Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1888-11-29


-On my way to Bso1 asIlsr S.
kilfsoldisr-run OF - HI much
heap-bsd Indian r.
The Indians quick IA discov-
cred the proximity u foe. and
Lieutenant Crook, cIo nrvey ing
the country, discovsre - the red
scout was pointing dir i a deep
rent. or arrayo thai eu BE huge
furrow into the earl <asyersely
across the rugged plain - y u l ehey
found themselves.
Next he discovered ! Of blu
- smoke arising from lsy. and
I knew that thsy wexs,r zIHfmy.
A consultation vas heIi, A5rk but
conclusive. The Indians Il not in
great numbers, should bd attacked.
If the force was too largl the troop
would draw of to q safe dbtance and
watch their movements.
Two good men were sent lorward to
reconnoiter. They returnd in the
course of an hour and inforhed Crook
that there were but twenty II the Ia,
dians, and that they were onthe war
path. They were eampsd b deep
valley, walled on the side bn which
the soldiers were by q dangfous pre-
cipice. The Nez Perce vert gathered
about fire preparing 9 ms.l of roast
deer, apparently unsuspicbus Of the
nearness of any foe. Tho gulch in
which they had squatted was wild
and dssolate, with a wide steam lnw-
ing southwark beyond their camp;
while both sides was vailed up by
massive rocks and shaggy shrubbery
to the height Of a hutdrsd feet or
more. Along the summit Of this pre-
cipice, on the side the troops were,
was a thick growth of fanderbrush
which entirely concealed the approach
Of the soldisrs. who. at Crooks con-
mand, had dismountsd. and. guns in
hand, cautiously approached the r,cky
escarpmsnt.
They were soon in a position to
command a clear view of the Nez
Perce, gathered on the plateau of the
gulch; some were lettering indolently
mon tha Ground, while q number
squatted about the n.e1n usISreuv az
titudes. They were an ugly looking
gang, and, after a scrutiny, Crook or
dered his men to make ready, then to
fire.
The volley was a deadly one, as the
forms Of several dead Indians attested
but the remainder, with wild yel' 6 ot
dismay, leaped to their feet and scat
tered in all directions, fleeing for their
lives.
Crook, calling to his men, rushed
down the steep embsnkment, followed
by a number of the more courageou,
of his men. Once in the valley he b+
held one big, tufted buck, holding n
bundle over his head, swimming the
river. He ran forward. gained The
shore, and, lifting his carbine. fired
The Indian sank and was seen nc
more. At this juncture a shower o.
arrows from behind the rocks and
trees, where the frightened Nez Perez
had taken shelter, sent Crooks meu
clambering up the sides of the canyon
again faster than they had come down
The General saw that it woul'! b,
fool hardy for him to remain, and hv
turned to retreat, and as he did so h.
heard the twsng af q bow, and th.
next second a barbed arrow wa.
sticking in his hip. With a cry o
pain he pulled the shaft out. i,eAk
ing off the barb, which r r.mained bur
led in the flesh.
Then, amid a very shower Of arrow.
he ran the best be could, ana will
the assistance of one Of his men. who
rushed to his rescue. he gains'l th'
top of the escarpueut without further
injury or accident.
As they gained the canyon top.
they saw the Indians leave t h-i,
places of concealment and cross b.
river, and they felt for the time heins
they were gone.
General Crooks wound was bleed
ing profnsely, and bis men gathsre,
around him and did all they could Il
relieve his pain. The arrow was still
in HE hlp, and, no one dared TO Al:
tempt to cut it out, the wound wa
bandaged as best it could be. and thai
night the troop set ont on their retur,
/ to the fort, as Crook knew it was med
ical aid or death with him.
| They were quite eighty miles frou
Browns Hols-a terrible. long. rougl
ride-but they made it. reaching ther'
the following morning about noon
| The General was faint and weak fro.E