Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-08-26
CHAPTER xxxIv.
TIE ,.% c%onl

IL was snOftly a1Ler TWO O'clock III
the afternoon when that compact col
umn Of cavalrymen moved silently
forward down the concealing coulee
| toward the more open ground beyond.
| Clusters plan was surprise, the sudden
| shifting Of that village in the valley
from the rear by the quick charge OF
his horsemen. From man to man the
whispered purpose travelled down the
| ranks, the eager troopers greeting the
welcome message with kindling eyes.
1t was the old way OF the Seventh,
and they knew 1t well.
With Custer riding at the head OF
the column, and only little to the
| rear OF the advance scouts, his adult
ant Cook, together with volunteer
aide, beside him, the Ave depleted
troops filed resolutely forward, dream
ing not Of possible defeat Suddenly
distant shots were heard far off to
their left and rear. and deepening into
rumble, evidencing warm engage
ment The interested troopers lifted
their heads, listening intently, while
eager whispers ran from man to man
along the closed dies.
Reno is going in, boys; 1t will be
our turn next"
CLOSE up! Quiet there, lads,
quiet" officer after officer passed the
word of command.
Yet there we're those among them
who felt strange dread-that firing
sounded SO far up the stream from
where Reno should have been by that
time. Still 1t might be that those
overhanging bluffs would muff1e and
defect the reports. All about them
lowered death In dreadful guise. None
among them saw those cruel spying
eyes watching from distant ridges,
peering at them from concealed ra-
vines; none marked the rapidly mass
ing hordes, hideous in var-paint,
crowded into nearby coulees and be-
hind protecting hi9s.
1t burst upon them with wild yells.
The gloomy ridges blazed into their
startled faces, the dark ravines hurled
at them skurrying horsemen, while,
wherever their eyes turned, they be-
held savage forms leaping forth from
hill and coulee, gulch and rock shad-
ow. Horses fell, or ran about neigh
Ing; men flung up their hands and
died in that first awful minute of con-
sternation, and the little column
seemed to shrivel away as If consum-
ed by the flame which struck it, front
and flank and rear. 1t was as If those
men had ridden into the mouth of
hell.
Yet 1t was scarcely for more than q
minute. Men trained, strong, clear of
brain, we're in those stricken lines
men who had seen Indian battle be-
fore The recoil came, swift as had
been the surprise. Voice after voice
rang out old familiar orders, steady.
ing instantly the startled nerves; dis
cipline conquered disorder, and the
shattered column rolled out, as If by
magic, into the semblance Of battle
line.
1t was magnificently done. Custer
and his troop commanders brought
their sorely smitten men into q posi-
ton of defense, even hurled them
cheering forward In short, swift
charges, so as to clear the front and
gain room in which to deploy. Out Of
confusion emerged discipline, conf
dence, esprit de corps.
Safe beyond the range of the troop
ers' light carbines, the Indians, with
their heavier rifles, kept hurting
constant storm Of lead, hugging the
ghllies, and spreading out until there
was no rear toward which the harass-
ed cavalrymen could turn for safety.
One by one, continually under heavy
fire, the scattered troops were form
ed into something more nearly re-
sembling a battle line-Calhoun on
the left, then Keogh, Smith and
Yates, with Tom Custer holding the
extreme right. Thus they waited grim
" for the next assault.
Nor was it long delayed. Scarcely
had the troopers recovered, refilled
their depleted cartridge belts from
those Of their dead comrades, when
the onslaught came. The soldiers
waited their coming. The short,
brown-barrelled carbines cleaned at
the level in the sunlight, and then
belched forth their message of flame
into the very faces of those reckless
horsemen. 1t was not in flesh and
blood to bear such a blow. With
screams of rage, the red braves
swerved to left and right, leaving
many dark, war-bedecked figure ~
ing dead behind them, and many a
riderless pony skurrying over the
prairie. Exultant over their seeming
ly successful repulse, the men flung
themselves again upon the earth.
their cheers ringing out above the
thud of retreating hoofs.
I'VE can hold them here. boys, until
Reno comes" they shouted to each
other.
The skulking red riflenaen crept
ever closer behind the ridges, driving
their deadly missiles into those ranks
exposed in the OPEN To the command
of the bugle they discharged two
roaring volleys from their carbines,
hopeful that the combined sound
might reach the ears OF the tagging
Reno. They were hopeful yet al
though one troop had only sergeant