The National tribune., 1910-03-17

some others, hurried around and got
good-sized log, and we had a brisk fire
going by the time it was dark.
Our non-coms had strict orders to
make the reliefs every hour. / was
told off as ore of the first relief while
we were standing around warming our
selves and congratulating each other
on our good luck of having fire (this
was before we were put on post.) A
report of a gun was heard across the
river. We could see from the fash it
was right opposite. 1t was not long
before there was another report. This
time bullet hit our log, which made
the fire fly. We found out that the In
dians had located our fire and were
trying their marksmanship from across
the river. We got back from the fire
and watched, then fired at the flash.
After few rounds they stopped, but
an order came from headquarters to
put out the fire.
A Night of Terror.
When we were put on post we we're
told to drop down in the sage brush
and crawl six or eight feet and lie still,
so the Indians could not locate US and
pick us off with their arrows. L lay on
post. covered with my poncho. The
storm beat down numerically. My
poncho was of very little service, and
to the bone. When ! was relieved my
poncho was stiff with ice. The next
morning my poor horse looked pitifully
at me, but / had nothing to give him.
The poor fellow had had nothing to
eat for "a hours. We lost fully 300
horses and mules; they had played out
and were shot. / got my horse about
a mile and a half along the route. when
he went down and out We cut up the
| brides, saddles. etc.
We were getting at that time a cup
of weak coffee and piece of bread
about three inches square and half an
| inch thick, made of -four and water,
then baked. This had to do us "a
hours. Some of the boys ate horse and
mule meat and said it was good. I had
not eaten any yet, but felt Ike trying it,
| That day we came to the Indian viii
lage. 1t had been deserted in haste;
Iteepees were half taken down, poles left
standing and utensils scattered around.
Their trail led east from the river to-
wards Powder River Range. We did
not attempt to follow. Our Interpreter
said il was large village belonging to
the Sioux (the Ogalla and Brule); he
could tell by the way their teepees were
put up, The arrows picked up indi-
Gated that other Indians were in the
| fight, beside the two tribes mentioned
Our Interpreter said the village could
but we were certain there were more
than that number fighting us. The In.
ldianS at the time we fought them were
under Spotted Tail and Red Cloud. OuI
iloss was two killed and five wounded
The loss of the Indians was estimated
at 80 killed and wounded
, We only Travelled six or seven miles
that day, when we camped. We were
lall glad of IL, for we needed the rest
don't remember when our flour ra
tions gave out, but for Is days we haC
nothing but horse and mule meat tC
eat.
After the fight the Indians followed
us for several days. but after we lay
: along the river bluffs for them a few
times we thought they had left us. Blu
: in a few days we found that this wa
not so. Four of the Missouri boys
. tired of walking, concluded to have
change, so early one morning. befor'
t many were stirring. they slipped on
s of camp with a mule each. They tool
r the brides belonging TO the team, ant
2 took their own blankets to ride on
] The intention of the four was to keel
D in between the two commands and fol
low our trail. We went into camp tn
= night before several miles above tn
! Missouri command. About 10 in tn
morning 16 Indians came down out o
/ a ravine upon them.
! A Boys Adventure.
I They made a run for it, but one o
: the mules baked and threw its ride
4 into buffalo wallow (hole made b,
) buffaloes in mosketo time). When tn
boy realized where he was he knew h
E had TO do something mighty quick. III
2 hardly got settled in the hole befor
I an Indian jumped off his pony and wa
: lupon him. He shot him, and the In
a dams body lay at the edge of the wal
i low. He peeped out and saw the oths