Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-03-06
THE SCOUT ASDTHEoHEYENNEs
New YOrksun.I

\
may be judged from the fact that n,
less than four attacks in force wer
made by the Cheyennes on the fort dur
ing the summer. The place was
small collection Of huts, with nothinI
whatever In the shape Of fort, and 70
distance of 200 miles the stage station
were wiped out, one after another. anC
the post thus isolated. In MAY, 1867
Whea the campaign opened, there wer,
seven Of u.s. When the first snow cam,
In the fall | was the only one left. Th,
other six bad been wiped out in the line
OF duty. We were not only required
scout the country about Fort Wal
lace, but sometimes to make q ride o.
two hundred miles to other forts OF
posts, and to keep open the line of com,
munication between the temporary
camps. The Indians were making theil
last night, and were never so vigiIaut
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 provisions. Port holes were Iefr
for firing, and four men, ensconced in
one of these pits often proved too manv
for a hundred blood-thirsty redskins.
| had route covering three of these
stations for some weeks, and there was
not an hour in the twenty-four, nor a
mile in the route, which did not have
its own peril.
One afternoon about the Ist of June
about 200 Indians appeared within a
mile of the fort, induIged in extrava-
CANT demonstrations of defiance and
contempt for the few soldiers guarding
the post, and drew off just before dark.
This was before the stage stations were
abandoned, and at dark was posted
Otto warn the first two that the enemy
was out in force. It was a calm. star.
lignt night, with crisp air and a frost.
and a horse and rider could be seen MIS-
toi.shot away. I believed the whole
body of Indians to be between the fort
and the first station, but the onIv nre-
cautions could take was to bear away
ana make quarter circle, hoping to
flank them that way. Six miles from
the fort, as | brought my horse down
to walk on reaching q stretch of brok-
en- ground, rode right in among the
Indians, who were strung out across the
stage route for half a mile on either
side. came upon the line as 1t was de-
6ouching from dry gulch, and so sud-
denly 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 q walk. For long ten min
utes rode within fifteen feet of the
three Indians who were on the RIGHT of
the line, and who had only to tnrn
their heads to discover that I did not
belong to their party. Thew 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 l made detour
and gained the trail ahead of them and
pushed on.
A month later, when passin0 ba-
tween stations, had an escape which
seemed to show the hand of Providence.
The stages bad then ceased running.
but the dugouts were being held by the
employees, and was carrying orders
and extra ammunition. We had seen
no Indians during the afternoon. and
the night came on dark and rainy. I
got away as soon as darkness had come.
and keeping to the left of the trail did
not attempt to go beyond q walk. I
heard the movement of horses in front
OF me, and at once came to o halt. In
ABOUT two minutes was surrounded bv
Indian ponies, which had been turned
out to Craze on the scanty feed, and
some Of which were habbled. Had
1t been a clear night they would have
moved away from me, but the damn
ness ana darkness seemed to have taken
oil the spirit out of them. Iatonce dis
mounted, and had scarcely done so
when the herd wedged me closer. and
heard the voice of an Indian on INV
left call out in Cheyenne dialect:
Are you trying to drive them over
me while catch q little sleep?n
"They move because thew are hum
gry" replied voice right in front of
me.
These were the sentinels of the herd.
The war party were no doubt in the
basin ahead of me and between me and
The station. stood there holding INV
horse for fully ten minutes, and by that
time was quite alone, for the ponies
had no sooner got my scent then thew
oegan TO draw away. passed to the
rlgnt step by step, and almost foot by
foot, and when I had gone half a mile
got into gully and followed it up un-
Oil felt that must be beyond the
party to whom the ponies belonged.
Such proved to be the case, as | reached
the station without further incident. T
found an adobe house and barn and a
dugout. and there were five employees
Of the stage company. Each had a
Spencer carbine and two revolvers.
and the fixed ammunition / had
brought put them in good spirits.
They hoped the Indians would make
IN attack, as everything was now ready
Tor them, and 1t was hardly sunrise
when the hope was gratified. The red
men could approach US within half q
mile under cover of the gullies and
washouts, and after that they showed
themselves. They first tried trickerv.
IS an Indian always does when he fails
10 surprise. A warrior advanced with
white handkerchieftied to a stick and
MS right hand held up. He came bold
y forward within pistol shot, and l
vent out to meet him. He proved to
be sub-chief named Little Feather.
md as We met he extended his hand
md said in very good English:
How, brother, how? Are you well?,,
! am wei, and 80 are all my brothers