Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1891-08-15
It was nearly 3 o'clock whe,

had Teen smarming about tt
Y agency like SO many bees around
] hive. Each one was armed with
Winchester, and had ON his pere
no less than 100 rounds of ammu
milton. The widest excitemen
had prevailed all day, so that whe
we left the agency at that late hou
en- route to Rushville you can be
lleve we were on the alert.
From Pine Ridge the road lee
over plain for nearly five miles
Then began the range of mountains
known as Pine Ridge. Tie major
and | had spurred our horses for g
couple Of miles out of the agency
then drew up into a walk. We
were following q circuitoua road
that led over these Pine Ridge
mountains, when suddenly from
behind the rocks ahead there con-
fronted us two Bruln Sioux, with
Winchesters ready for action.
Major Bates instantly uttered an
alarm. This caused one of the
enemy to skulk behind the other,
both with Winchesters lcyclcd up
on us.
| was fairly panicstricken my
self, and scarcely knew what I was
doing, but Major Bates, with his
cool headedness, drew his Winches-
ter to his shoulder and fired. The
report echoed up and down the val
ley, and when the smoke cleared
away, there were two forms mo-
tlonless upon the brow of the little
hill ahead. My horse, frightened
at the report Of the gun, was strugg-
ling IN frightful manner, and it
was all | could do to restain him.
when I got him quilted, I |
rode to Major Bates side. He was
pale as a sheet of paper, yet firm
and composed as a soldier should t
be. His first remark was, Oh, God,
this is awful!
The single shot from his Winchs-
.er had killed them both. They
Tell upon their faces, their hands
lightly clenched about the weapons
hey bore. We looked for others,
'ut none were in sight. Then I
ode within a few feet of the bodies
md picked up war club. Their
blankets and ghost shirts were
warming with vernin or | would
lave taken them along. The ma
or divested one of the dead Indians
# his war bonnet, placed his scalp
ng knife in his belt and remounted.
AS II by some strange fascina- f.
ion | fingered on the spot for a few
noments. Those bronze forms, mo-
ionless: lay with faces to the earth. {
human life had perished there.
he cold snow covered hill, res
'lendent with their wintry beauty.
rought naught hut chill to the
oul Two forms, clad in their red
lankets, lay silent in death.
hey ment harm to US who would
lot have harmed them. The
ilnter's sun was fading beyond the {
hill blue hills.
| rode from the spot and Joined |
he major OH the crest of the hill.
lis voice was husky in tone when /
e said. Let US get away from t
ere. The road led over noun 6
ainous country for the next seven /
1iles, then we came to the out s
osts of the Nebraska militia at
archow's ranch, where, after ad- 7
Mission within the picket lines, we
Jet General I. w. Colby. Colonel y
?. Bratt, of the first regiment. {
nd Colonel J. C. Bills, Of the d
econd, Ma. Bates here, true {
} his so}dierly qualities, told of J
ne fate of the two Brules. Gen |
raj Colby's face wore a vexed look a
hen the affair was encounterd.
Ie seemed to think we should c
ave waited until they fired upon''us. q
deserving this, the major answered /
have done so, and this is my f
xplanation. t
| wish the affair was ehaced from q
continued Col. McRey- Y
lolds. The picture of those In e
lans lying there SO still, the snow $
overed hills Of the hour, will long /
well in my memory and I know y
aat with all justfable action of fs
Ia jor Bates it must forever re- +