The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-07-24
rses' hoofs breaking through the

horses boots breaking through the
crust.
The trail was as distinct as a road,
and the guides pushed ahead as rapid
ly as by daylight, yet with ever in
creaslng caution. Suddenly one Of the
osages signalled Cor a halt, averring
that ne smelled fire. The scouts dis
mounted and csept forward, discover
Ing a small campfire, deserted but
sun smouldering, in a strip Of timber.
Careful examination made 1t certain
That this fire must have been kindled
by Indian boys, herding ponies during
the day, and probably meant that the
village was close at hand. The Usage
guides and the two white scouts again
picked up the trail, the cavalry ad-
vancing slowly some distance behind.
custer, accompanied by Hamlin, rode
q yard to the rear and joined h
scouts, who were cautiously feeling
their way up a slight declivity.
The Usage in advance crept through
The snow to the crest of the ridge and
looked carefully down into the valley
below. Instantly his hand went up In
q gesture OF caution and he hurriediy
made his cautious way back to where
Custer sat his horse waiting.
What is It? What did you seer"
Heap lnJuns down there!"
The General swung down from his
saddle, motioned the Sergeant to fol-
low, and the two men crept to the
crest and looked owe The dim moon
light was confusing. while the shadow
Of timber rendered everything indis-
tinct. Yet they were able to make
out a herd of ponies, distinguished the
distant bark Of a dog and the tinkle
of a bell. Without question this was
the Indians winter camp, and they
had reached it undiscovered. Custer
glanced at his watch-the hour was
past midnight. He pressed Hamlin's
sleeve, his lips close to the ~Sergeant's
ear.
Creep back and bring my officers
up here" he whispered. Have them
take off their sabres."
AS they crept, one after the other,
to where he lay in the snow, the Gen.
cral, whose eyes had become accus-
toned to the monaghan, pointed out
the location of the village and such
natural surroundings as could be
vaguely distinguished. The situation
thus outlined in their minds, they
drew silently back from the crest, leav-
ing there a single Usage guide on
guard, and returned to the waiting
regiment, standing to horse less than
a mile distant. Clusters orders for
immediate attack came swiftly, and
Hamlin, acting as his orderly, bore
them to the several commands. The
entire force was slightly in excess Of
eight hundred men, and there was
every probability that the Indians out
numbered them five to one. Scouts
had reported to Sheridan that this
camp Of Black Kettles was the win
ter rendezvous not only of the Chey-
ennes, but also Of bands of fighting
Arapahoes, Kiowas, Comanches, and
even some Apaches, the most daring
and desperate warriors Of the plains.
Yet this was no time to hesitate, to
debate; it was a moment for decisive
action. The blow must be struck at
once, before daylight, with all the
power of surprise.
The little body Of cavalrymen was
divided into four detachments. Two
of these were at once marched to the
left. circling the village silently in
the darkness, and taking up a position
at the farther extremity. A third de-
tachment moved to the right and found
their way down into the valley, where
they lay concealed in a strip Of tim
Der. Custer, with the fourth detach-
ment under his w command, re-
manned in position on the trail. The