Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-10-10
TURNED ASIDE.
Fleeing Foxes, Rabbits, and Deer Give
Notice of an Ambush.


Notice of an Ambush.
We were going down the peninsula
formed by the junction of the yell
lowstone and Little Missouri rivers,
hoping to intercept the Indians and
turn them back. 1t had been q hard,
swift march, a 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 Little Missouri day or two
ahead Of them. We believed we had
accomplished it. AT 10 o'clock we
were within two miles Of the spot.
Then the head Of the column halted
for the men to close up. Our line
had strung out for mile or more.
Between us and the crossing, as the
halt was made. nature had made a
highway. Itwas a grassy road, about
twenty feet wide, twisting and turn
ing like a creek. Either side was
lined with dense thickets Halt
mile down the highway it was crossed
by creek with steep banks. Half a
mile farther on was second creek.
1t was hardly more than rivulet at
this season, but the width from bank
to bank was forty feet and the banks
were ten feet high. Our guide had
never passed over che route.
No man in the column of 200 men
knew what lay beyond the first turn.
The halt to close up was a precau-
tionary measure, but no one dreamed
of danger. II the hostile Indians
had not turned back or changed their
route they should still be forty or
fifty miles to the south. The stray
Rlers had come up, the sleepy troopers
had braced up under the eyes of their
officers and the bugler was about to
sound the forward when the haIf-breed
guide and scout held up his hand in
warning. A deer came running up
the grassy lane at full speed and was
within ten feet of the colonel's horse
when it wheeled to the right and
vanished into the thicket. Next
came fox, who ran under the feet
of dozen horses before he found
shelter. Then second deer-then
three or four rabbits
"What IS it?" asked the Colonel of
the guide.
"Ambush" was the brief reply.
"Where?"
The guide waved his hand to sig.
nifty that it was down the lane some
where.
'.How do you know"
''See that"
A big gray wolf rounded the turn a
hundred feet away, coming at full
speed. The hair on his back stood
up, his tail almost dragged, and it
was easy to see that he had been dis
turhed and was put out about it.
'1njuns down there!" said the
guide. "We are too late. They have
got here first and we are in am.
bush"
"But what makes you think so?'
persisted the Colonel, who was i'm.
patient to go ahead. and yet too pru.
dent to ncedlessly expose his com.
mand.
"Deer-fox-rabbits - wolf" re.
piled the guide. "All were fright.
ened. All running away from some.
thing. lnjuns down there waiting
for US We 90 some other way"
We turned to the left and flanked
the position. We had made dis.
lance of seven miles when Indians
were seen and skirmishing began, but
they soon retreated southwards, and
as we followed them up they crossed
the Little Missouri. 1t was the
band we had hoped to intercept, but
why did they turn back without a
fight? Everybody was asking the
question when few of US rode off to
inspect the ambush. The death traE
had been set for us between the
creeks The lower end of the avenue
had been blocked with felled trees
and bushes, and trees partly cut down
would have blocked the upper end as
soon as the last horseman had passed.
The road here narrowed TO fifteen
feet. Wherever there was an opening
in the bushes which lined the sides
it had been closed with thorns.
From sunrise that morning the in
dians had been waiting for us. AL
most two hundred warriors were ir
hiding behind the bushes, ready tt
thrust out their rifles and fire at the
signal. Perched in the trees alone
the way were half a hundred boys
armed with bows and arrows. Hid
den away under the banks of the
creeks were hundred more squaws
armed with hatchets, knives, Of
clubs. 1t was not to be battle, but
a massacre. No mercy was to bt
shown-not prisoner taken. Scout!
had observed our approach and re
ported. When the head OF our col
umn had fairly entered the lane the
eager squaws and impulsive boy'
could hardly be controlled. In thei
moving about they frightened thu
wild animals out of their retreats ant
sent US the warning. They did no.
know why we had halted, hesitated
and then took another way. For hal