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

in position. AS we had frequently reserved
lur fire during the fight, our silence would
cot be noticed Immediately We then re-
Tired, in Indian file, through the trees,
locks and fallen timber in the rear of US.
But we had escaped one danger only to
encounter another Fully fifty miles of
mountain. rock, forest, river and canyon
lay between us and Crooks camp. We
were unable to carry any food upon our
persons. The weather was close, owing TO
The thunder showers. and We threw away
everything superious in the way'of cloth
ing. With raving Indians behind US and
uncounted precipices before US. we found
our rifles and what remained of our one
hundred rounds of ammunition each, suf-
fcient load TO carry.
IN DANGER AGAIN.
After about an hours herculean toll, we
gained the crest of the mountain and Saw
the point OF a mountain some twenty miles
distant, where lay our camp and comrades.
This, as may we'll be imagined, was bliss
ful vision, but were half dead from
fatigue and some of US were almost famine
stricken. Yet the interchangeable Gruard
would not stop until we reached the east
ern foothills. where made. so to speak,
dive into the deep valley TO obtain water
our only refreshment on that hard. rugged
road. The leaves from the pine trees made
the hillside as slippery as glass and where
there was neither grass nor trees, the
broken stones and "shale" made walking
absolutely painful. Scarcely had we
slaked our thirst when Gruard led US up to
the hills again and we had barely entered
the timber belt when the scout uttered a
warning hush and threw himself upon
the ground. motioning us to do the same.
He pointed toward the north, and there,
wheeling around the base of the point of
the mountain We had doubled SO shortly
before. appeared another strong party of
the Sioux in open order. The savages
were riding along quite leisurely, and al
| though fairly numerous, were evidently
| only the advance or rear guard of some
| larger party. This sight made us desper
ate. Every man examined his carbine and
| looked to his ammunition. We all felt that
| life would be too dearly purchased by
| further flight, and following the example Of
| the brave young Sibley and the gallant
| scouts, We took up position among the
| rocks on the knoll we had reached, de-
| termined. if called upon, to sell our lives
as dearly as possible.
I'VE are in pretty hard luck it would
SEEM" said Sbley, addressing ime, "but
d-n them, We'll show the red scoundrels
how white men can fight and die, If neces-
| sary. Men, he said, addressing the SOL
diers. I'VE have good position; let every
| shot dispose of Indian" But the Indians
| made no effort to attack US.
| The excitement over, we all again felt
4 thoroughly
except the tireless and ever vigilant scouts,
aud awoke at dark feeling somewhat re-
freshed, but painfully hungry. Not a man
| of us. whatever the risk, Sioux or no Sioux,
| could endure the mountain route longer, so
| we took our weary, jaded lives into our own
| hands and struck out for Crooks camp
across the plains, fording Big Goose creek
up to our armpits at o'clock in the morn
ing, the water being as cold as the melting
mountain snow could make it.
Only a comparatively few were vigorous
| enough to maintain decently rapid pace.
| About 5 o'clock We saw some more In
dams toward the east, but at some distance.
| We took no pains whatever to conceal our
selves, which indeed would have been a
| vain task on the nearly naked plain, and
the savages if they saw us, which is highly
| probable, must have mistaken us for an
| outlying picket. and being. only compare
| lively speaking, handful, kept away. AT
| about 6:30 o'clock we saw two horses graz
| ing on little KNOLL and the carbines gilt
| tering in their boots on the saddles pro-
| claimed the riders to be cavalrymen. Pres
emily the men rose out of the long grass
and made for their guns, but we hailed
| them and they recognized US. They were
| men OF the Second Cavalry, who had OBJ
| tanned permission to go hunting. Lieuten-
ant Sibley sent them into camp for horses
| and some rations. Most of Sbleys men
threw themselves on the ground, unable
to move further, and awaited the arrival of
| the horses. Within hour and a half
| Captains Devices and Rawolle, of the Sec
ond Cavalry, came out to us with led horses
and some cooked provisions. They greeted
us warmly and having aided US most kindly.
proceeded to pick up Sergeant Cornwell
and private Collins, who were found all safe
| concealed in the thick underground of Big
| Goose creek, and who reached camp a few
hours after ourselves 1t was 10 o'clock
Sunday morning, July 8, 1876. when we rodc
| in among the tents, amid congratulations
from officers and men alike.
/ never, in the whole of my career, saw
| such a knocked out body of men as were
| in Sibley's detachment. Several of the en-
listed men went perfectly stark crazy as a
| result of the hardships, but Sibley appeared
as If he still had plenty of sand In his
box and showed more nerve than many
of the old campaigners that had accom-
panied him. 1 predict that he will do good
work in the Philippines should the opportu-
nifty present itself. ANDREW BURT.
"Cute" Japanese.
| Philadelphia Ledger.