The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-22
CBlsIyG TIE BlNNOCKs.
Big Du.t Clouds, nm Ambush. md n Bicodiess
skirmish 4 oiiin.'s Long Ride.

Emery G.. Collins, clerk OF Company X,
Second Cavalry. carried n despatch to Cen
Miles containing the information which led to
his recent succcssiul attack on tho Bannock In
diaus In a letter to n relative in this city. Col
Inns says:
The company left Fort Ellis NJ. T.. Aug. 90
on scout nilcr some hostile Brnnocks that had
escaped from Gen. Howard in Idaho. II was
reported that thoy had stolen considerable stock
from tho farmers and ranrhmcn on Madison
River. 70 miles from Fort Ellis. At Virginia
city ton citizens joined us. who volunteered to
ride ahead ns scouts. After sumptuOus sup
per and an early breakfast Of game aud salmon
trout at Hcnry's Lake. 81 miles from the fort.
the company broke camp and marched IA miles
to- Lconards Pass that being tho only exit from
tho mountains that tho Indians could take. At
noon the scouts rode back to tell us that large
herd OF horses was approaching through tho
pass undoubtedly driven by tho Indians.
They could not estimate their number.
owing to tho dense clouds Of dust
raised by the horses. The Captain ordered the
thick cover Of brush. Soon three Indians wero
seen riding toward VA. but wo let them pass un-
mOleStcd although they came within easy range.
| was ordered to take five mon and make wide
drtnur. In order 10 come out OF cover on the
flank 81 tho main body Of Indians. and try to
stampede tho herd toward the point where the
company was sccrCtcd. | reached narrow
rnvinc lust as tho foremost Indian came into
Wow. We were within 100 yards ot them. My
party sprang from tho brush and mounting.
with our revolvers in our hands We dashed AT
the Indians hooting and yelling as II Punde-
moniiIm Ind bSon let loose The surprise
was complete. They abandoned the horses and
took To the bluffs where It was impossible to
| follow thcm ON foot In the moan time the rest
| OF the company crclrd around tho horses, and
we captured the entire herd. fly-sx In all;
| buffalo meat captured from the Indians. thu
| Captain handed me despatch to ho taken back
FIR E savn srry T SA ninety at the @ iS1' n
| eleven hours. woke the commanding Qihcer
uc read the despatch. and thcn turning TO
me. asked me whether | was ready to ride
| thirty five miles further on fresh horse. |
| told him was. lie hurriedly wrote despatch
and handed 1t 10 me. with directions to an or
DERBY to procure Inc another horse; On tho en-
| yelope read the address. Con. Miles. Shields
" At o'clock the next morning placed the
message in the Gehural'B hands. While await:
| ing outside his tent for nn answer learned
| lie and several other officers and their wivts
| were on their way to visit the National Park.
about seventy miles from FoIt Ellis and had as
escort 100 men Of the Fifth Infantry who were
mounted on ponies they had captured from tho
| Ncl perccs last summer InfG. While was
yet waiting before M ten, learned 'he con,
| from my Captain through tho commanding
officer ~ the post. II was to the effect that he
| had captured iiiiy-siN head OF stock and thnt u
! u party OF soldiers were sent in the direction OF
Of Clark > Fork Of the Yellowstone they could
appearances. passed thosr We had struck.
Tho General ordered Capt. Bennett and twerty-
i've men to immediately prepare 10 accompany
! him 10 tho Yellowstone lIG handed me letter
| for the officer In command ~ Fort Ellis. and
| returned. Two days Riterward the little party
| of soldiers struck the Bannocks. They killed
| thirteen Of them and captured the rest. together
| with 200 hoad Of stock. but Capt. Bennett was
! killed.
-" wes lucky enough to bc able 10 join Gen.
Mllrs's pleasure excursion T. the National Park.
| which hnd been INTERRUPTED by tho fight. About
| seventy miles from Fort EMS We came To tho
| Sian moth Hot Springs. There is series " rocks
! rising almost prrpcndi, ularly to tho height oi
| 4ju feet AMI from their creVcca hot sulphur
| Wnuir com's boiling out at furious rnte. Tho
rorks ami ground near thu springs r"scnble
the finest Gr'ciau marble THIS appearance Is
! caus'.l 10y Tn" action OF the water. At noon oi
the day following our departure from these
! -Irings " ieari % sound Ike that OF number
of steam mills ia active operation. lmutonsc
] clouds % steam were seen RISING 10 The heavens
| ahead ui Va. We were approaching the ti"ysers
| Mhen W. came near. rs far n the eyerouid see.
there appeared fountains Of boiling wHt.'f
ri-iu- from five TO IL ~ feet ia the air. The a -
ton OF thH water gave IN appearance to the
rock, somewhat similar To- the trHu-iurmntl ON
scene iu tho BLACK Crook II was dazzling
| Some Il tho trSsot, STOUT mud and -ion"~
/ Con Mics remarked that he thought the iu-
| trrnhl rcsluus were located but IL short distance
| boueAiu ur.