The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-08-27

L etS1AAAooNu oHA OhSS ASN0SA
them fairly, you forever after have in
them the warmest Of friends, and here
we had ample proof Of this.
No sooner had we dismounted than
two squaws came up with kettle OF
| water and offered US drink, which we
were all in need OF, as the day was very
hot Our horses were unsaddled and
taken outside the camp to Craze. The
two squaws then inquired if we had eaten
dinner. BY this time our appetites were
returning, and we informed them we
were as hungry as bears. They jerked
the hide off quarter of our antelope,
placed it with some buffalo meat of their
own, and boiled it up nicely for US. We
also gave them some coffee to prepare.
While watching the squaws get dinner,
and after exchanging few words, /
recognized them.
neglected to state that in the Spring
the Indians came and went along the
frontier on peaceful eTrands, trading their
furs, robes, etc During one Of these
trading expeditions had given these
two squaws a couple of pans of beans at
the fort which had been left over at
dinner one day, and now they could not
do too much to repay my small kindness
to them.
We learned those Indians were part
of the ones we had fought in the Bad
Lands the Summer before, but the most
of them seemed friendly enough. Occa-
sionally an ugly looking brute would
pass lis and pay no attention to our" how"
One buck who came along stopped, and
began talking about the fight. He
showed us where one Of our bullets went
through his arm, but he did not seem to
hold any resentment toward us for it.
There were several there who would just
as leave have carried our scalps to their
belts as not, although they made no
effort to molest us.
The two friendly squaws prepared an
impromptu shade by erecting buffalo
robe on top of four stakes, and prepared
US dinner, which we greatly relished.
After dinner and good rest the friendly
Indians, perhaps surmising our thoughts,
told us We were at liberty to 60 when we
pleased, at the same time inviting us to
stay in their cemp all night. This we
could not do as long as it was possible to
move. They informed US that there was
another Indian camp on the next stream,
20 miles further up. We would prob.
ably be stopped; but if SO, we we're
Immediately to state that we were carry
ing a dispatch to Gen. Sully, and must
not be delayed.
We then left the friendly camp, where
we had been SO fortunately spared, with
misgivings as to our ultimate success in
getting through. We passed the next
stream, where we expected to
ENCOUNTER MORE INDIANS,
just after dark, but our lucky star was
still in the ascendant, as 10 reds ap-
peared.
We pushed on to Fort Rice without
trouble, reaching there in two and llalf
days. The command was camped on
the east side Of the river, opposite the
fort, having just arrived ON their way
back from the expedition. Our detail
was taken across to the fort on the ferry
boat, with orders to remain two weeks
and rest up. was so near used up that
l could scarcely walk few rods to the
stable.
While the expedition had been north
of Fort Rice, the dispatches had been
carried beyond that point by Indian
scouts, as the ordinary soldier messenger
would have stood little show in getting
through the hordes of Indians who in
tested the country. In week five Fort
Sully boys came up with dispatch, and
in another week 10 more arrived. Five
had started as usual with the last dis
patch, but when about 40 miles out met
Indians, and were compelled to return.
Capt Bronson then placed the dis
patch in the hands of Serg't Jas. Gar
rott, as good man as We had in our
company, gave him nine picked men,
and told him to fight his way through.
They selected 10 good horses, and loaded
themselves with ammunition.
AT about the same point II Indians
appeared in all their paint and aborigi-
nal glory. However, the bluff did not
win as before, and the Indians were
routed. The messengers had no time to
follow them, SO pushed on to the fort.
The next morning, after the arrival of
the last dispatch, % Co. B boys started
back, two of the last detail having to re-
turn with the expedition, as they we're
worn out; but a Captain of Mime
sofa regiment and our regimental sutler
took their places on our return trip.
While We were in what 1 suppose is
now Campbell County, we saw couple
of men on foot approaching us from the
south. Within half mile of us one of
them turned to the west and passed out
of sight over a ridge, the other coming
straight on. We discovered it was one
of the young Indians who had been in
the guardhouse at Fort Sully. The man
who had passed over the ridge was
another, and the third had got out one
dark night in June, and succeeded in