The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-12-30

surprise. Nearly all the Northwestern In
dians were on the warpath at that time,
and were in large bands, as they knew we
were coming.
We had several guides, both white and
Indian. A Sioux by the name of Fool Dog
was our best Indian guide. The Indians
were continually trying to stampede our
horses, and would attack our scouting par
ties whenever opportunity presented.
When we arrived at a creek near Fort
Thompson, party OF officers rode in ad-
vance to look up camping ground, and
while dismounted to get drink, three In
dians in ambush fred and killed one OF the
officers.
The country being very rough, the In
dams ran some distance before we could
surround and kill them, as they would not
surrender. Gen. Sully ordered their heads
cut off and brought to camp. The heads
were put on poles and the poles stuck in
the ground. | think this was done to adj
veItise our business, as it were.
When we arrived near Fort Berthold the
Indian guide, Fool Dog, told Cen Sully he
believed he could guido us to big war
this Chief was Fool Dogs father-in-law.
and Fool Dogs wife had left him. and gone
with her father on the warpath. For re-
venge, and to get his wife, the Indian VOL
unteered to track them
Gen. Sully gave Fool Dog command of
the scouts. We marched east to DEVILS
Lake, then southwark. On the morning of
Sept. 2, the Sd battalion, under Mai. House.
consisting OF Cos. |, c, F and NJ, left the
command After an hours march we saw
wounded buffalo. Our guide kept in
sight ahead of U.S.
AT about noon he stopped on the brow of
a hill, and then started back. He told us
ne had found the war party and there were
over 10 tepeeS or tents, and he thought
there were about 5000 warriors. He was
sure we had not been discovered. and adj
vised the Major to charge.
The Major ordered another guide to 90
back to the command and report to the
General. Our commander ordered us to
dismount, tighten our saddle-girths and ex-
anime our arms.
We were less than 400, and think most
OF the boys felt as if they had found more
Indians than they could use. / had an
idea there would be a massacre if the In
dians only understood the situation.
Inc indian town was i'm a small valley
surrounding small lake of clear water. I
belonged to Co. /, which was i'm front, 7
rode on the right of the first platoon which
was i'll the lead. had splendid view of
the town as we advanced.
When the charge was ordered we were
about mile away. The Indians saw no
coming and ran for their ponies The
ChIef, whom we soon picked out. had a
large American flag draped around his
BODY, ana met us at the edge of the town
we came to halt without a shot being
fired. 1s
We found out afterwards that the far
game was to hold off the fight until thew
could take down their tepees and pacit
them and their goods on their ponies and
dogs, and remove their families from the
field.
Our guides were also our interpreters.
and they held parley. We formed in
noiiow square, as we were surrounded by
the Indians, who were in war paint and
feathers, and seemed anxious to COM
mence the fight They thought they had
a sure thing. But our reinforcements were
coming, and the country being billy they
were close at hand before the Indians saw
them. When they did, confusion resulted
The squaws and papooses ran to get out of
danger. Our battalion was ordered to head
OFT and drive them back to the main bodv
OF Indians. So we rode ahead of the souaws
and children, turned them back. and
formed line on the south.
The balance OF our regiment formed on
the east and north, and the I'd Neb on tho
west. The General believed the Indians
would give up as prisoners of war. and
ordered us to close in on all sides: 10 hold
ourselves ready for battle, but not to fire.
Night was fast coming on-just what the
Indians were awaiting. The sun was
down. They were marching along ahont
20 feet ahead of us. All at once thew
commenced firing. The flash of their guns
and the darkness threw our lines into con-
fusion Tor a few moments. The battle had
commenced and it kept up all night.
After the first fire we were ordered To dis
mount and every fourth man hold horses.
the rest to advance ON the ground. The
Indians would put robes on them and bark
like the dogs they had i'm their village.
then Slip IN and tomahawk our boys, and
scalp our KILLED: but we soon got on to
the game and commenced SHOOTING every
thing that looked or sounded like a dog
The latter part of the NIGHT the firing
nearly ceased. On the morning of the Sd,
Just as soon as we could see, we were ready
for action. Chief Big Head and 200 war
rlors gave themselves no as prisoners: also
the squaws and children There were
about 'en warriors killed according to the
Indians statement | think there were
cpIv RI soldiers fy;IIaJ rrl,o 10 tt,o $500,