The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-04-14

Back In Disorder - The Latest
From General Crooks Army.
Fort Laramie, July %, 1876.
AT oon 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 tc
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 a 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.
~ 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 a party Of eight
or ten warriors came dashing down a
ravine 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
IN 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 of 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 breathlcssly 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 sur 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 your
General Merritt sprang up to see
the attack just as a tall Indian reeled
In his saddle. shot by Corporal Wilkin'
son Of X company. An answering bull
let whistled by the generals head just
when King, still IN 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 a vol
ley. Yellow Hand, a young Cheyenne
brave. came foremost, singing Bill as
a foeman worthy Of his steel. Cody
kneeling and taking deliberate aim
sent a bullet through the chiefs les
and into his horse. Down went the
two. and before his friends could
reach him a second shot from Bil's
rifle laid the redskin low.
"On came the others. bent on ami
hilating the little band that opposed
them. when, to their amaZement. a Ion.
blue line popped up in their way. an;
X company, with Colonel ,Iason at 1t:
head, dashed at them. Leaving theil
dead, the Cheyennes scattered bach
heller SHELTER for the ridge. but theil
fire was wild and their stand a shorr
n Company after company de
bouched from behind the bluff. and. ut