Connecticut western news., 1897-05-27
HE FOUGHT INDIANS.

of my companions back in 1S69f' asked Sergeant Jim Mcdonnell in the central police station one day last week.
 It was raining outside like cloud. burst, and consequently there was goodly crowd of listeners when Ser geant Jim asked tho opening query. Contrary to his usual custom Jim re- mained standing while telling the story, but he did not begin until every one present had several times expressed a desire to hear his experience. After pulling industrionsly on his cigar for few moments, during which time his memory began to react, he began:
 "It was back in the fall of 1869 when l was corporal in the Fifth United States cavalry stationed out in Wyoming territory. The Indians were on the war path and were giving the government no end of trouble, and it was safe only where large squads of armed men were at call. Skirmishes with the wander ing bands of Sioux and Cheyennes were frequent, and we had smelt powder dozen times at the period of which am telling.
 "One day Colonel Crittenton, our commander, received orders to make a foray down around the Republican river in Colorado, and l was picked out as ono Of the squad of 20 troopers who were to go as the advance guard with the sappers and miners. Attached to our command as scouts were Buffalo Bill, otherwise Colonel Cody, and Major Frank North, another famous Indian scout, who still sticks to the old calling and localities. Bill and North were sent out with our squad as scouts. and they did sterling service, too, and but for Buffalo Bills thoughtfulness and knowledge of the red mans methods l might have been six feet under the sod instead of telling this story today.
 "A lieutenant was in command of the squad. n young fellow, fresh from West Point. who knew less about Indian lighting than he did about bicycle rid ing, and there were no bicycles at that : time His name was Valkman, but for all his lack of experience he was bright fellow, with plenty of grit and well liked There was a sergeant, and was the corporal
 
 ing, and everything went easy until we began to reach that part of the country where we knew the Sioux and Cheyeanes were. Then we became cautious Buff falo Bill and Major North rode away at daylight on the scout, and we saw them no more until the hour of danger had arrived. It was the next day about sun down. We were just approaching a stream and loafing along as only old cavalrymen can. The object was to go into camp at the stream where we could get fresh water for our horses and for cooking Before we reached the water, which was a glad sight to the almost parched horses, some of the men spied some moving objects way off in the deep hollow of tho wavy hills 1t was first believed that tho objects were buff falo running but some one called at tention 10 the fact that the objects were moving too fast for buffalo, and it was suggested that they were antelope. While we were looking and speou. lating straining cur eyes to discern the | objects, pair of rapidly riding horse men, over mile of, suddenly camo into view from tho mound of gently sloping hill, and after getting fairly into view began riding in circles ut n furious gallop. Then we knew that the moving objects that VIC had been studying were Indians The two horsemen were Buf. falo Bill and Major North, and the sig nal directed by riding in circle is only too well known to any one who hns spent any part of his life on the plains | By this time we could make out the obs jects. as the sun beat down on them. They were redskins sure enough, and at least 50 of them, while cur command numbered less than 25. They were com ing at furious gait, and each one was bending under his pony to keep out of sight us much as possible.
 Ready ordered the lieutenant March. trot, and then March, gallop, and we were of in the direction of the two scouts, who had ridden to the top of tho hill again and were watching the reds When we arrived near enough, Cody told us that he and his partner had been watching the Indians all day aud keeping them in sight while they remained under cover After consulta- non between the leaders, it was decided 10 let every man go it for himself and give the Indians all they bargained for. This meant that every man was to get his arms in shape and then go Ut them for all he was worth, and never stop | sighting until the reds were licked or had run away. Arms rattled as the men adjusted them aud knives were jerked 10 the front of the belts and with de- termined look on every mans face the command to trot was received
 "The stream in front of us, that di. vided us from the redskins, was ford able at several points, wherever we could find buffalo path l struck out for myself at once and soon found my self separated from the others. wao were scattering. In front of mo was . 1 beaten ford, and l made for it. l was the only ono of the party to cross this particular ford, and l didn't wait to al- low my thirsty animal to drink, but hurried him over and almost before ] knew it was on the land again and go- ing along at gallop. Under ordinary circumstances, when my horse was not tired out, he was us sure footed as cat, but just then he was very uncertain and felt little lump rise in my throat us l saw directly in front of me, less than mile of, little bunch of braves coming for me l never halted, but