Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-02-27
CHAPTER Xxx.

watched the conflict from the stockade
never to be recalled by those who went
forth to fight. Broad daylight had
come and the sun was peeping over the
far horizon as strong arms bore the
unconscious officer within the post,
and the commander eagerly questioned
the men who came with him. Their
story was quickly told. They had fed
before overpowering numbers of the
Sioux the night before, had made their
way through the timber in the dark
ness and come ahead all night, CROP
ing their way from ridge to ridge until
at the peep of day they found them
selves in sight of familiar landmarks,
and could see the CLEAN of the waters
of the Fork dancing away under the
dawn. And then, as they essayed to
ride on they found the Indians all
around them. Whichever way they
turned the foe appeared, but only in
scattered parties and small numbers.
Not once did more than half a dozen
appear in sight. and then, confident
of speedy succor from the fort, they
had decided to make dash for it, and
so rode boldly out into the open. But
now score of warriors popped up and
barred the way, while others far out
at flank or rear kept up long range
fire. One man was shot through the
body and tainted and had to be borne
along. Then the lieutenant was shot
in the leg, but no one knew it until
they saw his boot was running over
with blood, and he was growing ghast-
ly white, even though he kept encour-
aging and directing. But when at last
the cavalry met them and brushed the
Indians away from the front, Capt.
Drum, who rode at their head, ordered
Mr.. Dean taken right into the post
while he dashed on to punish the Sioux,
''and he is giving them hell, too," said
the excited trooper, 'for there couldn't
have been more than hundred Indians
all told"
All, not in sight, perhaps, poor
lads!-not in sight of horse, foot or
fort; for if there were only hundred,
how came it that the fire grew fercer
still, and that presently every musket
in the infantry skirmish line, too, was
blazing on the foe? By this time cav
airy and infantry both had disappeared
over the curtaining ridge, and the
colonel's face grew grave and haggard
as he listened. Three-ffths of his lit
tie garrison were out there battling
against unknown numbers. They had
gone to rescue the detachment and
bring it safely in. That rescue was
accomplished. The precious package
for which so much had been risked was
here-but what detained the COM
mand? Why did they not return? Be-
You'd doubt far more Indians were out
there now than when first the firing
began. "Gallop out, Mr.. Adjutant, and
tell the major to withdraw his line and
fall back on the stockade," was the
order-and with a lump in his throat
the young officer mounted again and
started. He was pet in the garrison,
They saw him gallop through the gate,
saw him ride gallantly straight for the
curtaining ridge beyond which the
smoke was rising heavily now, saw
him breasting the slope, his orderly
following, saw him almost reach it,
and then suddenly the prairie seemed
to jet fire. The foremost horse reared,
plunged and went rolling over and
over. They saw-plainly saw through
their glasses, and a shrek of agony
and horror went up from among the
women at the sight-half a dozen paint
ed savages spring out from behind the
ledge, some on pony back, some afoot,
and bear down on the stricken form of
the slender young rider now feebly
striving to rise from the turf; saw the
empty hand outstretched, imploring
mercy; saw jabbing lances and bran
dished war clubs pinning the helpless
boy to earth and beating in the barred,
defenseless head; saw the orderly
dragged from under his struggling
horse and butchered by his leaders
side; saw the bloody knives at work
tearing away the hot red scalps, then
ripping off the blood-soaked clothing,
and, to the music of savage shouts of
glee and triumph, hacking, hewing,
mutilating the poor remains, reckless
OF the bullets that came buzzing along
the turf from the score of Springfields
turned loose at the instant among the
loopholes of the stockade. It was 800
yards away in the dazzling light of the
rising sun. Old Springfelds did not
carry as do the modern arms. Soldiers
OF those days were not taught accurate
shooting as they are now. It was too
far for anything but chance, and ali
within a minute or two the direful
tragedy was over, and the red warriors
had darted back behind the ridge from
which they came.
MY God! sir,'' gasped the officer
who stood at the side of the, awe
stricken post commander, II believe
it's Red Clouds entire band,E and
they've got our poor boys surrounded!
Can't we. send help?"
"Send help! Merciful heaven, man.
who's to help us? Who's to protect
these poor women and children if we
go? l have but two companies left.
It's what those fiends are hoping
have been planning-that I'll send out
my last man to the aid of those al
ready gone, and then they'll dart in
on the fort and what will become of
these"
Great drops of sweat were pouring
down the colonel's face as he turned
and pointed to the. huts where now,
clinging to one another in terror,
many poor wives and children were
gathered, and the air was filled with
the sobbing of the little ones. Up
from the stockade came two young
officers, their faces set and rigid.