Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-04-16
The Indians, Utterly Surprised, Rush
Back In Disorder - The Latest
From General Crooks Army.

OTC LdIdn1e, July 1CSO.
"At noon on Saturday, the 18th inst.
the Fifth cavalry, under General Mer-
rift, were bivouacked on Rawhide
creek, eighteen miles from Fort Lara.
nile, to which point they were 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 800 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 noiselessly mounted and was
massed under the bluffs quarter of a
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 off 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 6 o'clock
the Indians were swarming all along
the ridge to the southeast. some three
miles away. Suddenly party Of eight
or ten warriors came dashing down a
rayine that led directly under the hill
where Lieutenant King and his six
men were watching.
1.-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,
Bill 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
brilliantly painted bodies and their poi
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 see
the attack just as a tall Indian reeled
in his saddle, shot by Corporal Wilkfn-
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 DOZENS The re-
serve Indians came swarming down
the ridge to the rescue. Company X
was instantly ordered to the front,
but before It appeared from behind the
bluff the Indians, emboldened by the
rush Of their friends to the rescue.
turned savagely on Buffalo BIZ and
the little party at the outpost.
''The latter sprang from their horses
and met the daring charge with vol
ley. Yellow Hand. young Cheyenne
brave, came foremost. singing Bill as
a foeman worthy of his steel. Cody,
kneeling and taking deliberate aim,
sent bullet through the chiefs leg
and into his horse. Down went the
two, and before his friends could
reach him second shot from Bills
rifle laid the redskin low.
tsOn 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 Cheyeunes scattered back
heller skelter for the ridge, but their
fire was wild and their stand short
one. Company after company de-
bouched from behiud the bluff, and, ut
terly disheeytened, TIE Indians rushsd