Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-11-07
ANNALS Of THE VOLUNTEERS.
Being an Account Of the Campaign
Of lie Local Militia Against
Tie Utes.

The events leading up to Col.
Downs call for Volunteers wouId
now be an old story to your
readers. 50 Your correspondent
bcgs leave u pass them bv and
offer this explanation OF his tardl-
ness in sending in a report.
The nerve trying ordeal through
which he ha, recently passed made
it necessary for him TO have IL
complete rest, but owing to his
wonderful vitality. a week at the
SEA shore under his physicians
clre has put him back in the ring
With the story of the march of the
Volunteers.
a body of men composed of a
bout a dozen white men and up
wards of forty Indians and mixed
bloods left Cheyenne River
Agency on Thursday Oct. 24th
abont O'Clock p. m. to hasten t"
the relief of Col. Downs WHO was
supposed to be pcnned in at
Thunder Butte station BY $50 var
like Utcs who had in their posses
sion 1870 Krag-Jorgcmson rifles.
any number of small arms. three
thousand dollars worth of am
unition, and blood in their eyes.
Everything jolted along in an
orderly manner as far as the Fred
LaPlant ranch, where it was
hoped fresh horses might he ob
tanned and the march pushed on at
double q"ick time. IS no \ rso-
could be gotten, camp vas made,
fire hastily klndlcd and as dark
ness rapidly settled over TIL scene
one might we'll imagine hinisel:
campaigning in real earnc-t.
Each man was given two blankets
and Il pleasant look, and the moon
having risen two hours ahead Of
time Just to help things along. the
order to fall in" was given and
the march resumed. Goose CreeA
crossing was reached short, after
mldnight.a and a short stop in order
to water horses, and allow the In
vincibles to fill their pockets
with bareback and decide on a
plan of action in case OF Il brush
with the Utes. One of the most
popular officers counselel his
followers about like this:-
I'm view of the fact that the
rifles are all packed safely out of
harms way and we haven't much
ammunition anyway, l think the
best plan CT action in case of an
attack would be for all hands ex-
ceplins transfers to hastily throw
their blankets to the four wind,
and run single file in a large half
circle emptying the bareback oul
OF their pockets a IS they run. This
you will readily perceive will
serve a double purpose: for while
the Enemy is gathering up this
Government sent Mamma we VIII
have time to make Il graceful get
away and tomorrow when he is
suffering from Indigestion ana
loss of sleep We will fall upon him
and smite him hip and thigh 10
Our entire satisfaction"
The Napoleon-like simplicity vi
this plan could not fail to impress
itself upon those who were awake.
especially as the speaker bore a
striking resemblance to the Duke
Of Wellington-right across til
chest. Some of the more thought
full warriors suggested u move
"a Ia Sampson at Santiago" so a
to be in early and AVOID the rush;
but this motion was declared out
of order. So the tired horses werc
rushed on to Green Grass School.
which was reached about 5:3J
.. M. At this place q stop of a.
bout three hours was made durinr
which time breakfast was seryea
in the dining car and a rifle and
fifty rounds Of ammunition given
to each man. Magazines were