Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-10-04

hostiles decided to take a vote on the
proposition. The Crows told us that the
question was settled by the indians
lining up In two squads After this
had been done, it was found that the
fighting force was about equally di-
vided on the matter, so it was de-
cided to divide the force and attack
both forts at the same time, as the
hoStileS considered themselves suffi-
GENTLY powerful in numbers to cap
ture and destroy both Forts Smith
and Kearney.
Defeated in Field
such was the report brought to
us by these Grows, who had seen the
matter decided. The band which was
to attack Fort Phil Kearney left at
once, as they had about 95 miles to
travel, and did not reach the Wagon
BOX corral until two days later, Aug.
2. The balance of the hostiles' waited
until the following day and then
started to try and capture Fort Smith.
They encountered us at the hay field,
and there we gave them such drub-
bling that they made no attempt
against the fort itself.
description of the corral which we had
constructed at the hay field. 1t had
been built about a week before the
Indians descended upon us. Good sized
logs were first laid on the ground
around space about 100 feet square
Upright posts were set in the earth
at certain distances apart, and to these
posts stringers were nailed. In between
the stringers were tightly woven passes
of willow boughs with the leaves and
twigs attached and so tightly inter
laced as to form good place for our
stock at night and for defensive pur-
poses should we be attacked.
Tight Barricade
1.-THE barricade was so constructed
that 1t was impossible to see through
the willows. There was a picket line
strung across the corral north and
south, and about Is feet west of the
center. We had the wagon beds set
off the wagons on the west side of
our little improvised fort with about
three feet of space between them, and
about four feet back from the fence.
They were covered with canvas in the
usual manner, and we used them to
sleep in. There were also three tents
In the northwest corner of the corral
This arrangement prevented anyone
from seeing across the corral from
the outside. I believe the fact that we
were thus pretty effectually hidden is
the only thing that saved us that day
ION the morning Of Aug. / there
we're 10 Of us at work in the hay field
rs usual. It was about $3.50 when q
rusillade Of shots, accompanied by the
warwhoop and yells of the Indians,
warned us that the story told by the
Crows had pretty much Of the element
Of truth to 1t. We all got back to the
corral without losing man, and here
We began preparations for a most de-
5ermined resistance The soldiers had
lust received so caliber breech- loading
rifles, and each man had so rounds
If ammunition. we citizen employees
we're all armed with repeating rifles
Henry and Spencer guns, save one
nan, zeke Colvin, who was using an
Enfield musket which he had carried |
through the Civil war.
Fight In Prone Position
'Of course, the only chance we had |
vas to keep down out of sight. How
.ver, Lieutenant Sternburg and an
,ther soldier were both killed at the
of the fight through their
Iwn carelessness. They insisted on
tanding up, and called to Us to do
he same, and to fight like men, The
est Of us knew that the only chance
We had was to lie down and keep
ut Of sight and we did.
after the death Of the lieutenant,
,apt. d. A. Colvtn took charge Of our
'arty. He had won his stripes In the
;ivil war, and was a seasoned veteran
cool, absolutely fearless, yet discreet.
Ie ordered every man Of us TO do our
Ighting over the top Of the lower log
hitch formed the corral, and behind
hitch we were pretty well screened
y the willows. Everything that was
foot or 10 inches above ground was
IMPLY shot to pieces by the Indians.
lays Many Indians
II don't believe there Is smother
IAN living, or that ever lived, who
illed as many Indians f1 a dav as ,