The times., 1897-06-13

drew his body TO lts rull lleiSht anu SHOOK
his clnohed fist defiantly at us. Then,
throwing hack his head and glancing
skyward, he suddenly struck his hand
across his mouth and gave tongue to
war cry that have never heard equalled
in power and Intensity. Scarcely had its
echoes reached the rivers bank when it
was caught up by each and every one of
the charging warriors with an energy that
battles description, and answered back
with blood eIrdling yells of exultation and
prospective vengeance by the women and
children on the rivers bluffs and by the
Indians who lay in ambush around US
On they came at swinging gallop, rend-
ing the air with their wild war whoops,
each individual warrior in all his bravery
of war paint and long, braided scalpGocks
tipped with eagles feathers, and all stark
naked, but for their cartridge belts and
inoccasns Keeping their line almost per
feetly, with a front of about sixty men, all
riding barebacked, with only d loose lariat
about their horses bodies, about a yard
apart, and with depth OF six xorseyenranks,
forming together compacthody OF massive
fighting strength, and of almost resistiess
weight. Boldly they rode and well, with
their horses brides In their left hands.
while with their right they grasped their
rifles mt the guard and held them squareiy
in front of themselves, resting lightly
upon their horses necks.
..Ricing about five PAGES in front Of the
center OF the line and twirling his heavy
Springfield rifle around his head as II 1t
were a wisp OF straw (probably one of
those he had captured at the Fort Fetter-
man maSsacrel, Roman Nose recklessly
.
only be eaualed but not exceled, while
their medicine man, an equally brave but
cider chief rode slightly in advance Of the
left OF the charging column. To say that
| was surprised at this splendid exhibition
Of pluck and discipline is TO put IL mildly
and to say, further, that for an instant
or two | was fairly lost in admiration or
the glorious charge, rs simply to state the
truth, for it was far and away beyond any
thing had heard Of, read about, or even
imagined regarding Indian warfare
"A quick backward glance at my men was
most reassuring. Each scout had turned his
rifle pit toward the direction from which
the charge was coming; crouching low and
leaning forward, wIththeir knees well under
then, their rifles grasped with grip OF
steel in their brown, sInewy hands, their
chests heaving With excitement their
teeth set hard, their nostris aquiver, their
bronzed countenances fairly aflame, and
their eyes flashing fire, they grimly lay
waiting the word OF command, as brave
and gallant little company OF men as
ever yet upheld the reputation OF Anglo
Saxoucourage Nosoonerwerethech charging
warriors fairly under way than a whitening
fire was ssuddenlypoured in upon us by those
of the Indians w no lay In ambush a arouDdus
intently watching every movement, in the
vain hope that they might sufficiently
cow US TO protect their charging column
against our rifles
II had expected this action, but well
knew thatoncc their horsemen came within
q certain radius their fire must cease For
eight or ten seconds il seemed TO rain bull
lets, and then came sudden lUll Sitting
upright in IN pit as wellas was able, and
leaning backward IN nay elbows, / shouted,
.Now!' and 'Now,' was echoed by Beeeher,
Mccall and Grover. Instantly the scouts
were on their knees, with their rifles attheir
shoulders A quick flash of their eyes along
the barrels. an1 forty good menand true sent
the first of seven successive voIleys into
the ranks of the charging warriors
sCraSh!
''on they come, answering back the first
volley with a ringing wherwhoop.
Crash!
And no begin to see falling warriors
aye, and horses, too; but stillthey sweep for
ward with yet wilder yells.
"Crashl
They seeyr to be fairly falling over each
other; both men and horses are down in
heaps, and wild shrieks from the women and
children on the hillsproclaim that they, too,
see the slaughter OF their braves; but still
they come.
''Crashl
They have ceased to yell, but yet come
bravely on. What? No! Yes, down goes
their medicine man, but Roman Nose still
re, klessly leads the column; but now can
see great gaps in their ranks. showing that
our bullets have told heavily among them.
Crash.
'.Can / believe my eyes? Roman Nose is
down, He and his horse lie dead together on
the sand, and for an instant the column
shakes but hundred yards more, and they
are upon MS
crash
They stagger! They draw reni They
hesitdte, They are breakingi
CRASH!
.'Aud like an angry wave that hurls itself
upon mighty rock and breaks upon It's
rugged front, the Indians divide each side
of theIittle breast W ork. throw the mselves al
most beneath the off side of their chargers,
and, with hoarse cries Of rage and anguish,
break for either bank of the river and scat
ter wildly in every direction as the scouts,
sprnging to their feet with ringing cheer,
pour III yolley after volley from their re-
voIvers almost in the very faces of their
now demoralized and retreating foe.
"'Down, men, Liedownl' fairly shrieked.
Get down. down for your iives, cries
Mccall A nd the men, hurting bitter taunts
and imprecations after the retreating saw
ages, throw themselves, painting, flat on
their faces inside Of their rifle pits just
in time to escape a scorching volley from
the Incians still lying in ambush around
US, who nave been anxiously watching the
charge and, naturally enough, are wildly
enraged at its failure
Twice again did they essay charges
against my command, and then gave up the
Contest in despair. after a loss of seventy
five killed and heaps wounded, as one
cf their chiefs afterward told me Our
own loss was twenty-four out OF ffty-one
killed ard wounded including among the
killed my second in command, Lieut. Fred
II Beecher. and my surgeon DR.. Mooers.
1t is tire descendants of these Cheyennes
who are now reported as restless and
eager To 20 on the warpa tn. Their record
as fighters is superb. In the campaigns in
1868, and again with Sitting Bull in s76,
they bore a prominent part. In August,
1877, they We're sent to Indian Territory,
thar