The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1878-03-28
A HEROIC DEFENSE.
Fotir Men and Two Women Stand Three
Days Siege by iare. Band of Indians
Terrible Fighting-EIght Braves Sen. 10
the Hannx Hunting Grounds.

| Fobr Men and Two Women Stand q Three
Days Siege by iarge Band of Indians
Terrible Fighting-EIght Braves Sen. 10
the Happy Hunting Grounds.
[Bozeman Cor. New York Herald.]
White Calfee, scout and freighter,
brings information of a terrible
battle with Indiana on O'Fallon's 8
creeks, near the Yellowstone river,
in which a party of white men and
two women had perilous adventure,
and would probably have all been killed
but for the timely Arrival Of the troops
from Tongue river.
it appears that Mr.. Maxwell, with his
wife, daughter and four men, started
from Miles City, with the intention
of settling on the Little Missouri, near
where the old Stanley trail crosses that
stream:
After they had been cut several days,
aad just as they were crossing the O. Fal=
lon hills, Mrs. Maxwell deserted two
objects ahead, which she took to be
antelopes, but which the aid of field
glass showed IL be Inaians, Mr.. Max
well at once halted his party, and soon
discovered he was in the vicinity of a
village of about forty lodges of hostile
Indians. The wagons were turred back,
and the party retreated toward O'Fal-
Ion creek. The Indians followed but
did not attack, aid Mr.. Maxwell, having
reached the timber aid Water, selected
high point OF land and went into camp.
! A ravine ran around three sides of the
camp, and it vas naturally very strong
and easily defended. ft was almost
dark when Mr.. Maxwell selected his
camp, and the entire night was spent in
fortifying it. The bluffs did not run
/ Il l., Ex5I, fhn
party had to take position about 200
yyafas ffota Astet OF wood. As good
supply as possible of both Articles ahs
laid in during the night, and the party
waited anxiously for daylight and the
battle they knew it would usher in.
About II o'clock next day the Indians
were discovered approaching and the
siege began. The cattle were kept as
close aa possible, but in the evening
| they had to be watered, and while this
was being dole thb tndiatts dashed for
ward and captured all the oxeH. Mr.
Maxwell let them go and kept his men
hard at work on the Notifications, know
ing he would soon have need of all the
| protection he could get. About IL
O'Clock IT night the wosks we're finished
| aid The place Htads as sttons,a as Possible
The wagons formed one side, ahd logs,
and sacks filled with earth and sand, the
other sides. Caves were dug for the
| women and strong rihe-pits placed on
three sides Of the camp.
All n}sht long the meh heard cattle
believing, and they were dfifsseH tip End
around the fort, in the hope tnat the lit
! tie garrison would come out and attempt
to capture them but Mr.. Maxwell kept
his men within the fort. About midnight
one of the party cfept out of the works,
and, avoiding Tie Itaiars, started to Fort
Keogh for help. The little garrison Vas
BSpT redqaasa * to six persons, and consisted
| Darland. Jester Pruden and the two
women-Mrs. Maxwell and May, her
datshtes
During the MI ght the men in tie fBrt
| heard the Indians coming up the ravlne
mounted. It was bright moonlight and
! they could be, distinctly seen. Hating
at the creek, they disInodhtedy tihd their
ponies, and commenced crawling toward
! the fort. Mr. Maxwell told the men to
keep very still and let them come on
until he called eut '' fire J. and then to
work the breach lottdefs hard and steady.
When the fndians were within sixty
yards 6f the fort The ff6ntlethfheh began
firing, and before the redskins could get
out of range killed two. One fellow was
wounded, and fell so near the fort they
! to Lbs fien Ii broken tluslisk Hold
on. I am hit % and s'Don't shoot any
more, I am a good Indian !" Later in
the night ne called a" Come out and get
me, I am wounded Mr.. Maxwell re-
piled "WeH, teaw1 In here; then, and
we viii look out for you The fiouhaed
fellow said: "No, no, let them come
and carry me of" No reply was given,
and presently the fellow rose up and said:
Glow, how Don't shoot, me go away"
They les his. 60, ana after working him.
self down The hill II little tfiBt3n6g two
Indians came up, took hold OF him by
the arms and helped him off.
The Indials low packed up every
thing and iiiade q Great shaw as if they
were going away, driving the cattle with
them. The steers were soon heard low
ing about the camp, the willy red devils
thinking the white men would believe
some of the oxen had got away and came
back. Mr., Maxwell, however, bsrt his
men within the fort, and the savages,
seeing all their efforts to deceive or draw
the little garrison out were in vain, came
on with yells and boldly charged the
works.
They dashed st each side of the fort,
firing ut the men Within; but the be
sieged kept still and let them ride and
howl as much as they had a mind to.
Toward daylight the Indians drew of,
went into the hills and commenced
throwing up signal lights, which were
answered from a distance, "They are
sending for help, boys said Maxwell,
"and we will soon have it hot and heavy,
SO rest while you can"
In about two hours Indians were seen
coming in from the south and joining
those on the hills. Very soon they came
down toward the fort, and several ad-
vancing called out: "How, howl Come
out and give up" Maxwell replied he
would do no such thing and for thefn to
come On if they wanted to fight.
It was now light, and the Indians
made a steady advance, crawling through
the grass and sheltering themselves be-
hind every little mound of earth. ''LooB
at that fellow fattening himself on the
grass" cried Maxwell; "but can gel
him if he was as thin as plate 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 his men stood their ground nRs
lions" "For three hours" says Cal
fee, nothing could be heard but th'
:. roar of the rifles, the yelling of the In
dams and the cries of the women within
t the fort"
> Presently the Indians drew off ant
: held council. Then they divided int
five parties, went on the hills. built larg
! fires and camped. Several of them cam