Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-03-20
A SCOUTS ADVENTURE
In the Days When the Cheyenne
Indians We're Oh the
War-path.

Providential Escapes and Bloody Bat
ties Between the Red Men and
Government Employees.
The position of Government scout and
post rider at Fort Wallace in 1867 may be
judged from the fact that no less than
four attacks in force were made by the
Cheyennes on that fort during the summer
The place was small collection of huts.
with nothing whatever in the shape of a
fort, and for distance of 200 miles the
stage stations were wiped out, one after
another, and the post thus isolated. In
May, 1877, when the campaign opened,
there were seven Of US. When the first
snow came in the fall was the only one
left. The other sixshad been wiped out
in the line of duty. We were not only re-
quired to scout the country about Fort
Wallace, but sometimes to make ride of
200 miles to other forts or posts, and to
keep open the line of communication be-
tween the temporary camps. The Indians
were making their last fight, and they
were never so vigilant, cruel and cunning
When the first attempt was made to re-
establish the stage route a small body of
soldiers was left at each station. Each
station was provided with dug-out,
which was an excavation or pit rooted
over and provided with water and
portfolios were left for firing, and four
men, ensconced in one of these pits, often
proved too many for 100 bioodthirsty red
skins | had route covering three of
these stations for some weeks, and there
was not an hour in the twenty-four, nor a
mile of the route, which did not have its
own peril
One afternoon about the 1st of June,
about 200 Indians appeared within mile
Of the fort INDUCED in extravagant dem
strations of defiance and contempt for the
few soldiers guarding the post, and drew
off just before dark This was before the
stage stations had been abandoned, and at
dark | was posted off to warn the first two
that the enemy was out in force. It was a
calm, starlight night, with crisp air and
horse and rider could be seen pistol
shot away. | believed the whole body of
Indians to be between the fort and the
first station, but the only precautions |
could take was to bear away and make a
quarter circle, hoping to flank them that
way. Six miles from the fort, as | brought
my horse down to walk on reaching a
stretch of broken ground, | rode
RIGHT IN AMONG THE INDIANS,
who had strung out across the stage route
for half a mile on either side. | came up
on the line as it was debouching from a
dry gulch, and so suddenly that | saw the
horses close ahead of me before | caught
the slightest sound of their near presence
Owing to the nature of the ground the line
was very irregular, and all the ponies
were on walk For long ten minutes
[ rode within fifteen feet of three Indians
who were on the right of the line, and who
had only to turn their heads to discover
that did not belong to the party. They
were smoking and talking and gave me no
attention. When we came to the foot of
rise | checked my horse and let them
pass on out of sight, and then, bearing off
to the right, made detour and gained
the trail ahead of them and pushed on.
A month later, when passing between
stations, | had an escape which seemed to
show the hand of Providence. The stages
had then ceased running, but the dugouts
were being held by the employees, and |
was carrying orders and extra ammuni-
ton. We had seen no Indians during the
afternoon, and the night came on dark and
rainy. | got away as soon as darkness
had come, and keeping to the left of the
trail did uot attempt to go beyond walk.
| had covered about half the distance when
| heard the movement of horses in front of
me, and at once came to halt. In about
two minutes | was surrounded by Indian
ponies, which had been turned out to
Craze on the scanty feed, and some of
which were hobbled. Had it been clear
night they would have moved away from
nae, but the dampness and darkness SEEM
ed to take the spirit out of them. | at
once dismounted, and had scarcely done SO
when the herd wedged me closer, and |
heard the voice of an Indian on my left call
out in the Cheyenne dialect:
Are you trying to drive them over
me while | catch little sleep?'
"They move because they are hungry!'
replied voice right in front of me.
They ere the sentinels of the herd.
The war party were no doubt in the basin
ahead of me and between me and the sta
ton l stood there holding my horse for
fully ten minutes, and by that time | was
quite alone, for the ponies had no sooner
got my scent than they began to draw
away passed to the right step BY step,
and almost foot by foot, and when l had
gone half a mile got into gully and fol-
lowed it up until felt that l must be be-
yond the party to whom the ponies belong
ed. Such proved to be the case, as
reached the station without further Incl
dent | found an adobe house and barn
and dugout. and there were five employees
of the stage company Each hau Spen.
Ger carbine and two revolvers, and fixed
ammunition I had brought up the men in
good spirits. They hoped the Indians
would make an attack, as everything was
now ready for them, and it was hardly
sunrise for them when the hope was graft
fed The red men could approach us
within half mile under cover of the gull
lies and washouts, and after that they
showed themselves.
THEY FIRST TRIED TRICKERY
as an Indian always does when he fails to
surprise. A warrior advanced with a
white handkerchief tied in a stick and his
right arm held up. He came boldly for
ward within pistol shot, and l went out
to meet him. He proved to be sub-chief
named Little Feather, and as we met he
extended his hand and said in very good
English:
'sHow, brother, how? Are you well?"
Il am well, and so are all my brothers
bocly 4boro - T ror,lio6 ,,oiotipr to tho