Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1893-06-09
The Brayest Deed | Ever Saw
By CAPTAIN CHARLES KING, U. q. A.

1t was q wrc,chcd morning--wct,
dripping, with misty wrcaths hanging
low ovcr overy butte aud crag. For
days We had been marching with
starving horses over rolling prairies
from which the Indians had burned
every blsdc of buffalo grass. Not a
tont had We In the entire command; !;
not a change of clothing, and-sincc
We crossed the Little Missouri aud
struck the head watcrs of Heart River
not full stomach.
Rations we're we'll nigh exhausted.
We we're living on ''quarter portions
of bacon, hard,aok and sugarless
coffee.
Ii was the summer of tho terrible
Custer Massacre (l876), and night
and day wo wcrc pursuing tho Sioux.
hoping to overtake and punish them.
But they seem to have scattered over
the face of the earth.
Sitting Bull, with a great follow
ing, had crossed the Yellowstone aud
gone north. Crazy Horse, brilliant
and daring leader, with host of
Ogallallas aud Brulcs at his back, was
known to have made for the businesses
of the Bad Lands of western Dakota.
Thlther General Crook was now
loading us-a column strong in mum
bers for we had soino forty companies
Of regulars, as well as a gootlly force
Of scou 8, packers and others.
Our command consisted of the ell
tire third cavalry, most of tho -tifsh,- "a
battalion--four troops-of tho second
cavalry, and detachment of infantry
chosen from three regiments. We
had men enough to overcome all the
Indians in Dakota; but with starving
horses anc half-starving soldiers little
can be donc in the way of aggressive
warfare.
Our rations practically gave out on
tho sixth Of September. For several
days wo lived on horse meat. Tho
choice was botwcon that or our boot,
and as we had been scouting, tramp
ing and campaigning ever since the
sprIng, our boots were worn as thin
rs our beasts.
About o'clock in the morning of
September ninth the news flew down
the column like fash, "Sioux village
big onc-fftcen miles ahcad!"
Colonel Mills, then IL senior captain
serving with tho third cavalry, had
been sent forward by General Crook
two nights before with orders to push
through TO the Black Hills with hi,
command $50 picked horses and men
and pack train--load up with all the
provisions he could buy, and hasten
back to meet us. This very morning
at day break lie had dashed into the
village which his scouts "located"
during tho night, and was now
changing on" to his prize until we
could reach him.
Well, we got there pushing ahead
throug mud, mist and rain. Bsing
adjutant, l happened to ride at head
of column as we nearcd the sccne, and
so obtained capital view and last
ing impression of the situation.
For tho time being there was lull
in the fight. Forty-one big lodges
werc scattered about tho ravines in n
deep ampitheatre of the craggy hill.
known as Slim Buttcs. Mills had scat
tered the Indians just at dawn, cap
ipred herd of four hundred ponies,
found several seventh cavalry horses,
one of Custei's beautiful silken
guidons, Captain Myles Keogh's gaunt-
let's, and other trophies which proved
that these fellows had been concerned
in the massacre, and that they must
be part of Crazy Horses big band.
Therefore their friends could not be
far away.
Late that afternoon the whole party
came-Crazy Horse with hundreds OF
his warriors-and lively fight we
had with them; but meantime oc-
currcd what seems to me perhaps the
bravest Thing ever saw in Indian
warfare.
sLook out for that ravinel" said
Colonel Mills TO me, as | was
riding in among the lodges "'Iherc's
wounded Indian in there, and he has
killed one of my men,"
Sure enough! Ont on the slopes
noar tho deep, brush-hidden depths of
the little gorge a cavalry soldier, Wen
zcl, was topplcd forward ON his
knees, stone dead, and Sergeant Hass
had just got bullot through tho arm.
1t was plain that there must be more
than ono Indian in there, for two
quick shots suddenly rang out, and Il
couple of scouts crossing the lowlands