Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-11-05

They were stationed tnefe 10 pro
tect the workmen. They heard the
firing, and came forward to give
my pursuerS a warm reception
The Indians had the tables turned
and beat a hasty retreat. Jumped
OIL my faithful horse and told the
soldiers of his wonderful feat. He
was quite a hero from that date
The cavalry gave chase to the In
dians, and | soon joined them with
a fresh horse, la a distance OF
eight miles we overlook and killed
eight of them. The rest escaped.
When we got back to camp Brig
ham was quietly grazing, and look
ed at me as if to ask if we had made
any happy dead Indians. | really
think that horse read in my eyes
the answer,
BIG Fight FOR LIFE.
During these same buffalo hunts
| got into a tighter place than
being chased on a tired horse. The
road had been pushed near to
Saline River. l had a man, 'ScOtty,'
to 90 along in a light wagon to cut
up the buffalo meat and haul it to
camp. ScOtty was a courageous
little fellow, and a good shot. One
day had killed fifteen buffaloes,
and we had started for home with
wagon.lOad of fine meat. We
were eight miles from camp when
we suddenly came upon party OF
thirty Indians, who rode out OF the
head of a ravine. 1t happened
this day that | was on an excellent
horse that belonged to the railroad
company, and could easily have
made my escape. But | had no
idea of deserting Scotty, who was
driving a pair of mules to the
wagon. OF course ScOtty and | had
often planned how we would defend
ourselves if suddenly attacked by
Indians. In a few minutes we I'M.
hitched the mules and tied them
and my horse to the rear OF the
wagon. We then threw the large
buffalo hams on the ground and
built a breastwork around the
wheels. We had an extra box of
ammunition and four extra revOlv-
ers, the emergency battery we were
forced always to cary along. Be
hind our hastily-built breastwOrks
we were prepared to give a warm
reception. We didn't have long to
wait. They rushed at us with all
the noise and yelling enthusiasm OF
which the red man is capable. We
opened such a lively fire that they
stopped a direct attack and began
TO circle around us. Then, of q
sudden, they made a concentrated
attack. IL was no more successful
than the first, but they killed both
of the mules and the horse. They
charged back and forth several
times, and ScOtty and | killed three
within a few yards Of our breast
works. 1t was a scOrching hot
place for a time. The braves dead
and others wounded dispirited the
Indians as to direct attacks, and
they adopted other tactics. They
got off at some distance behind
little knobs and tried longrange
warfare. We were besleged, and
our only chance for escape was q
rescue from the railroad camp,
where troops were stationed. We
had been expecting, sooner or
later, to be caught up by Indians
in such manner while buffalo
hunting. ! had all understanding
with the officer who commanded
troops that whenever their pickets
saw a smoke in the direction of our
hunting ground they were to know
we were attacked by Indians
Scotty and | kept very close to our
breastwOrk, subject to a raklng fire
from the little army around us.
We held a council of war and con-
cluded we could not fight our way
out, but must get relief. Scotty
kept up a diversion by concentrat-
Ing his fire in a certai" locality. In
few minutes | struck a match,
and quicker than / can tell You
reached over and set the grass on
FIRE to the leeward Of our fort. The
red warriors began war dance at
what they considered a race of
folly. None of them suspected
that had given signal for aid.
While the thick volume of smoke
rolled upward and the flames spread
rapidly over the prairie, the Indians
made another dash, but were re-
pulsed. Ii began to look as if we
were cut off, and would have to
fight these for hours. ScOtty was
plucky, and we resolved to end our
existence in making a gallant
fight, rescue or no rescue
In an hour or so after the
prairie was fired | heard the neigh
ing of steeds, and soon saw a com
pany of soldiers riding rapidly
toward us. The Indians saw them
too, and began a hasty retreat
down the canons of the creek. We
shouted to the advancing troops
that we we're alive, but our mules
and horses we're dead. Five dead
Indians were discovered on the
battlefield around our little breast
work. ScOtty and | didn't do sucl