The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-11-05

feet apart. The horses were carefully
picketed and the usual preparations
made for the night. No extra precau-
tions were taken. although the feeling
was general that the enemy must be
close at hand.
As night drew on Grover, Beecher,
and Col. Forsyth were seen in frequent
conversation. Beecher would from time
to time slowly scan the horizon, follow
ing carefully the line of bluffs marking
the river on the north, while Col. For
syth paced slowly back and forth, hating
occasionally, while his eye swept the sur
rounding country up and down the val
ley, and from the bluffy ridge to the dis
tant foothills on the south.
In selecting guards for the night
John Wilson, one of the bravest men OF
the command, was stationed to the east
Of the camp, near plum thicket, which
terminated a long ravine running down
from the hills, and was regarded as the
spot of greatest danger to the camp.
About an hour after dark, while the
men were seated around in groups, sud
denly there appeared away to the south
east a bright light; it rose above the
foothills, blazed brightly for an instant,
and as quickly died out. Vilott hap
pened to be looking in that direction,
and called out:
Colonel! Look, quick! See that
signal"
All watched intently, but it was not
repeated.
Soon after this there arose in the dis
tance what seemed to be the bowling OF
COYOTES, but which the more experienced
believed to be Indians signaling each
other, as they can initiate very closely
the bowling of this animal; but in a
short time silence settled about the camp,
and all except the guards lay down to
sleep.
A little before daylight the bowling
of the coyotes was again heard, much
nearer than at dark, and from every
direction. Vilott called out to his
mate:
"Green, those are not coyotes they
are Indians"
About this time John Lyden started
a fire, declaring that he was going to
have a cup Of coffee, but as it blazed
up the clamor increased. Someone
yelled,
"PUT OUT THAT FIREi"
and Lyden emptied the contents OF his
coffee pot over the blaze. quickly extin-
gushing it At that instant the rafting
of horses hoofs was heard to the east OF
the camp, followed by the cry of " In
dians Indians! Indians! +" from Wilson,
who, after firing two or three shots at
the enemy, rushed into camp, arousng
every man with the alarm. Obeying
the command of the Colonel, each scout
seized his carbine and ran to his horse
as it was we'll known that the effort OF
the Indians would be to stampede the
horses The attacking party, some seven
or eight in number, came on with loud
| yells until within easy shooting distance
when fire was opened up on them
checking their advance and tumbling
one of their number to the ground, when
they swerved to the right, but succeeded
in approaching near enough to sweep uI
three horses that had not been securely
tied, together with two or three of the
pack mules, with which they dashed out
of sight beyond the bluffs.
In his efforts to thwart the Indians
the Colonel ran in their direction unit
he was more than 90 yards from tht
camp, all the while calling on the mer
to assist in heading off the stampedins
animals, but for the time each scou
seemed intent on saving his own horse
The order was given TO saddle up, as al
, attack from large force was antici
pated.
BY this time it was light enough te
/ distinguish objects quite clearly. Th'
; few Indians who had alarmed the camp
whose only object was to stampede th'
horses, had disappeared to the north
but now above the nearest hills feath
/ cred heads and painted faces suddenl,
appeared Every man now understood
the situation; it was apparent to all
: They were surrounded by the Sioux ant
Cheyennes, and 81 men must content
against hundreds of the enemy, who
: within five minutes, would be down upol
them.
| Grover, in whom all placed such re
/ lance, became restless and anxious; h
| knew they must act quickly. All a
: once, away to the northwest, upon tn
highest bill, appeared solitary Indiar
t "Has be a flag with him." aske
e Grover.
/ Eyes" was the reply.
e "My God! There will be thousan
a Indians down on us in less than fiv
t minutes" was Growers answer. "Co
a onel, what shall We do?"
e Col. Forsyth, after studying the littl
# island opposite the camp for momen
d gave the order to repair 10 it at once, .
it seemed to be the only place oferin
e a refuge at such time.
0 Just as the order was given, up Il
Y river three-fourths of mile away the
It came in sight a long line of mounte
N | xyorr;orc ridinu down of a ,,oIlo,