garrison. Creeping
up close to the works not a head could be
raised or hand exposed, but it brought
dozen bullets from the grass. One Indian
was observed creeping almost within the
works when shot from Maxwell laid him
out. The men saw another approach, ly-
ing on pony, and fired, hitting the pony
in the head and leaving the redskin to
scramble off as best he could.
The water was giving out and the men
were becoming thirsty. To meet this new
danger passage was dug under the breast
works and one of the party crawled out,
and, under cover, went down and got wa
ter. Another man got some wood, and in
the morning the besieged surprised the
savages by building a large fire. Mrs.
Maxwell had had IL tent put up, and when
the Indians saw the improved condition of
the little garrison their rage was very
great Dashing down to the fort they fired
over hundred shots at the fire, but Mrs.
Maxwell bravely stood her ground and
quietly went on cooking while the balls
were flying all around her.
The Indians circled about the besieged
for over two hours, but only fired occasion.
al shots, which showed they were getting
short of ammunition. About noon on the
third day they drew off, one calling out,
"Good-by, we are going now" When
asked who they were the Indians replied,
Sioux and Nez Perces." Eight Indians
were seen to fall during the fight and it is
likely double that number were wound
ed.
On the morning of the fourth day all
looked well, but the garrison did not ven
ture out, being satisfied that the Indians
had only moved short distance from the
Notifications. During the day Col. Baker
(Second cavalry, with a strong force, was
seen approaching the fort, guided by the
man who had been sent out for assistance.
Mr.. Maxwell made u very narrow escape,
ball cutting away II lock of his hair and
another grazing his jaw. Your cores
pendent did not lear1 the name of the
wounded man, but it is said he Will recov-
er. Mr.. Maxwell and party lost twenty
six head of oxen, captured by the Indians,
and one pony killed, but all are only too
happy to have escaped with their lives
This is one of the most memorable siepes
and deiences ever known on the plains, and
stamps every one engaged in it as genu
inc hero and heroine. Colonel Baker
brought the little party back to Tongue
river, where they are now being feasted
and fast recovering from the excitement of
their terrible adventure. 1t is not likely
Mr.. Maxwell will soon again desire to set
tie on the Little Missouri, but others will.
aud so the work of civilization goes stead
lily forward in the West. The Little Mis-
souri, country, long considered barren
waste, has been ascertained to be rich
and fertile region Coal is found in album
dance all along the stream and valley
suited to agriculture extends for over two
hundred miles.
For THE AEgis Dc Itelligoncer.
Enigma.