The National tribune., 1904-08-11
AN INDIAN SKIRMISH.
A Thrilling Incident in the Survey OF the
Northern Pacific Railroad.

Early in the Summer of 1872 it was
decided by the officers of the Northern
Pacific Railroad to begin the surveying OF
the road there had already occurred a par
tial preliminary survey. and they soon
decided to start two parties-one from
Bismarck. OH the Missouri. following the
Yellowstone to the neishborhood of the
Big Horn, and the other, of which the
writer was member, organized at Boze-
man. Mont which proposed TO move
down the river beginning work at point
near the Crow Agency, located on the
south side. The military escort for this
expedition consisted of four troops of the
I'd L. :. Cav. under Lieut.-Col +. Nj.
Baker t'Piegan" Baker,. Major. I'd U. b
Cav. five companies of the ith L. s.. com
ing party of 20 well-armed men, and
guide.
: About 26 siX-mule teams were required
for ratons and forage: and leaving Fort
Ellis about Aug. ] followed the north
bank of the river Judith Basin, to the
left and north, in which were immense
herds of buffalo.
Not very rapid progress was made the
first two weeks. owing TO the rough c0un-
try on this side of the river. Game was
seen i'm abundance. including antelope and
buffalo. and the policy of killing these. as
will be seen. resulted in disaster, as the
Crows, as well as the Sioux. We're stirred
to anger by seeing the carcasSes of dead
bulls along the trail, and they were rem
dered more hostile by the destruction of
game. Although we We're entering coun-
try badly infested with hoStileS, Col.
Baker seemed to anticipate no trouble. and
undoubtedly displayed carelessness in the
selection of his camps and IT was so de-
clared by the prospectors.
These men pitched their camps, by or
der. not less than 100 yards from the To-
cation of the troops. They were a we'll
armed. hardy lot of men. with more or less
experience fighting Indians. and their ad-
vice was worthy of consideration: but Col
Baker noticed them but little. However.
he frequently consulted with Niche Gin
nard. the guide. a well-known halfbreed of
good reputation. and said to possess a
thorough knowledge of Montana. Wyom-
ing and Idaho. geographically at least.
Making about 20 miles per day, the col
umn OH the 18th. had reached a point
about 30 miles from Bozeman. near the
mouth of Pryor's Fork. The country pre-
sented magnificent spectacle, with the
fertile foothills stretching to the north.
sloping to the river. on the opposite side
of which lies the Crow Reservation. n
valley level as the plains of Kansas, and
more than 80 miles in length. Contrary
to the custom of old Army officers usually,
Col. Baker established camp on the river
bottom. in high grass, facing the buttes
and foothills. With the Yellowstone at his
back and 200 yards in front partially sur
rounded by a semicircle Of bushes and cot
tonwood trees. a slough with considerable
water therein, it seemed that the camp
was selected with a view of making it easy
for any hostile party to surround us at
their leisure without exposing themselves.
1t having been decided to lie over, the
fol hn hv ha
command in trout fishing and necessary
laundry labor. the river affording the best
facilities for that. and the day being par
tally clear and very warm, the thermOm-
eter reaching so.
AT the prOspectors' camp little was said,
but during the day it was we'll known that
they had predicted trouble. saving that we
: Were followed. and using strong language
In regard to the camp location. At night
peculiar feature of the maladministra-
fiOn of affairs was the fact that only a
small camp guard was on duty, and they
were just outside the company streets. 1t
is well known to the survivors of that ex-
pedition and who participated in what en-
sued that morning, that nothing but the
cowardce of the attacking party saved
US from annihilation. The savages ap-
parently filled the bushes at their leisure,
and at 2:45 a. m, while nearly all sum-
bered. opened their fire upon us. Aroused
from sleep in the chilly morn by the yels
of the Indians and shots from their rifles.
we rushed out to see blaze of fire from
right TO left. Many officers had been up,
engaged. it was said, in a friendly game
of draw" and when the attack was made
rushed to their companies, and soon re-
stored order. Capt. Rawn, assuming
charge of the infantry, adopted plan on
the left that proved good one and
showed that he had knowledge of his
business. Giving orders to refrain from
firing. he marched these companies toward
the enemy, to a point about % yards from
camp and gave the command to lie down
Each remained in this position for what
seemed an age. but was probably not over
10 minutes. During this time the glare
of the Indians gun fire-they firing high
and the warwhoeps plainly showed that a
good-siZed band were before us. and that
We were outnumbered four or FIVE to one
Their aim, however, was wild, they firing
over us every shot, and they showed no
disposition to charge. As left guide the
writer lay on the left of his company, and
frequently the balls would throw grass and
mud into his face. as was noticed by Capt
Browning lying beside me. who remark ed
that they seemed to be firing lower
AT this time Serg't John McClarren
Go. c. being away from his position, eyi
IDENTITY started to join his command think.
ing TO do SO by few steps, and as he
ball that passed through his head between
the eyes. killing him instantly. During
this time the Indians We're yelling and
firing. though but few could be seen in the
early morning light, and to the surprise
of the command made no rush for the
camp. although greatly outnumbering us
Had they done SO the loss would have
been heavy on our side. At daybreak. or
the left the command was given by Capt
Rawn 10 rise and fire. The infantry rose
and poured yolley after volley into them
men were kept busy bringing out ammu
nition and the concentrated fire of both
cavalry and infantry was terrific. Every
man stood to his post, and the order was
finally given TO charge the bushes and
slough. This was done with cheers anC
yells by the troops, and the Indians weak
ened. retreating to the bottomland be
yond.
We now took position behind cotton
woods and bushes, and fought them fo
70 minutes or more, using n tree-trunk fo
gun-rest and shelter. Many wounde,
Indians had reached the edge of the tim
Der. and the main body stopped firing, de
voting their energies to carving off thei
wounded, as to leave them in the hand
of the enemy was a deep disgrace; an,
they displayed great skill in horsemanshin