Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-04-25

The Powder River
Indian Expedition
By A. L. VAN OSDEI-
In Medicine
Brdger-lndans Attacking Sawyers Train
Return of the Expedition
By A. l.. VAN OSDEL

below running off six of them and
,wounding one of the guards in the
|leg with buckshOr.
1.-The alarm was Immediately given
and Bridger's braves were mounted
to pursue the Sioux.
"No word was received from Bird
gers army, but we expected them to
return with the captured horses and
scalps flying. But soon, to our dis
appointment, came the report that a
man had been killed. and that the
Indians were daring the whites to
fight.
"Tne opposition lat Fort Morti-
mer) who had seen Bridgers men
turn out to fight, concluded to join
them. Mr.. Ellingsworth "a young
Englishman, mentioned in Audubon s
Journal, as manager of the establish
ment) had bought a fine American
mare from Mr.. Laidlaw, and with
also we'll mounted, soon came up with
Bridger's party, who had halted at
the foot of the hills.
! when Ellingsworth and the old
half-breed approached, the latter,
who was clear grit, put the whip to
his horse, telling the balance to come
on; but only Elingsworth followed.
The Indians fired volley, which
dropped the half-breed of his horse,
wounded Ellingsworth' mare in the
hip; but not so fatal that Filings
worth could not make his escape.
1.-THE Indians, seeing this, common
; ced to yell and renewed their def
ance, but Bridger's men concluded to
turn bach, somewhat ashamed of
themselves. In the meantime the
Sioux went away, having killed one
man, wounded another and taken six
head of horses.
Eat the funeral of Gardapie, that
being the old mans name, these
words were PRONOUNCED: "This bur-
ial is caused by the cowardice of
Bridger's party"
1.-The expression, it was thought,
would result in fight with the op-
position, but the discomfort disappear
ed without any disturbance.
"Bridger became dissatisfied with
his men, who dispersed in all direc-
lions, and he returned to the noun
tains."
When he was with Connor's expedi-
ton, Bridger related his famous camp
fire stories, "Obsidian mountain" and
"Mid-Ocean Pass narratives which
the writer published in "Coulter's
Route to the Yellowstone" But why
,,digress? Able authorities have pub
lished vivid descriptions OF that ma
tional park-a wild, mystic land in
the mountain fastness of "Absaraka, :"
the old home of the Crow Adams,
where spouting geysers and,4hfssing
fumeroles exist, remnants of ancient
volcanoes.
On the fourth day of September, q
messenger came into General Con-
nor's camp on Tongue river, with the
news that the Indians had attacked
Colonel Sawyer's men near Crazy
Woman's fork, ON Powder river; that
their train was parted and the be-
seiged men were doing their best to
defend themselves.
Captain Brown, with two companies
of California troops, was hastily de-
tached and marched east 40 miles to
relieve them; the booming of can
non heard in Connor's camp on Sept.
l were fired by Sawyer's men while
fighting the Indians back from their
parked train. I
The writer received the following
information from his two brothers,
who were soldiers in the First Dakota
cavalry. and were with Lieut.. John
R. Woods detachment guarding Col.
James Sawyer's wagon train, in the
summer of 1865.
The Arrapahoe and Sioux Indians
attacked Sawyer's train west OF the
Black Hills; increasing in numbers
until the white men were compelled
to park their train and fortify their
camp on a small tributary stream
that coursed its way into Crazy,
Woman's fork of Powder river.
There they fought the attacking
Indians back from their beseiged;
camp for 13 days, until reinforce
ments came to their relief from Fort
Reno and from General Connor'sl
command on tongue river. t& w. i
While selecting a good location for
their camp, young Nat Hedges Of
Sioux City, was killed by the Indians
The Sioux pretended they were
sorry, saying the Arrapahoes commit
ted the murder, and asked for 81
friendly council. Their request for;
an armistice was granted by Il Col.
Sawyer and a confederate agreed up!
on, with the understanding that aonlyi
six leading warriors were to come
into camp, and remain there as host
ages until two scouts could 60 to- Fort
Reno and report the situation, and
their demands to the commanding.
officer, of the fort. Six Sioux var
riors came into Sawyer's camp among
whom was a rising war CHIEF named
Crazy Horse, brother-in-law Of the:
great chief Red Cloud. After q long.
talk, in which they protested against.
the white soldiers invading their
hunting grounds, the warriors re-.
turned to their bands and hostilities.
again.
Alex Travise, one of the two scouts
sent out from Sawyer's train, succeed
ed in reaching Fort Reno, owing to.
the speed and endurance of his cav
airy horse. Is; s t=sa
Col. Kidd Immediately sent out
Captain Cole with 2O%men from the
Sixth Michigan cavalry, who fought
their way into Savers camp. Cap