The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-11-21
AN INDIAN AMBUSH.
FRIGHTENED WILD ANIMALS PREVENT
A HORRIBLE MASSACRE.

Of the Struggles with Indians In the
Northwest-The sarewd Discernment of
a Half Breed Guide Saved 600 Lives.
We were goins down the peninsula
formed by the sanction of the Yellow
stone and Little Missouri rivers, hoping
to intercept the Indians and turn them
back. 1t had been a hard, swift march,
q ride of over 400 miles-with no halt
above four hours. and at 10 o'clock in the
forenoon half the troops Were sleeping in
their saddles as their lean and lame
horses picked their way over the rough
ground.
We had planned to reach the spot where
the fleeing Indians would cross the Lit
tie Missouri a day or two ahead of them.
We believed we mad accomplished it.
AT 10 o'clock we were within WI miles
of the spot. Then the head of the col
umn halted for the men to close up. our
line had strung ont for Il mile or more.
Between US and the crossing, as the halt
was made. nature had made a highway.
1t was a grassy road about 90 feet wide,
twisting and turning like a creek. Either
side was lined with dense thickets. Half
a mile down the highway it was crossed
by a creek With steep banks. Half a
mile farther on Was Il second creek. 1t
was hardly more than a rivulet at this
season, but the width from bank TO bank
was 40 feet, and the banks We're 10 feet
high. Our guide had never passed over
the route.
No man in the column of 200 men
knew what lay beyond the first turn.
The halt to close up was a precautionary
measure, but no enc dreamed of danger.
Ii the hostile Indians had not turned
back or changed their route, they should
be 40 or 80 miles to the south. The
~stragglers had come up, the sleepy troop
ers had braced up under the eyes of their
officers, and the bugler was about to
sound the forward when the nalf breed
guide and scout held up his hand in
warning. \ deer came running up the
grassy lane at full speed and was within
two feet OF the c~olonel's horse when it
wheeled to the right and vanished into
the thicket. Next came a fox, who ran
under the feet of a dozen horses before
he found shelter. Then a second deer.
then three or four rabbits.
What is it, asks the colonel of the
guide.
Ambush" was the reply.
"Where?"
The guide waved his hand to signify
that it was down the lane somewhere.
How do you know }
See that
A big gray wolf rounded the turn 100
feet away, coming at full speed. The
hair on his back stood up, his tail almost
dragged, and it wa easy to see that he
had been disturbed and was put out
sboQt it.
"Injuns down there!' said the guide.
I'VE are too late! They have got here
first, and we are in ambush"
But what makes you think soy' per-
sisted the colonel, who was impatient to
ahead and yet too prudent to need
lessly expose his command.
Observation-Disclosures" replied the
.All were frightened. All run
ming away from something. Injuns
down there waiting for us. We go some
other way"
We turned to the left and fanked the
position. We had made a distance of
miles when Indians were seer, and
diminishing began. but they soon re-
treated southwark. and as VT followed
them up they crossed the Little Missouri.
Il was the band we had nored to inter
cept, but why did they II back with
ont . fight Everybody Wits asking the
question when Il few Of rs rode oil to III
spect the ambush. Tie deat4t=-p lad
been set for US between .as creeks. L4e
lower end of thrarengea La pe=u tiDck
with fe,led trees and ~tetsass, AMI tics
partly cut down would haT" ~bieckadsd
the upper end as soon as the iast horse
man had passed. The road here mar
rowed to Is feet. Wherever here was ~
opening in the bushes which lined the
sides il had been CLOSED with thorns.
From sunrise n "a morning tine Indians
had been waiting for Us, Almost 40