The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-10-30

4
hug the ground and trust luck. But
they didn't leave me there long be-
fore Sergt. Blackmer called to me to
come into his squad which was out
side Of all the buildings on the east
side Of the fort. Here / found my
self with four souldiers and though
separated from my friends | was
content. Here again there was
nothing to shelter the men. Our
only protection was in shooting so
well that the Indians would not dare
expose themselves long enough to
take good aim Our greatest danger
was in the fact that the ground in
our front was quite rolling, that is,
numerous little hillocks with ra-
vines growing tall grass between, and
behind these hillocks. now here, now
there, in the tall grass between; an
Indian would suddenly rise, take a
quick aim and fire. One was partic-
ullarly persistent and seemed to have
a particular desire to pick me. He
had made some close shots, SO | be-
came particularly anxious to get
him. In my eagerness | forgot due
caution and rose on my knees, when
another Indian let fly at me. The
bullet hit the third finger of my
right hand and glanced to the stock
Of my gun which it damaged consid-
erably. I did not know that | had
been hit, but found myself standing
upright and a soldier tugging at my
clothes to pull me down. / lay down
at once and resumed the watch for
my Indian. Pretty soon the soldier
said one Of us was hit, for there was
blood on the ground. told him
that it was he and showed him some
holes in his coat sleeve. But he said
no that it was l, and pointed to a
hole just in the center of my shirt
front, but / then remembered that
that hole was burned one evening
while fishing with a jack, and just
then the soldier noticed the wound
of my finger. | was bleeding con-
siderably and the bone was broken,
yet it hadn't begun to pain me.
Sergt. Blackmer sent me to the sur
geon to have it dressed and | re-
turned to the squad, but soon the
pain returned and was terrific. My
hand jerked so that | could not hold
the gun still long enough to shoot.
So, as | was disabled, Sergt. Black
mer told me to go behind door
made of inch pine boards which was
leaning against theside of building
and keep watch III a certain direc-
ton which did not seem to be under
observation. and the Indians might
charge on that side. / got up and
ran over and sat down behind the
door and at once | was taken with
an unbearable pain in my hand and
arm. | simply could not endure it
and had just come out from behind
the door when the Indians fired a
volley at it. The door looked like
the top Of a pepper box. If | had
been behind it | must have been hit
by at least dozen balls. | returned
to Sergt. Blackmer who ordered me
again to the surgeon. The surgeon
dressed it again and put on white
powder. probably morphine, which
for time relieved the pain, but |
was entirely unable to use gun. so
Sergt. Blackmer told me to keep a
look out in different directions.
Soon afterwards Sergt. Blackmer
was wounded in the jaw, the bullet
passing through from side to side.
The poor fellow must have suffered
terribly.
For several hours, lasting until
quite late in the night, they kept up
the attack. There were a good
many of our men hurt and | think
we must have done them some in
jury for just before their attack
ceased we could hear an Indian down
in the timber calling the rest away.
4 A half breed who was in the fort
said that the Indian said, Come
away or they'll kill us all" The
firing ceased at once and from that
time there was no further attack
worthy Of note. They kept up 9
state Of siege so that it was danger
4 -, 60. o,,o ~ ovnncn himself hI11