Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-10-25
was Strong. and whose fine face full

we'll poised commander on whom 81
much depended.
Not yet, general. I have been ex
pecting them for the last two hours"
Your men are in good condition."
Couldn't be better. They're burn
ing with impatience to be off, ant
there seems to be considerable disap
,pointment among those who are to b.
left behind"
"Aha!" calculated Crook, with {
qualification he made no effort to con
ceal. so pleased was he at this display
of bravery by the men under his com.
mand They haven't forgot the slaI
we got on the Rosebud. You under
stand the plan Of action? There must
be no mistake tomorrow. The blow
must be so swift, sure and overwhelm-
ing that the twenty-sixth day Of June
will go down in Indian history to the
last survivor of the race"
AT what do you estimate theil
strength. general?" asked Strong, his
eyes cleaning at the prospect Of bat
tie.
| Anywhere from twenty-five hun
dred to four thousand fighting men. A
general opinion prevails that it is less
than that but don't care to be out
numbered a second time"
| And the hour for attack? Day.
break tomorrow, Is II not?"
| Errba md 70 dino ,,nor pnint
was thorough Monday morning, June
twenty SIXTH was the day agreed up
on. Barring accidents at the first peep
of dawn tomorrow our turbulent red
friends will meet with a swift and
awful judgment. If"
He was interrupted by the sound
of rapidly approaching footsteps, and
an orderly came rushing around the
tent.
| General, scout has come with
report Of the greatest Importance"
Bring him here Immediately"
| Strong was about to follow, but the
general stopped him, ordering him to
remain as there might be necessity for
immediate action.
The scout was Horton, who arrived
breathless and covered with dust.
General Crook, you know me?" he
asked, with difficulty. so exhausted
was he.
Il do" replied Crook, recognizing
him at once as a man who had done
valuable service for him some years
before. You. have serious news?"
Rouse your men, general" gaspine
with excitement and lack Of strength
for the devil has taken possession OF
his red imps, and hell is turned loose
ever these valleys for holiday"
What Is it, man." cried General
Crook, wrought to the most intense
pitch of suspense. Speak"
Just a minute!" Then, as soon as
he had partially recovered, he proceed
ed to tell his story. 1t appeared that
on the day when Colonel Gray and the
men under his command were about
to start to join General Crook, the In
dams in some way learned Of his in
tention and also Of the strength Of his
forces, and about four hundred Ogal-
lallas surrounded the fort and fired 1t
Colonel Gray and his men managed to
cut their way through them, and reach
ed the bluffs back upon the Tongue
river. There, intrenched among the
rocks, they had succeeded in keeping
the Indians at bay ever since.
The general had listened with rapt
attention. How long can they hold
out?" he asked, as Horton paused in
his recital.
"As long as mortal man can &c
without water The last drop was ex-
hausted twenty-four hours ago"
| Poor lads"
Last night" continued the scout. 81
climbed the bluffs, secured a pony and
made for your camp. We'd all have
made a rush for it were it not for the
women"
| "Women!" cried the general and
Strong in unison. while their cry was
re- echoed by another, which proceed
ed from the prisoner, who was within
earshot and who had a more personal
interest than they in this information
MY God! Are there women?"
| "Of course When we abandoned the
fort we could not leave them behind
| Orderly" commanded Genera
Crook. with that quick decision which
was one of his prominent characteris-
tics. instruct Lieutenant Varnum tc
order his men to horse at once"
AT what hour was the concerted at
tack to be made upon Sitting Bull?'
asked Horton, as the orderly started
off on his errand.
AT daybreak tomorrow"
An expression of horror swept across
the scouts dark face.
Then a terrible mistake has beer
made, and at least one detachment Of
cavalry has been swept from the face
OF the earth"
Horton" cried Crook, excitedly
What do you mean?"
That the attack upon Sitting Bull
has been made. Oh, General Crook, Il
was a cruel command that sent three
hundred men to attack six thousand"
"Where?"
ION the Little Big Horn"
There has been some terrible mis-
take as you say. Go on! Tell me al
you know"
And this as rapidly and tersely a:
possible Horton proceeded to do. HI
had found that Crook had strucl
camp on Goose Creek and so set ou
to find him. He discovered a trail a
three that morning, and knew 1t wa!
cavalry by the marks of the iror
shoes. At break of dawn, he looked
down into the valley. and saw an In
dian encampment that stretched TO
miles up and down the stream. AL