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

II WAS q wretchcd morning--wct,
dripping, with misty wrcaths hanging
low over every butte aud vrag. For
days We had been marching with
starving horses over rolling prAirics
from which tho indians had burned
every blade of buffalo grass. Not
tont had wO in the entire command;
not change of clothing, and-sincc
We crossed the Little Missouri aud
struck tho head watcrs of Heart River
DOT full stomach.
RatIons were well nigh exhausted.
We were living on "qunrter portions"
of bacon, bareback and sugarless
coffee.
1t was the summer OF tho terrible
Custer Massacre (i870), and night
and day wO woro pursuing the Sioux.
hoping TO overtake and punish them.
But they seem to have scattered over
the face of the earth
Sitting Bull, with great follow
ing, had crossed the Yollowstonc aud
gone north. Crazy Horse, brilliant
aud daring leader, with 4 host of
Ogallallas and BruIcs at his back, was
known to have made for the Businesses
of tho Bad Lands of western Dakota.
Thither General Crook was now
loading us-R column strong in num-
bers, for we had some forty companies
of regulars, as well as Il goodly force
Of scou 3, packers and others.
Our command consisted of the ell
tire third cavalry, most of the fifth, a
battalion-four troops-of tho second
cavalry, and Il detachment of infantry
chosen from three regiments. We
had men enough to overcome all tho
Indians in Dakota; but with starving
horses anG half-starving soldiers little
can be done in the way of aggressive
warfare.
Our rations practically gave out on
tho sixth of September. For several
days wo lived on horse meat. The
choice was between that or our boot,
aud as we had been scouting, tramp
ing and campaigning ever since the
spring, our boots were worn as thin
as our beasts.
About 7 o'clock in The morning of
September ninth the news flew down
the column like flash, "Sioux village
big onc-fifteen miles aheadw
Colonel Mills, then senior captain
serving with tho third cavalry, had
been sent forward BY General Crook
two nights before with orders to push
through 10 the Black Hills with his
command-15 $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 Inc 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. B3ine
adjutant, happened to ride at hea,
of column as we neared the scene, ant
SO obtained capital view and a last
ing impression of the situation.
For tho time being there was luI
in the fight. Forty-one big lodge
woro scattered about tho ravlnes I'M,
deep ampitheatre of the craggy hill,
known as Slim Buttcs. Mills had SCI
tered the Indians just at dawn, ca
tpred herd of four hundred ponid,
found several seventh cavalry hors,,
one of Clusters beautiful silhn
guidons, Captain Myles Keogh's gaut.
lets, and other trophies which prod
that these fellows had been conceled
in the massacre, and that they nst
be part of Crazy Horses big hd.
Therefore their friends could be
far away.
Late that afternoon the whole lrty
came-Crazy Horse with hundrs Of
his warriors-and lively fig we
had with them; but meantim oc-
cured what seems to me pcrha the
bravest thing ever saw in dim
warfare.
clock out for that ravine said
Colonel Mills TO me, as was
riding in among the lodges. 'ierc's
a wounded Indian in there, antc has
killed one of my men,"
Sure enough! Out on tlslopcs
near the deep, brush-hidden tlths of
tho little gorge cavalry sold, Wen
zcl, was toppled forwar'ln his
knees, stone dead, and Sorget Hass
had just got bullet throughc arm.
1t was plain that there muse moro
than ono Indian in there, II two
quick shots suddenly rang aud Il
couple of scouts crossing thewlands