Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1909-06-11
..Fort Laramie. Iulv p. 1s76.

Fort Laramie, July -, 1876.
AT noon on Saturday, the 18th inst,
the Fifth cavalry, under General Mer-
rift. were bivouacked on Rawhide
creek, eighteen miles from Fort Lara
mic, to which point they We're ordered
In from the Cheyenne river, 100 miles
north en- route to join Crook. A cou-
rier suddenly appeared from the agency
with dispatches stating that 500 Chey-
ennes were making preparation to
leave for the northwest to join Sitting
Bull. that he was to throw himself
across their line of march in time to
intercept them, and Merritt had to
make eighty miles before they could
make thirty, but off he went, and
Sunday night found him with seven
companies hiding under the bluffs on
War Bonnet or Hat Creek square up
to their front.
AT daybreak Monday morning Lieu
tenant King, commanding the OutpOsts
to the southeast. sent word that the
war parties were coming over the ridge
from the reservation. Joining him at
the advanced post. General Merritt
found the report correct. The COM
mand n0iselessly mounted and was
massed under the bluffs a quarter Of
mile to the rear and out of sight Of the
Indians,
"At the same time the wagon train.
under Lieutenant W. T. Hall, now
Brigadier General Hall, was some six
miles of to the southwest, slowly ap
preaching, and the Indians were close
ly watching but keeping concealed
from the view Of its guard The two
companies of infantry with him were
riding In the wagons At 9 o'clock
the Indians were swarming all along
the ridge to the southeast, some three
miles away Suddenly a party of eight
or ten warriors came dashing down a
ravlne that led directly under the hill
where Lieutenant King and his six
men were watching.
"The object was as suddenly appar-
ent. Two hOrsemen. unconscious of
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, were
simply bent on Jumping the couriers
and getting their scalps
Buffalo Bill chief of the scouts. lay
on the hill with King and instantly
sprang to his horse down Off the hill.
All keep out Of sight said the gen
eral. Mount now and when the word
is given off with your Then, turning
to the officer of the picket he said
Watch them King. Give the word
when you are ready
"Crouching behind the little butte.
BIZ and his party of two scouts and
six soldiers were breathlessly wait
ing. Halfway up were the general and
his staff. The lieutenant lay at the
crest, watching the rapidly advancing
foe. Down they came, nearer and
nearer. the sun flashing from their
brilliantly painted bodies and their pol
ished ornaments Then. just as they
were dashing by the front of the hill
King shouts. Now, lads. in with you!
General Merritt sprang up to Sc
the attack just as a tall Indian reele' |
in his saddle. shot by Corporal Wilkin- |
son of K company. An answering bull |
let whistled by the generals head just |
when King. still on watch, sung out, |
Here they come by dozers.' The re- |
serve Indians came swarming down |
the ridge to the rescue. Company K /
was instantly ordered to the front, |
but before II appeared from behind the |
bluff the Indians, emboldened by the |
rush of their friends to the rescue. |
turned savagely on Buffalo Bill and /
the little party at the outpost
1.-THE latter sprang from their horses |
and met the daring charge with a vol
lev. Yellow Hand, young Cheyenne |
brave. came foremost. singing Bill as /
a foeman worthy Of his steel. Cody, |
ineeling and taking deliberate aim. |
sent a bullet through the chiefs leg /
and into his horse. Down went the /
two. and before his friends could /
reach him a second shot from Bnl's .
rife laid the redskin low.
"On came the others, bent on ami
hilating the little band that opposed
them. when, to their amazement, a long /
blue line popped up in their way, and |
K company, with Colonel Mason at its
head. dashed at them. Leaving their /
dead, the Cheyepnes scattered back /
helter SHELTER for the ridge, but their
fire was wild and their stand a short
one. Company after company de-
bouched from behind the blur, and, ut
terry disheaEtened, the Indians rushed