The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1943-09-09

remaining company, B, was left
to guard the pack train. After
marching two or three miles, our
command, the center, was or
dered to trot and hold the gait
until we reached the river, six
or seven miles distant. Having
reached the river, we forded, and
on reaching the plain beyond
the opposite bank, we were Or
dered into line of battle.
Everything being as was or
dered, we started on a gallop,
and for two miles pursued on
the verge of an immense and
binding cloud of dust, raised by
the madly flying Savages ahead
of us. The dust cloud was so
dense that we could distinguish
nothing, so Major Reno halted
the battalion, and after dis
mounting, formed a skirmish
line, the right flank on the edge
of a dry, thickly-wooded creek.
While the horses were being led
to the shelter of the wood, the
Indians opened a calling fire
on us, which was Immediately
responded to-, the skirmish con-
tinuing for about half an hour.
1t was now discovered that on
the other side of the creek, in
a park-like opening, there were
a few lodges, and the whole line
crossed the creek to find the
lodges deserted and to be re-
ceived by about two hundred
yelping, yelling redskins. The
fire from the numerically SUI
perior force neceSSitated a re-
treat, which was almost impos-
sible, as we were now surround
| ed by the warriors. When we en-
tered the engagement we were
, only one hundred strong, and
the fire of the enemy had made
havoc in our little band. When
we were halfway over the
creek, I , being in the rear, not
iced a gildon planted on the
side we had left, and returned
to take it. When coming through
the wood. the gildon entangled
itself in the branches and slip
ped from my hand. I dismount-
ed to pick it up, and led my
horse to the south bank of the
creek. As I was about to mount
my horse was struck by a bull
let, and becoming frightened,
he ran into the Indians, leaving
me dismounted in the company
of about three hundred Sioux,
not more than fifty yards dis
tant. They poured a whistling
| volley at me, but I was not
| wounded, and managed to es-
cape to the thicket nearby
where I would have ar oppor-
tunity of defending myself and
selling my life at a good high
figure.
IN this thicket I found Mr..
Girard, the interpreter; a half
breed Indian and Private ONeil
of Company G.. The first two of
the quartet had their horses,
while O'Neil and myself were
dismounted. I told the owners of
the horses that the presence of
the animals would betray us,
suggesting at the same time
that they be stampeded. They
! declined to act on the sugges-
ton, and I left them and
crawled through the thick I'M
derbrush into the deep, dry bot
! tom of the creek, where I could
not easily be discovered, and
whence I hoped to be able, un-
der cover of darkness, to steal
out and rejoin the command.
II had not been in this hiding
place more than ten minutes
when I heard several pistol
/ shots fired in my immediate vic
unity, and shortly thereafter
came to me the silver, but dia-
/! bolical voices of several SquaWs
I raised my head with great
caution to see what the women
were at, and to discover their
exact location. I found them at
the revolving work of scalplng
a soldier who was perhaps not
yet dead. Two of the ladies
were cutting away, while two
others performed a sort of war
dance around the body and its
mutilators. I will not attempt
to describe my feelings at wit
Messing the disgusting perfor-
nance. You, as the father Of a
family can imagine what an
other father of a family would
feel on such a terrible occasion
I confess I thought of my dear
wife, my dear children, rela-
tives and friends whom I would
probably see no more, and there
before my eyes was being per-
formed that which in the event
of discovery would be my own
fate. I determined to hope to
the last, die as I had lived, and
sell my life as dearly as possible.
Finally the squaws went away
presumably to hunt for more
victims. I employed the time
thinking Of my own pertlous
position.
while thus engaged, I heard
a cracking noise near me,