Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-07
SIBLEY'S CLOSE CALL
THE THRILLING ADVENTURE OF
A SCOUTING PARTY.
Marrow Escape From Annihilation at
the Hands of Sioux and Cheyenne
in the Summer of 1876.

has been relieved from duty at headquar-
tiers of the army on the staff of Lieut.. Gen
Miles, to take effect August 10, and will
proceed by transport sailing from San
Francisco about September l for Manila, to
Join his proper station in the Division OF
the Philippines"
The dissolution of the staff of Lieut. Gen
Miles and the above order, which appeared
In the daily papers recently, recalls to my
mind one of the most thrilling episodes OF
the frontier days of long ago, an episode
which showed the daring and pluck of
junior lieutenant fresh from West Point In
his first real conflict with the red men OF
the plains. This man was Lieut. Frederick
w. Sibley then of Troop f, of the I'd Cav
alry, but for several years a member o1
Gen Miles staff. Incidentally l desire to
go on record saying that in thirty-two
years service on the plains Lieut." Sibley
s. the only officer ever knew or heard oi
who got the best of the Indians by strategy
1t was back in July. 1876 when Gen
Crook had his historical fight in the con.
quest of the Sioux. Gen. Crooks command
was in camp on Goose creek The general
expected wagon train and reinforcementS
to appear every moment. AS they did not
do so he determined to send out recon-
noitering party along the base of the noun
tainS nOrthweStward to locate II possible.
the Indian village and to take a general
observation of the country. Lieut.. Sibley,
with twenty-five picked men, drawn from
the scouts, Frank Gruard and Baptiste
Fourier, on the reconnaissance. The scouts
had ventured forward on our projected
route about twenty miles two nights pre-
viously, but having seen several parties OF
Sioux, returned to camp and made thel1
report. The party mustered at noon beyond
the creek, each man took double supply
of cartridges and as much food as would
last for some days.
/ was a major in Crooks command at
the time, and from my diary find the fol-
lou how hoo .l,i
by one of the members of the party:
The scouts led US to camp Big Goose
creek, distant about thirteen miles from
Crooks headquarters, and there We re-
manned until about shutdown
Indians Discovered.
early on the morning of Friday, July Z,
we again in the saddle pressing on
cautiously toward where the scouts be-
neved the Indian village to be. When we
reached point several miles from our late
bivouac and close to the Little Big Horn
river, Gruard. motioning to halt as
cended a rocky mound directly in our
front, leaving his horse slightly below tbs
crest We observed the scouts movements
with some interest. because We knew we
were in the enemy's country and might ell
counter Indians at any moment. Scarcely
had the scout taken first cautious LOOK
from the crest of the ridge when peculiar
motion of his hand summoned Baptiste
Fourier to his side. BaptiSte dismounted
He joined Gruard and both scouts keen |
ly observed the country from between the |
rocks the summit of the bluff through |
their glasses. Their observations finished
they mounted their ponies and came gallop- |
ing back to us in hot haste. BE quick anc |
follow me for your lives cried Gruard |
We mounted Immediately and all followed
his lead. He led through bluffs of red |
sandstone, which formed, 1t were, the |
footstool of the mountain chain, and we |
We're obliged sometimes to make our horsts |
leap down on rocky lodges, much as six |
or seven feet. perhaps in order to follow |
his course. We soon reached bluff oi
sufficient size to conceal our horses on It's
westerly side, while those of US who were
provided with field giaSSeS-namely, Sibley. |
GIuard. Fourier and myself-went up into |
the rocks and waited to see what was |
coming.
What did you see Frank asked Sibley |
of the scout
Only Sitting Bulls war party Frank
replied. i knew they would be here around |
the Little Big Horn without coming at ALL. |
I'VE did not have long to wait for con- |
frnation of his words. Almost as he |
spoke. groups of mounted savages appear
ed on the bluffs north and east of us. |
Every moment increased their numbers,
and scattered out in the Indian fashion.
they seemed to cover the billy country
far and wide. Most of them were in full
war costume which added greatly to the
picturesque character of the scene
They appear not to have seen us yet.
Observed Gruard. Unless of them
hit upon our trail this morning we are
compare lively safe Gradually the right
wing of the war party approa ched the
ground over which had recently
ridden. We watched their movements, as
may be supposed, with GREATNESS interest.
Suddenly an India attired In red blan-
ket halted looked for a moment at the
ground, and then began to ride around in
a circle Now we had better look out
said Gruard. That fellow has found our
trail sure. and they will be after US in
five minutes
What. then, are we to do? asked Sib-
ley in calm, steady voice.
Trying to Escape.
We'll. we have but one chance to es-
cape said Gruard let US lead our horses
into the mountains and try to cross them.
But. In the meantime, let us prepare for
the worst
Then we left the rocks and went down
among the soldiers. who. poor fellows,
seemed ready to face any fate with manly
courage.
Lieut.. Sibley said to them: Men the
Indians have discovered US. We will have
to do some fighting If can make an
honorable escape. all together, we will do
1t If retreat should prove impossible let
no man surrender. Die in your tracks,
because the Indians show no mercy
All right, sir, was the simple and sol
dleriy reply of the men, and, without more
ado the whole party followed tie officer
and the scouts up the rough mountain side
which at that point was steep and difficult
to a discouraging extent.
We continued to retreat until we struck
an old Sioux hunting trail on the first
ridge of the mountains. This path leads
10 the snowy range said Gruard who
bad hunted in that region when a captive
among the Sioux. If we can reach there
without being overtaken or cut off he
continued, our chances are pretty fair
Most of the trail was fairly good and we
proceeded In direction west of north At
brisk trot. Having travelled five miles
or so. and seeing Indians following us
up, Gruard came to the conclusion that
the savages had given UP the pursuit or
else dlo not care about attacking US among
the mountains. as they are not much ac-
eustomed to the more elevated range Our
horses were pretty badly used up and
some OF the men were suffering from
hunger and thirst. Therefore it was deem
ed best for us to halt make coffee and
allow our horses to recuperate on the
abundant heritage around. We selected
Shady spot, and were glad to stretch our
weary limbs under the outrageous trees.
But very little later on we came near
paying with our lives for the privilege of
IA