Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-05-12
ABSOLUTELY PURE

way Gown INTO cne vaney now 10 try
and overtake the column. We must
remain and do what we can"
But what can We dor asked a cor
poraL.
"Dier' replied the sergeant. That's
what we were sent out here for, any
how. We are twenty-five to hundreds
and thousands. We must kill as many
Of the devils as we can and then lie
down ourselves"
There wasn't a glimmer of hope.
We knew the Afghan. In that long
and bloody campaign neither side both.
cred with prisoners. If we captured
One ten, fifty or a hundred It was puff!
bang! and they were left lying dead
as we marched on. II one Of our men
fell into their hands his head was
Topped of or a spear sent through him
before he could wink twice. They'd
have the life of every man, even if
they yielded up twenty lives for one.
Some would follow on after the col
umn, but hordes would be left behind
TO harass the outposts left along the
line of communication.
1t stood US in hand 70 make good
use of the few hours left 70 us. The
Afghans were elated and excited, and
showed no disposition TO attack that
evening, but we knew the morrow
would open a siege which might last
until there was no longer a man TO de-
fend the fort. As there were five days
rations for 100 men, the twenty-five of
rs had close upon a months provisions
As for water, there was a spring bub-
bling up within the fort and all the
preparations we could make consisted
in strengthening the position. During
the night we built a bomb proof,
hauled in a large supply of firewood,
and not one of us got a wink Of sleep.
Day had scarcely broken when we
found ourselves surrounded by at least
a thousand natives. The first move on
their part was TO demand a surrender.
This was promptly refused, and mus
kerry fire was then opened on the fort.
We made 10 return, but avoided the
portfolios as much as possible, cooked
breakfast, and most Of the men slept
until noon.
l told you our fort was on the crest
of a steep hill. The earth slanted
away from il in all directions for about
forty rods before there was any cover
for an enemy. So far as musketry was
concerned. they might blaze away for
a year and not hurt any one, but we
knew they would soon bring up field
pieces against US. There was only one
spot where they could plant the guns
to get the proper elevation on us, and
that was just opposite the north center
of the fort, on a little plateau forty feet
above the Travelled trail. During the
day we backed this wall with other
blocks of stone, and made it Is secure
as circumstances would permit, and
when night came the enemy had fired
5000 bullets at us without infiicting the
least damage.
We hadn't the lumber 20 build plat
forms around the walls, but we had
sufficient to build three lookout sta
tons at three corners, and there sen
tinels took their stations when darkness
fell. What we feared was a night at
tack with scaling ladders, and that was
exactly what they were planning for.
Instead of taking time to make ladders,
however, they made a rush on us about
l o'clock in the morning with a detail
of men, carrying hong poles TO rest
against the walls. The sentinels gave
us timely notice, and standing on
blocks of stone 50 as to bring US nearer
the enemy as he showed up on top of
the wall, we tumbled him off with bull
and bayonet so rapidly that he drew
in great confusion.
That attack was a good thing for us.
The enemy gave us credit for three
times our actual strength, and there
fore decided to move with more caution
in the future, and it gave us the idea
that our position could be defended
big odds. During the next day
the Afghans kept mp a slow and irregu-
lar fire against us, simply wasting their
lead, and all the men, except those on
necessary duty, were permitted TO sleep.
When night came again we discovered
the cause Of their apathy. We plainly
heard them clearing away the small
trees on the plateau and using the
spade, and knew that they were going
10 plant artillery 10 use against us.
The artillery branch Of the Ameer's
service was very weak, the guns being
Of light caliber and the ammunition
generally poor, but no n could doubt
that If a gun or two was got TO bear on
rs, and the enemy would keep pegging
away, the shot and shell would in time
sfect a breach.
We had above 5000 rounds Of car
as our slaughtered comrades ,
lad left three-quarters Of their store :
behind them, and the sergeant ordered ,
Is TO man the ten portfolios on that !
ide and keep up a steady fire on the !
II vuaa Grinu NJ in =