The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1885-04-28

dlU0Ougn IL may nave ldhcu lHcIH y
month to make the cup.-Lieutendnt
Frederick SchwdtkG. ia So. Nicholas.
PERILS OF INDIAN FIGHTING.
"Reminiscences of tho Raids OF Sitting Bull
and His Painted Warriors.
"Why do keep that cartridge-boA
hung over my desk? It's relic of my
life on the plains, for around that little
box cluster some of my greatest trials. >"
The speaker, a middle-aged man, wa
seated in his office on Court street.
sit first became mine when joined
the Twenty-second Regiment at For
Gratiot in July, 1876. about the time
brave Custer and his command had
gone to slaughter. Troops were hur-
ried into the field. On the seventh OF
the month our detachment started for
Fort Lincoln. We found the garrison
there very small, all troops that could
be spared having been sent to the
front. We marched to Powder River,
where we met Indians in large num-
bers. Clusters command had left a
lot of corn on the right bank of the
Yellowstone, and when we came up the
redskins were ferrying it across to the
other bank.
1T was my first fight, and how mar
row was my escape that little hole in
the box bears witness.
"A few miles further on we reached
the Indian camp, and there found the
arms of the slaughtered command.
While there | took up a revolver
found in a tent, and put it in my inner
coat pocket, thinking might sometime
need it. Continuing our march, under
the direction of Buffalo Bill, we made
for Glendive Creek, and there went into
winter quarters.
1.-The Indians lowered in large num-
bers about the camp. 1t was the uni
verSal belief among the troops that
going out of the camp on scouting
duty meant death. 1t was by no
means pleasant news TO me to be de-
tailed to carry the mail between Glen
dive and Fort Buford, seventy-five
miles away. was accompanied by a
halt-breed scout. The trip was made
successfully. After we returned to
camp was sent with a detachment of
scouts to the headquarters at Glendive
Greek.
Three DAYS after we arrived Indians
surrounded US. Among the hills were
hundreds of savages in fierce war paint
The commanding officers met in coun-
ell, and about midnight l was ordered
to report. The Colonel said: Il want
you TO take this dispatch to Fort
Buford. Travel as fast as you can, and
deliver this in person to Colonel Hazen;
our ammunition and provisions are
giving out l started. The night was
clear and still. The guard let me out
through the picket line, and, leading
my horse, / stole out into the darkness
revolver in hand.
Il started nv horse on 8 slow trot
and rode at that speed for about twenty
miles until Irode directly into an Indian
camp. The dogs announced my arri-
val, and in a moment more the Indians
were in hot pursuit; but my horse was
one to be relied upon, and / soon left
the most Of my pursuers behind. There
were two young bucks. however, who
kept close after my trail for hours. My
horse was becoming winded and / de-
termined to fight. Drawing my car
bine fired one shot. killing one of nv
pursuers' horses, and | Immediately
followed il with another, which had
some effect, as the Indian gave mp the
chase. AT ten o'clock the next day |
was in Fort Buford, and two hours
later a large body of cavalry, with a
wagon train. started for the besieged
camp. When | started to return the
train was about twenty miles ahead
of me. The wagon train missed
the right trail. / was unable to find
the command, and after hunting sew
eral hours in the rain | determined to
start for the camp on Glendive Creek.
MY horse was in bad condition, and
concluded would camp for an hour
and make little coffee. 1t was now
dark. Picketing my horse, kindled a
fire, and throwing aside all my arms
and taking off my belt L determined at
all hazards TO take a rest
/ was making myself comfortable
when / heard what seemed to be the
bark of prairie wolf. knew what
it meant. There were Indians about,
and the bark was simply signal. 1t
was repeated, and then L noticed two
dusky forms stealing along the ground.
NV loaded rifle was within reach. and
and, picking it up, took a quick aim
and fired. A cry of pain followed, and
without waiting to hear the shouts of
raCe / ran for my horse and mountinr
started at break-neck speed, not for
the fort as / should have done, but in
the opposite direction. / found that