The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-01-31


40 usual Next day the Indians wsFs
followed, and sairmlshing was kept up
incessantly Lieutenant Bchenofsl6y on
that occasion came near being am.
bushed and Ind few men killed,
This continuous skirmlshlng was kept
% for three days. with myself almost
continuously IN the saddle, and while
wo were Ia front tho general sounded
the officers call for consultation. !
VIII permit General Carr 10 tell the
story Of an affair In which he punished
the Indiana severely, while the story
relatea also 70 my connection with the
matter,
= had heard some firing In front
whero tho advance guard had gone out
Of sight Ny orders were for the ad-
vance guard 10 regulate on tho mair
column and always keep IN sight Of II,
but as Major Babcock and Lieutenant
w. y. Hall. now General Hall. were 80
ambitious and anxious for A fight I
thought ! would give them a chance.
and 10 ! let them alone. After hagty
consultation regarding lack Of supplies
I sent buglor to recall the advance
guard. He came back saying be could
not reach them, as they we're sur.
rounded by Indiana. The Indians had
got into four ravlnes which headed
near the trail, two on each side. The
half dozen had led the advance on
with insulting gestures and defiant
words (some could speak and swear IN
Englishl. and when they came between
the rayines the whole poured out
around them. Babcock dismounted his
men and formed them Ia a circle and
stood the Indians on. sent Lienten.
ant Brady with the next company to
open communications, aud the Indians,
supposlng the whole command was
coming. went on as before.
Reaching the scene, we could zee
the indians scattering In retreat. A
dgure with apparently a red cap rose
slowly on the hin. For an instant 1t
puzzled me. as wore q buckskin and
had long hair. But on seeing the
horse | recognized that It was Cody's
Powder Face and saw that II was
Buffalo Bill without his broad brim.
med sombrero On closer inspection
l saw that his head was swathed In q
bloody handkerchief, which served not
only as temporary bandage, but as a
ehapeau. bis hat having been shot OF,
the bullet plowing bis scalp badly for
about Ave inches II had ridged along
tho bone and was bleeding profusely,
very close call. but lucky escape.
However. II would not do to turn back
Immediately after such lmpudenee, 80
| took 10 the gallop and ran them for
twelve miles TO and across the Repub.
lIcan and up the bluffs on the south
side. where they acted In thelr usual
aggravating style BY scattering In
every direction after dropping a good
deal Of plunder We could see them
on the distant hill, but could not catch
them under the circumstances or with.
out means Of some counter strategic
cunning. 80 we went back and camp
cd north Of the Republican. The ad-
vance guard had been relieved and
the Indians severely punished, with
loss on our side Of but four or Eve
killed and a few wounded. this with
Babcoek's horse wounded and Cody's
narrow escape as the resulting casual
ties The object Of the campaign was
nearly accomplished, but our greatest
need was supplies. which the hot trail
had sidetracked In the excitement Of
the necessary pursuit Of the defiant
foe. As the country was infested with
Indians and II was Atty miles to the
nearest supply point. Fort Kearny, on
consultation with Cody he decided that
Il would be best to undertake the job
himself. n point characteristic Of him,
as he never shlrked duty or faltered
In emergencies gave him the best