The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-31

with campaign clothing, everything you
need"
Then certainly shall co." said Orms-
by It'll be something to tell about in
/ Company for the next ten years"
And that was how it happened that
five days later, in binding snowstorm.
there rode with the advance of the
Twelfth Cavalry a sergeant of the ia
nous New York Seventh at the very
moment when the word came from the
scouts that XIII Eagles village was not
two miles ahead.
Left to his own devices in the matter
of carrying out his orders. Farrar had
made a close and careful calculation
With the Laramie road out of sight in
snow it might take three days of hard
marching to reach the ford, with the
prospect then of finding themselves al
most as far from the Indians as before.
for the fOrdS lay some forty miles off to
the southeast, while, when last heard
from, Kill Eagle was striking across
country south of the Cheyenne between
the upper Niobrara and the Mini Pusa.
In the deep valleys were scattered
ranches and countless herds of horned
cattle, SO he was living high on the
country as he fed, his rear well guarded
by three score young braves, who how
cred just ahead of the pursuing column,
pepperi1g it's advance guard with long
range shots from every ridge, and SO
retarding its movement as to enable
their old war chief to move his whole
village, teepees lodge poles, women and
children, pony herd, dog herd and all,
east Farrar would have taken the
flooded Platte alongside on his left
hand, only to have to turn an acute
angle to the north again, march them
over rough and broken country. with
old Rawhide Butte, perhaps, his
guide, with every probability of finding
himself far behind the chase after reach
ing the broad, deep-lying valley of the
NiObrara. Wiser by far he sent back
brief word by courier to Laramie, or
dering it forwarded by wire from that
point.
1--WE go westward up tho Platte, con-
fident of lower water and a crossing this
side of the big bend. Thence we will
swing around northeastward, and. COW
ering a broad stretch of country, keep
sharp lookout for Kill Eagles band.
We should meet him somewhere among
the breaks of the Mini Pusa southeast
of old Cantonment Reno, and. unless
they will surrender, l shall strike at
once and strike hard
And here among the breaks of the
Mini Pusa, after four days of severe
winter marching, Farrar had thrown his
little command, just as he had planned.
square across the path of the foe. Dire
full were the tales that had reached him
from ranchmen and settlers, who hav-
ing abandoned their homes, were fleeing
for the protection of the frontier forts
Tar back at the base or the Big Horn.
Day after day had the young warriors
swooped from the travelling village down
upon the valleys on either side, murder
ing men, women and little children,
burning the ranches, driving off such
cattle as they fancied and ruthlessly
butchering all the rest. And still, one
or two days march behind, the pursuing
column plunged heavily through the
snow. Farrar was an expert, however,
and had shrewdly judged their route.
Farrar was merciful, and even in face
of the atrocities that had been COM
mitted and under the warrant of his
orders and in the belief that the band
was few in numbers he would not strike
when the blow might fall on women and
children. too, until he had given the red
chief chance of surrender
He had been marching since dawn.
and 1t was now IL o'clock. An hour
earlier, far at the front along a low.
snow-coyered ridge chat stood out sharp
~ against the black bank OF cloud that
spread from horizon almost to zenith
the scouts began that fierce. sudden
circing of their ponies that denoted
enemy in sight" With their field
glasses the officers at the head of the
column could see that one of the num-
crest, peering cautiously over and signal
well behind him down the slope. They.
in turn, were signaling TO the column,
and. leaving Leale In command. with
orders TO move steadily on, the Colonel
put spurs 10 his horse--old Roderick--