Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-07-30
An Indian Camp Surprised.

An Indian Camp Surprised.
On the 25th Of May, 1889, news was
received at Fort Buford, North Da-
kota, where I am stationed, that O.
band of Indians had crossed the
Canadian line and were moving to-
ward the Missouri River, and appar-
emily expecting to cross near the
junction of The two Missouris. At 9
O'Clock that evening our troops were
ordered to hold themselves in read
mess to march at moments notice.
And rations were issued and sad
dies packed, and every man ready to
mount, except saddling his horse, in
a short time. But we were held in
suspense until about 4 o'clock the
next afternoon. Then Capt. Sprole
was ordered to take thirty picked
men and scout the country lying
along the river between our fort and
Berthold Agency. was one of these
men, and we secuted forseveral days,
covering a section OF country 125
mileslongb by fifty wide without seeing
an Indian. Rations were giving out
and one evening we were about to
start from home, when friendly In
dian came into camp, and told us a
band of Indians had crossed the riv-
er about eight miles above. They
had used his boat for crossing and
had left it on the opposite bank, and
he wanted the soldiers to help him
get it back. This they readily
promised to do, not so much, I must
confess, from a desire to see his prop
erty returned to him, as from a hope
that getting the boat might help
them to a chance of getting the In
dams. Scouts were sent out to ascer-
tain the truth of this statement, and
at 10 o'clock one of them returned
with the information that the Indians
were camped near the spot.where they
had left the boat. Soon every man
was in his saddle on his way, going
at a stiff gallop. But after riding
two miles along the open road, we
took to the timber and followed a
narrow, crooked tail for about six
miles more This brought us to the
bank of the river nearly opposite the
Indian camp. A halt was made and
a short consultation held, and it was
decided that one ofour best swimmers
should swim the river, get the boat
and row itaround bend three miles
up, where the rest of the men would
meet him. Everything worked we'll
and all the men, excepting a small
party left behind to guard the horses,
were across the river by half past 2
O'Clock There we're twenty eight of
them and half of them We're ordered to
approach the Indian camp from
oneside and half from the other. The
movement was made in good order
and when within few hundred yards
of the camp the men we're deployed
as skirmishers and silently advanced
until only about hundred yards Sc
parated them from the enemy, and
and at daylight the camp was entire
ly surrounded. much to the surprise
of the Indians, who thought they
were safe when they got across the
river and kept the boat on their side.
They saw at once that they were in a
trap and did not show fight, al
though the chief refused to surrender,
saying that he had lived a long time,
and fought great many battles, and
had never surrendered and never
would. He would not give his arms,
and when told that they would be
taken from him by force, he drew a
long knife and plunging it into his
left~side, fell to the ground. The
others gave up their arms, and we
got them all across the river by 5
o'clock that evening. There were
thirty-three in the band, including
some women and children, and they
had with them thirty ponies. We
had supper as soon as we reached
the place where we had left our horses,
consisting of bacon, bareback and
coffee. And as we had been without
food for twenty-four hours, you may
believe it tasted good. The Indians
had evidently been on short rations,
too, for the way they ate that bacon
raw and swallowed the bareback in
great pieces was a sight to Cor.
Detroit Free Press.