Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-02-07
Campaigning With Sibley==by A. L Van Osdel

s8 49, slSs s Bssft
Iskipped along over the surface Of the
water. $SS
Deeming 1t unsafe / ran up the bank
and doged behind tree. Looking
across the channel could see a small
party Of Indians carrying a dark OBJ
ject along the sandbar on the opposite
shore, while a band of savages follow
ed along and howled like a demented
rabble Of demoniacs. shouted, hop-
/ ing would receive a reply from
/ Loveland, but could hear no sound
4 in response, save the clatter of hoofs
as a horse galloped through the tim
Der, and the continuous bowls and
yells of the Indians across the river.
| Thinking it would be dangerous for
me to stay there any longer / mount
ed my horse and started back to our
main command. But I soon became
confused by seeing SO many trails in
| the forest leading in different direc-
tions, took what supposed was the
right course, and urged my horse
along at a rapid pace, hoping I would
soon pass beyond the danger line and
reach the open bottom lands. had
followed a well beaten trail for some
time when i suddenly overlook lost
infantry soldier, who was trudging
along on foot leading a lame Indian
pony that he had captured. I tried
to induce him ito let the pony go and
follow me out, but he would not leave
his prize, and SO reluctantly left him.
continued to follow the main trail for
some time, but as it did not lead me
out of the timber I concluded I would
leave it. / could not see my way out
and the farther went the darker and
gloomier the forest appeared. I now
became convinced that ] had lost my
way and i began to look for an OPEN
ing among the trees to see if / could
get a glimpse Of the hills beyond but
the forest was dark and gloomy in my
advance and the trail continued to
bear more to my right and led into a
dense thicket of willows and under
brush. I now halted, listened for
moment, retracted my steps back
along the trail to where the trees were
larger and more open and turned OFF
to the right; leaving the scant rays Of
declining sun glinting behind me.
took a course almost due east, and
urged my horse along, ever on the
watch for the enemy AS / was rid
ing caught a glimpse of a human
figure as it lodged behind large cot
tonwood tree which stood about one
hundred yards ahead Of me. + have
a vivid recollection of thrilling SEN
sation Of hopeless desperation that
ment. I hastily drew my revolver, re-
came over me at that critical mo-
ment. hastily drew my revolver.
reigned mmy horse suddenly around.
yeered off to the left, and putting
spurs to the goaded animal galloped
at furious pace through the timber.
must have looked comical as I
charged along, with the canteens rat
ting and banging one another at
every Jump my horse made. i had
not not gone very far before heard a
shout, and looking off to my right /
saw a young soldier standing among
the ll, trees waving his cap for me to
stop $40 II refined in my horse and wait
ed for him to come up to where was.
He was William Dodd, a private in
company 3, Of the Mounted Rangers
who had gone out into the timber to
get a shot at the prowling warriors in
revenge for the sad fate Of his father.
Captain Dodd, who was killed by the
Indians at the siege of New Ulm. dur
ing the Minnesota massacre, the pre-
vious fall.
We now continued our course to-
gether and soon came to an opening
among the trees where we could see
the hills beyond AS we. travelled
along young Dodd told me that he had
seen two or three small bands Of war
srio tl lurking in the forest, but was
AFRAID to shoot at them owing to their
superior numbers. aBut,' said he
they soon skedaddled out Of sight
when they heard you coming rafting
down the trail, making as much noise
as g troop Of cavalry, The writer
firmly believes that the rafting can
teens scared the scouting warriors
back and saved his and young Dodd.s
lives AS we FASTENED along, we near.
ed the outskirts Of the timber ana
were congratulating one another IN
on our good fortune when our CONVEX.
sation was suddenly interrupted by
nearing several shots fired In quick
succession short distance ahead pf
~, \