The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-10-26
SCENES OF THE SIEGE.
How the Besiesed Troops at Milk
Creek Passed the Time.

representative OF the LEADER ana Df-
r. B. Grimes, the surgeon Of the Milk
creek fight, developed many interesting
facts in connection with the siege. 1t
has been one of the curiositIes Of the
public to know how the troops managed
to live and get along during their me-
morable six days siege.
1t may be said at the outset that a
siege 'slevels all ranks" a well as love.
A common danger and a desire for mu.
tual protection obliterated all social
distinction between officers and men.
Officers and privates we're frequently
mingling together as pleasantly as boys
playing truant from school in a hay
stack.
The Indians were always wide awake,
enthusiastically prompt about arising
at daylight. They always brought their
guns into play just about the time the
boys were stirring about and preparing
for breakfast. No attempt vas made
to cook any food. Fires were started
simply to get good hot coffee. When
ever one of the boys emerged from the
enclosure and ran through the corral
on an GRAND, the Indians would fire a
score Of shots at him before he got to
his hole. Once in a while their shots
would take effect. and the unfortunate
soldier would crawl into the hospital
hole and receive treatment from DIR.
Grimes.
The conduct of the troops was most
exemplary throughout. Though there
were many new recruits among them,
they stood fire and worked s~plendidly.
When tho colored troops came they
unsaddled their horses very promptly
and rushed for the pits, mixing in in
Discriminatory with the white soldiers.
Room was made for them, and they
were most welcome. Right good fell
lows they were too. They were partic-
ularly useful in going for water in the
evening, and in doing other chores.
They didn't finch from any task, and
though exposed very much they escaped
without n scratch on any n Of them.
An instance Of their bravery and kind
ness is related by DR.. Grimes. Soon
after daylight on the morning the col
ored troops arrived, their horses were
scattered about in heaps, dead and
dying. The horses that remained I'M
hurt showed the most intense fear.
| Every crack Of o rifle caused them to
shudder and tremble violently. They
manifested the greatest despair. Sew
eral horses, after being wounded,
crawled toward the pits in order to seek
protection. They seemed to realize that
II they were once in the pits they would
escape further injury. DR.. Grimes
found it necessary to keep guard and
| shoot the animals in the head as they
approached, in order to save the wound
ed men. One horse made a big jump
and landed with his hind feet in the
pit. He struck down the board cover
ing and raised the dust generally. The
| doctor asked for assistance, and several
colored boys Immediately got out Of
their holes and pulled the horse from
the pit. DIR. Grimes killed the animal
y' anu ~
'he, guy An eno ""n9 ',o
firing from the Indians was very heavy.
On Wednesday night, the third night
VI .he siese, 'no nao 0~
woihs within ya,us u .no
lug inuians gave
Hns,i'n 'ansuako lne uo ~"
yen 70 'ne soiuis W m =,
hsh., sasins.
men 'hey wouiu ouiso .no "
laisuase WA. was eA9a "NN"
o0o"o'onaty 'noy "ou.
now .ney moie W 70 soa.peu S,
a'eo anu iei' naAea oh .ne nen Su
u peneuio.ion was "oh ~
inake .ne soiu'eis sicep "en
lne slese was NV :.
neoonnlns useo " .ae
waiting Az, ies'u - ~
. SaAe.y' so"e VI 'ne Do,s VIZ
poseu " NC noi' """..' =
IN one PIT .hey hao u u ~
anu argueu On '"e piopei',rs VI ~
',ioi'y' anu o'nei sup,eo. ~.
cnanse rney ois"nu INV,
sans oaiiaus' ci"cAeu 'oAes anu e'o''eu
nunulums
Inc eiahhs :, 'ne omoie' "ni
were captured py tne lnuiahs' were