Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-03-03
FIGHTS WITH INDIANS.

Early in 1877 party of seven men left
fankton for the Black hills, having In
charge completete sawmiil outfit. The
mill belonged TO Capt. Jack Branch, and
his party was composed Of Col. John
Lawrence, Bud Taylor, Mayor Evans, Nat
Presho, H. c. Ash and AL Wood. The
party crossed the Missouri river at Yank-
ton and took northwest route through
Cedar and Knox counties. Neb., intend
ing to cross the Niobrara river a little
southeast Of the hills. It was well known
that the Indians were ugly and determined
10 Keep the white man out Of their favor
lite hunting grounds Capt Branch,s
party was well armed, and had made all
necessary preparations to fight their way
through all opposition. No Indians were
seen until the Niobrara river was reached
Taylor and Wood were ordered to 20 up
the river and hunt for a crossing and re-
turn in time for an early dinner.
Col. Lawrence, an old Indian fighter,
cautioned the boys about Indian trickery
and ambush. Half a mile up the river on
the opposite side was observe q bunch
OF willows big enough to conceal several
Indians and their horses. Taylor and
Wood watched the willows cautiously as
they advanced. When nearly opposite
the willow patch they both dropped to the
ground, as the unpleasant ''zip'i OF bullets
told that there was trouble ahead. Lying
hat on the ground, they were fairly pro-
tected, and soon saw the smoke of the
guns curling out Of the willows. They
opened rapid fire and pumped the bull
lets into the brush in manner altogether
too hot for the redskins. In the course
OF half ar hour two mounted Indians and
one on foot were discovered making good
time over hill beyond the willows,
which had concealed their escape till they
were out of range. A ford was found
near by and the boys returned to camp to
report. Their comrades were all ready to
move, having heard their guns. Dinner
over and the oxen were soon moving for
the ford
The passage over the river was made In
safety. After crossing, Col. Lawrence
said: well, boys, we're in for 1t now.
Let every man keep his eyes wide open.
BY making good time we can camp or
some of the numerous branches of the
south fork of the Cheyenne river" Taylor
and Wood made visit to the willow
patch. They found one dead horse and
evidence that one of the Indians had. been
wounded. The oxen were moved as rap
idly as possible, and by shutdown a good
camp was found, as expected. No signs
of Indians, but Col Lawrence was satis-
fled that their every move was being
watched. This gallant little party was
not disturbed during the night, except by
the bowling Of wolves and coyotes. No
trouble was looked for until they got into
the bad lands, some ten miles ahead 1t
was necessary to make a long march to
get through the bad lands before night
again set in
An early start was made and everybody
was fully alive to the situation. The bad
lands were reached before noon. What a
sight it was! The entire country had been
burned up at some remote period, leaving
here and thee Yast piles of shale and
burned clay reseu. bling everything within
the range of imagination, from the ruins
of ancient castles to the majestic pillars
and domes of the :, II n capital. Desc
lation In its mr. Ter ding aspect sur
rounded the bie. ri slt'raent Of civiliza-
ton and its sscort ~ - hurried through
this hell u ancient times. Gen. Sully
chased the Indians through the bad lands
once. He called it "hell with the fires
out" This description is complete.
At noon halt was made to feed the
stock and rest. A good watch was kept,
but no Indians seen. This troubled Col.
Lawrence, as it indicated serious trouble
when it did come. The march was re-
sumed and the bad lands left and hour be-
hind at shutdown. Camp was formed at
the foot OF the hills Of the range that leads
through Buffalo gap, the point by which
the party hoped to get in to the hills. The
party went into camp as usual, but after
darkness had settled on the camp the en-
tire party moved back some sixty rods.
The precaution was timely. Lawrence,
Ash and Presho returned to their first
camp ground and took post for the night.
Rolled up in their blankets they laid down
on the ground to await events, nor did
they have long to wait, for the practiced
eye of Lawrence detected numerous OBJ
jects crawling toward their location.
These objects proved to he hostile Sioux
hunting for the camp as first located.
The Indians got on their feet, and seemed
puzzled by the way they acted. They
could not account for the removal of the
camp. Col. Lawrence decided to surprise
them still more. He told Ash and Presho
to select two of the most prominent marks
to the left, while he would look after the
right. The forms or figures of the In
dams were not very distinct, still he risked
little In the attempt, rs the redskins could
not return the fire. Lawrence and his
companions fired at the signal. Two I'M
earthly yells followed. and all was still
again, but the Indians had vanished in
the darkness Lawrence and his COM
rades held their positions until daylight,
when they discovered two dead Indians,
as they supposed, but closer inspection
found one alive Col. Lawrence, who is
master of the Sioux language, asked the
then nearly dead Indian who they were.
He was barely able to state that he was
Yellow Hair, of Two Kettle band, and the
dead savage was Jumping Thunder, of
the Corn Planting band, Spotted Tails
agency Capt. Branch and party joined
the Lawrence party just as the Indian
finished. Jumping Thunder was shot
through the left breast and Yellow Hair
through the stomach.
Ash scalped the dead Indian and the
other one was left to his fate It was de-
termined to get through Buffalo gap be-
fore shutdown. Capt. Branch and his
men knew that there was work ahead and
realized their danger. Toward the nit
die of the afternoon large number Of
Indians were discovered ON the bluff near
which the trail passed. Fortunately for
the millmen there was timber on only one
side of the trail where Indians could con-
ceal themselves. The boiler of the mill
would furnish ample protection OIL one
side at least. It was determined to push
on and test the temper of the redskins. II
1t was fight, why let 1t come, as come 1t
must sooner or later. An advance was
ordeysd, the men keeping the boiler
between them and the timbered bluffs.
When within long range Of the bluR,
where the Indians had been seen, it was
determined to halt and await the attack.