The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-06-29

even among the citizens of the local
ity where their great achievement
were performed.
In June, 1867, Driscoll was
member of the Second battalion o.
the Twenty-seventh U. S. infantry
company K, under Captain E. F
Thompson. This command was con
veying supplies from Fort Kearney
to Fort C. S. Smith, distance of 11C
miles. Fort G. S. Smith was in this
state about ITO miles due south from
Fort Custer. Fort Phil Kearney was
in Wyoming about half way between
Sheridan and Buffalo. Both these
forts have long since been disman-
tied. The trip to Fort G. S. Smith
was made without incident. Com
pany X was returning in company
with company A. AS they approach
ed Trout creek they were suddenly
surrounded by large war party of
Sioux. Following the Indian custom
the savages first stampeded the stock
leaving Thompson one blind mule
which refused to travel, at least not
at stampede gait.
Then began desperate fight for
life, the soldiers being outnumbered
10 to l by tribe one of whose
chiefs, Red Cloud, had sworn to fight
to the death until every white man
was driven out of the Indian coun-
try.
Indians Attack
The soldiers we're completely sur
rounded. The Indians made rush
after rush as the days wore by and
the whites we're barely able to hold
the red warriors in check, but each
new onslaught FASTENED the time
when the scalps of the white men
would adorn a lodge pole in a Sioux
tepee, while the bodies of the SOL
diers would be food for the wolves.
The crisis was reached when every
avenue of escape was apparently cut
off and with rations and ammuni-
ton getting peri1ously low. Unless
help came the soldiers would be
shortly annihilated. To attempt to
summon help appeared so suicidal
that the officer in command hest
tated to call on his men to under
take such forlorn hope. Finally,
driven to desperation by the situation
of his men, Captain Thompson called
for volunteers to carry a dispatch
to Fort G. S. Smith, 40 miles away.
There were old frontiersmen in the |
detachment, men who knew the Ind
ian methods and who realized the |
risk. Even Jack Henshaw, a Cana
dian half breed with long record |
for clever scouting and death-defy-
ing undertakings, stood silent as
Captain Thompson made the an
nouncement that the lives of the de-
tachment depended on the skill and |
daring of some comrade who would
undertake to break through the cor
don of red fiends who were remorse-
lessly set on annihilating the COM
mand. cit would be suicide, cap
-ain," said Canadian Jack as Captain
Thompson repeated his appeal
DriscoIl Volunteers
From the ranks stepped a lad, the
Town still fresh on his cheeks, but
/ light of high adventure in his eye.
''I'll try it, captain he said mod
sstly. The speaker was young Dris-
oil.
do you think you can make it? !
DO you feel that you will not become I
frightened and turn back?"
The boyish chin came forward and T
he jaws frightened with determine t
ion. t
"I'll make the trip or die on the a
yay," he said with careless smile. C
If they run into me, we will have Il
he DEVILS own time of it, and he b
atted the butt of his rifle. il
Canadian Jack rushed forward and b
resented the volunteer with Il
race of Colt revolvers and a field Il
lass. The gods watch over the Il
rave. AS nightfall approached, the Il
me at which Driscoll was to make a
is forlorn attempt to secure help, b
eavy storm broke and the air was tt
emit by the thunder of the elements b.
Hence was not requisite under Il
lie conditions. Speed was essential d.
Though the fort was 40 miles away
Y wagon road it would be folly to al
tempt that route. The way across h
lie hills was much longer so Driscoll ii
ut his dispatches in his bosom, 81
ounted the blind army mule and a.
ade a break for the open. al
Evades the Sentries tn
The Indians have a superstition -
at man killed in the darkness of ~ ~
ght must spend eternity in dark -
'ss. This belief does not prevent -
EN- from cunning for victims by ~
oonlight. The belief, the darkness, ~
e crashing of the thunder and the =,
dams feeling that it would be i'm ~
'ssible for any one to pass their H.
les all played into the hands of the &c &c
ung soldier. He managed to evade =;
cir sentries and travelled all night - =.
thout being seen. This was effect an an
only through stealthy progress, az az
rve-racking waits, and passage ~ ~.
er rough and dangerous ground. ~
hen morning dawned, the exhaust ~ ~
young soldier YEARLY made his ~ ~
W to a high point of ground to 90
ke his bearings. ~ =,
Sweeping the plain with his field ~
asses he espied what appeared to ~ ~
a herd of buffalo and with a sigh - -
relief he decided to lie down for "a
short rest. Something prompted 80 80
n to have another look at the buff -
o herd. With amazement he dis ~
vered that the supposed buffalo a.,
re really war party of Indians. oo o1
H.. i L. 4