The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-02

Therefore. il was deemed best for us to
malt. make coffee and allow our horses to
recuperate on the abundant herbage
around. We selected a 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 brief repose. Our halt
lasted an hour-possibly longer, because
We had begun TO believe that the Indians
would not follow US into the recesses of
the mountains, and grew. for the time be-
Ing, rather careless. 1t was after noon,
think. when We again saddled up and
pushed forward. feeling much invigorated.
We crossed what Gruard thought was the
main branch of the Tongue river. or else
tributary OF the Little Big Horn, flowing
clear. cold and deep through the mountain
valleys. and were within full view of the
superb snowy range. The same splendid
type OF scenery that / mad observed when
out with Crooks hunting party. further
southwark, was visible on every side. The
trail led through natural parks, open
spaces bordered by rocks and pine trees on
the mountain sides. AT times the country
grew comparatively open. We were riding
in single file, the scouts leading. and kept
tolerably in open order. Suddenly John
Becker. the packer, and a soldier who had
fingered somewhat in the rear, rode up to
the lieutenant, exclaiming, "The Indians!
the Indiansi
A POSITION OF DANGER.
"Gruard and the rest of us looked over
our right shoulders and saw a party OF the
red fiends i'm their war bonnets riding rapid
ly along that flank at no great distance.
The Indians fired upon Us, slightly wound
ing the horses of two or three OF the SOL
diers. Fall back on the woods cried the
scout, and every horse was wheeled toward
the timber on the left. There was no need
to urge our horses TO cover, because they
were badly stampeded by the firing, after
the manner of most American horses. and
we were soon dismounted in the edge OF the
| woods. Lieutenant Sibley, before we tied
the animals, made some Of the soldiers fire
upon the Indians, which had the effect OF
combining them 10 the rocks. We could see.
occasionally, the Indian leader. dressed in
what appeared TO be white buckskin and
wearing a gorgeous war bonnet, directing
| the movements of his warriors. Gruard
| thought he recognized in him White Ante
| lope, a Cheyenne chief. famed for his en-
| terprise and skill. He led one charge
| against US. and every man on the front of
| the skirmish line fired upon him and his
party. We did not know until long after
| ward that our volley put an end TO his
/ career, but so it was. White Antelope led
| no more charges after that day. His death
| was fortunate thing for us. because 1t
| dampened the spirits of his men and rem
\ dered them more cautious than they would
| have otherwise been. But he did not fall
until he had made 1t exceedingly interesting
| for our little party, battling there in the
/ edge of the woods. The Indians lay low
among the tall rocks and pine trees, and
/ kept up an almost incessant fire upon our
| position, filling the trees around us with
| their lead.
| Meanwhile their numbers continued to
| increase, and they seemed to swarm on the
| open slopes of the hills within the range of
| our visionl We could distinctly hear their
| savage. encouraging yells to each other,
| and Gruard said that Sioux and Cheyennes
| were allied in the attacking force, all os
| whom appeared to be in great gee at the
| prospect Of a scalping entertainment at our
expense.
LAS the volume of the Indian fire seemed
| to increase, no surrender was the word
/ passed from man TO man around the thin
skirmish line. Each one of us would, il
| we found ii necessary, have blown out his
| own brains rather than fall alive into In
dian hands. Doubtless if we had remained
| long enough. the Indians would have re-
| lieved US of all responsibility that score.
| A disabling wound would have been worse
| than death.
| A MASTERLY RETREAT.
"Well. the eternal shadows seemed to be
fast closing around us; the Indian bullets
| were hitting nearer every moment, and the
| Indian yell was growing stronger and
fercer, when hand was laid on my Shout
der and soldier who was my neighbor on
the skirmish line said: The rest are retir-
i ing. Lieutenant Sibley tells us to do the
same / quietly withdrew from the foot of
the friendly pine tree, which with a fallen
trunk that lay almost across 1T, kept at
least a dozen Indian bullets from making
havoc of my body, and prepared to obey.
| AS 1 passed by Sibley, VINO wanted TO see
/ every man under his command in the line
| of retreat before he stirred himself, the
young officer said: Go TO your saddle bags
| with caution and take all your ammunition.
| We are going 70 abandon our remaining
horses. The Indians are getting all around
u.s. so we must take to the rocks and thick
timber on foot. 1t seems to be our only
/ chance of escape
"Gruard advised this strategy, saying that
| as the Indians occupied the passes east.
| west and north of us-all of them being
difficult at best-we could not possibly eff
feet a retreat on horseback. even if all
our animals had escaped unwounded. He
| blunty told the lieutenant that the posi-
ton was untenable, at such distance from
Crooks camp, and even If man could
| succeed in getting through to the general.
| we could not expect timely relief and all
| would be over with us long before an at
| tempt at rescue could be made. Therefore,
| Gruard said. If the lieutenant did not choose
| to take his advice, upon the officer would
rest the responsibility of whatever might
| happen. Sibiey, although very averse to
retreating. finally yielded to the calm adj
vice of the scout, whose great experience
among the Sioux rendered him familiar
| with all the methods of Indian warfare.
When the retreat was decided on, we
acted with an alacrity which only men who
have at some time struggled for their lives
can understand. A couple OF scattering vol
! leys and some random shots were fired to
| make the savages believe that we were still