Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1888-01-05

much to repay nv small kindness to them.
We learned those Indians were part Of
the ones We had fought in tho bad lands
the summer before. but the most Of them
seemed friendly enough. Occasionally an
ugly looking brute woaid pass rs and pay
no attention to our how" Que buck
who came along stopped and began talk
ing about the fight. He showed US where
one Of our bullets went through his arm,
but he did not seem TO hold any resent
ment toward us forit. There were several
there who would just as leave carried our
scalps to their belts as not. although they
made no effort to modest us. Tho two
friendly squaws prepared an impromptu
shade by erecting buffalo robe on top
of four stakes and served us dinner
which was greatly relished, even though
under such peculiar circumstances. After
dinner and good rest the friendly In
dams perhaps surmising our thoughts,
told us we were at liberty to go when We
pleased, at tie same time inviting us to
stay in their camp all night. Thiswe could
not do as long as it was possible to move.
They informed us there was another In
dian camp on the next stream twenty
miles further up who were ugly. and
would probably stop us. But If they did
10 Immediately state to them that we were
carrying dispatch to Gen. Sully, and
must not be delayed. We left the frienGly
camp where we had been so fortunately
spared with misgivings as to our ultimate
success in getting through. We passed the
next stream where we expected to encount-
or more Indians, just after dark, but Our
lucky star was still in the ascendant, az no
reds appeared. We pushed on to Ft. Rice
without further trouble reaching there in
two and one half days. Tue command was
camped on the east side CT The river, op-
posite the Fl. having just arrived on the
way back from the expedition. Our de-
tail was taken across to the fort on the
ferry boat, with orders to remain two
weeks and rest up. i was so near used up
that could scarcely walk a few rods To
the stable While the expedition had
been north of TT. Rice the dispatches had
been carried beyond that point by Indian
scouts, as the ordinary soldier messenger
would have stood little show in getting
safely through the hordes Of Indians
who infested the country. In week
five Fl. Sully boys came mp with a dis
patch. and in another week ten more ar
rived. Five had started, as usual, with
the last dispatch. but when about forty
miles out met eleven Indians and were
compelled to return. Capt. Bronson then
placed the dispatch in the hands Of Ser
geant Jas CARROT, as good o man as we
had IN our company. gave him nine
picked men and told him to fight his way
through. Thew selected ten good horses
and loaded themselves with ammunition.
At about the same point the eleven In
iginal glory. However this bluff did not
win as before, and the Indians were routed
The messengers lad no time to follow
them 30 pushed on to the fort. The next
mefuiub hitti thc Vi tue inst uC-
spatch twenty-five Co 3 boys started back,
two of the last detail having to return with
the expedition as they were worn out.
But Captain Of a Mime esota regiment
and our regimental su.ler took their places.
on our return trip While we were In what
/ suppose is now Campbell County, we
saw couple Of men on foot approaching
Ms from the south. When within a half
mile Of US oae OF them turned to the west
and passed out Of sight over ridge, the
other coming straight for us. We dis
covered il was one Of the young Indians
who had been in the guard house at Fl.
Sully. The man who had passed over the
ridge was another, and the third had got
out one dark night in June and had sue
ceeded in making his escape. The young
brave said himself and companion had
escaped from the gaurd house few nights
before and were returning to their people.
We boys wanted to let them 60 but the
Captain said we must AXE him with US.
We fooled along with him for few miles
when he laid down and said he could walk
no further. One Of the boys gave the In
dian his horse to nde. Privase Moan was
the only one who remained with the In
dian. the rest moving on. The willy red
rooled around as long as he co.lld, in get
ting whip and mounting. until we had
got quite distance ahead. Suddenly he
turned tail and laid whip to the horse,
flying across the prairie with fair pros
peot Of escape. However his hopes were
nipped In the bud, for Moan drew bead
on him and shot him dead on the fly. As
we had nothing but case knives to dig
grave with, his carcass was left on the
prairie, as food for the coyote. We
reached Suly at daylight, two days AM
three nights ont. Eight boys and as many
horses had made the four hundred miles
in less than six days. BuI the horses
were 50 near worn out that one Of taem
died two miles above the fort and the men
were about as badly used up. IT. sully
at that time vas about twonty- five miles
further down the river than II is now.
The Indian camp where we had peen
taken prisoners was almost the exact spot
where Capt Fieiner. our Typographical
engineer had been killed the summer be-
FIRE. The sth Iowa cavalry returned to
Davenport, Iowa, where We were ais
charged and paid Of on Nov LIST 1865. and
It rs safe to say the majority Of us had in
that expedition all the experiences We cared
for in fighting Indians.
FRANK NYERs
Co. B 9Th Is. Cav