Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-03-30

the Custer fight in June were crossing
Yellowstone river below the mouth OF the
Powder river and SO reported TO Colonel
Miles. He at once fitted up an expedi-
ton and took the Indians trail from
where they had crossed Yellowstone. Our
instructions were, If we got to talk with
any of these Indians, to tell them that
Colonel Miles wanted to hold a council
with them and they agreed to talk with
him on the divide between the Yellow
stone and Missouri rivers. We rode a
circle and presently met two Indians who
rode the peace circle. These particular
ones did not want to fight us. Gan In
dian rides different from a white man. A
white man rides in a circle to the right
and an Indian rides the reverse, and If
he means peace he rides the way we do,
to the right. We know by that they
mean peace.) The Indians were Mini
conjou Sioux and we informed them that
the colonel wanted to hold a council with
them. Later their scouts said that Gall,
the chief, would talk with the colonel
and a meeting was agreed. They agreed
to meet on the divide between the yell
lowstone and Missouri.
"The Indians we're camped down there
and we could see them. The prairie was
full of hostile Indians, but Chief Gall
and Sitting Bull came in and talked
with Colonel Miles and he offered them
terms. They, the two chiefs, said they
wanted to talk with their people before
they would agree to these terms and
they left and started toward their camp.
AT that time we saw the Indians move
their camp and told the colonel that
they were moving. He gave them one
half hour to return and answer. At the
end of the half hour they were not COM
ing and the colonel started the troops
moving toward their camp. Presently
we saw Chief Gall riding a circle and the
colonel inquired What is he saying?'
Our answer was, He wants to know what
you are following him for2' His reply was
III show him what l am following him
for. You scouts take in that man If you
can,'-that was Gall. We, the scouts.
rode out toward him and the Indians
commenced firing at us. We n the
troops would return the fire whenever
opportunity offered and had a running
fight until dusk.
Indians Divide Trail
Colonel Miles went into lamp and
next morning we started out on the trail
again and the Indians commenced firing
at us again, and In a short time the trail
divided. One part went toward the
Missouri river and the other toward the
Yellowstone river. The colonel followed
the trail toward the Yellowstone river
and had a running fight until the In
dians crossed the Yellowstone river. The
Indians agreed to Colonel Miles terms
Agreed to go to Standing Rock agency
Instead of doing that, they went up tc
Tongue river. Colonel Miles in Deem
Der QUILTED and took the trail going
toward the Missouri river and went tc
Fort Peck. We found no trace of the
Hunkpapas and the colonel sent -four OF
US TO Wolf Point on the Missouri river
Yellowstone Kelly, Tom Newcomb, my
self n Jim Wood. The trader at Vol
Point reported that he knew nothing OF
any hostile Indians. We took dinner With
him and his wife. He was acting agent
His wife entertained us playing the gui-
tar. Long Fox Of the Hunkpapas came
into the dining room while we were eat
ing and wanted the hostile Indians not
to be allowed to come and try TO get hit
chief to go and join the hostiles.
After dinner, Kelly, Newcomb. WOOD
and myself found Long Fox and asked
him Where are any of these hostile In
dians?' He went to the door OF his lodge
looked out across the Missouri river and
saw two Indians crossing the Missouri
on the ice and said, Them Indians are
from Sitting Bulls camp We inquired
where they camped and he answered
over on the Red Water That was what
we wanted TO know, ana started DacK tt
report to Colonel Miles. The colonel sale
he would remain at Fort Peck two days
waiting for us, and after two days he
would start up the Dry Fork. On re-
turning to Peck we found that the com
mand had been gone for two days. VIZ
took up the military trail and followed
We were disappointed and rode fast anc
wondered what was the reason, but or
the first day from Dry Fork we knew VIC
we're getting close to the command ano
in the distance saw mounted men, anc
after watching for a little time took II
for granted that IL was mounted mer
with the command. We started on anc
the mounted men went out OF sight. WI
became suspicious that something was
wrong and In riding up Dry Creek We
were fired on from ambush. We tooR
shelter In a clump of trees n could see
no enemy. 1t was coming on late In the
evening and Yellowstone Kelly said, we
can't stay here; l will walk out in sight
and draw their fire. You men watch the
bank n when their heads show up, you
men can pick them off, He walked out
from behind the tree In plain sight Of
the Indians but no other shot was fired
Say. II that didn't take nerve, Kelly ther
said. Men. mount and we will ride right
out after them We mounted our horses
but found that the Indians had taker
night and were well IA OF range"