The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-02-26


Fort Laramie. July %. 1878.
AT noon on Saturday, the 18th inst.
the Fifth cavalry, under General Mei
rift were bivouacked on kawhid,
creek, eighteen miles from Fort Lara
ME, TO which point they were ordere
in from the Cheyenne river. 100 mile
north. en- route to join Crook. A cot
rier suddenly appeared from the agenc.
with dispatches stating that 500 Chey
ennes were making preparation t
leave fer the northwest TO join Sittin.
Bull. that he was to throw hlmse
across their line OF march in time
intercept them. and Merritt had I
make eighty miles before they conl.
make thirty. but of he went, an
Sunday night found him with seye.
companies hiding under the bluffs o.
War Bonnet or Hat Creek square u,
to their front
AT daybreak Monday morning Lier
tenant King. commanding the outpost
70 the southeast. sent word that II
yar parties were coming over the ridr
from the reservation. Joining him \
the advanced post. General Merit
found the report correct The con-
mand noiselessly mounted and wa
massed under the bluffs quarter Of !
mile 10 the rear and out OF sight Of tn,
Indians.
AT the same time the wagon train
under Lieutenant W. T. Hall, nov
Brigadier General Hall. was some 81,
miles OF TO the southwest. slowly ap
preaching, and the Indians were close
~ watching. but keeping concealed
from the view of It's guard The tws
companies Of infantry with him wer,
riding In the wagons. At 0 o'cloc'
the Indians were swarming all along
the ridge 10 the southeast. some thres
miles away. Suddenly party Of eight
or ten warriors came dashing down .
ravlne that led directly under the hill
where Lieutenant King and his 81,
men were watching.
The object was as suddenly appar
eht. Two horsemen. unconscious o'
the proximity Of the foe. had ventured
out ahead OF the train and were max
Ing rapidly for the creek. They were
couriers with dispatches for the com
mand. The Indians. utterly Ignorant
OF the rapid move Of the Fifth. wer.
simply bent on Jumping the courier
and getting their scalps.
Buffalo Bill. chief u the scouts. lny
on the Hill with King and Instant,
sprang 10 his horse down OF the hill
All keep ont Of sight said the gen
eral. Mount now. and when the word
Is given on with your Then. turnin.
to the officer OF the picket. he SAID
Watch them. King. Give the wor,l
when you are ready
"crouching behind the little butte
Bill and his party Of two scouts and
six soldiers were breathlessIy wait
Ing. Halfway up were the general an
his staff. The lieutenant lay at th
crest watching the rapidly advancing
foe. Down they came, nearer and
nearer. the sun flashing from thei'
brilliantly painted bodies ard their pol
ished ornaments. Then. Just as they
were dashing by the front OF the hill
King shouts. Now. lads. In with your
General Merritt sprang up 20 sec
the attack Just as a tall Indian reeled
In his saddle. shot BY Corporal wilkin
son Of X company. An answering bnl
let whistied by the generals head jusl
when King. still on watch. sung out
Here they come BY dozens The re
serve Indisns came swarIning dowr
the ridge TO the rescue. Company X
was instantly ordered to the front
but before !. appeared from behind IN,
blur the Indians. emboldened by the
rush Of their friends TO the rescue
turned savageiy on Buffalo Biz and
the little party NJ the outpost.
THE latter sprang from their horses
and met the daring charge with a vol
ley. Yellow Hand. young Cheyenne
brave. came foremost. singing Bill M
foeman worthy OF bis steel. Cody
kneeling and taking deliberate aim
sent a bullet through the chiefs les
and into his horse. Down went the
two. and before bis friends could
reach him a second shot from BiiI's
rife laid the redskin low.
'On came the others. bent on ami
bilatiDg the little band that opposed
them, when, 10 their amazement lons
blue line popped up In their way. and
X company, with Colonel Mason at II,
bead, dashed at them. Leaving theiI
dead. the cheyepncs scnftercd baci
helter skelter for the ridge, but tbeiI
FIRE was Wild and their stand a .shor'
one. Company after company de
bouched from behind the bun. and, ut
| tell fIahca n oncd the Indiana rushed