CHAPTER IX.
SCOUT AND BUFFALO HUNT.
Arming and Feeding Our Indian Allies—The Mules and the Infantry— How the Latter Rose Rapidly in the World—Indians Laugh at the Mishaps of the Walk-a-heaps—The Savages as Horsemen—Preparing for Battle—Composition of the Army—Parking the Wagon Train —Medicine Men and Head Soldiers—Their Morning Harangues—The March on Rosebud—A Matchless Buffalo Hunt — Indications of an Early Fight— Laggard Allies—Position of War — Correspondents in Indian Campaigns, etc.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER X.
BATTLE OF THE ROSEBUD.
Dawn on the Rosebud—The Indians Finally Move Forward—Bearing of the Soldiers —Down the Valley—The Halt Among the Bluffs— Shots Beyond the Ridge —Indian Allies Make Good Time “ Heap Sioux, Heap Sioux!”—Saddling Up—Infantry Deploy as Skirmishers— Charges of Mills’ and Henry’s Battalions—The Sioux Fall Back but Keep on Fighting—Fierce Conflict Between our Indians and the Enemy—An Exciting Scene—Rescue of Sergt. Van Moll by the Crow “ Humpy ”—Colonel Henry Wounded—Mills’ March Down the Canon —The Movement Countermanded—He and Major Noyes Defile by Their Left and Fall Upon the Rear of the Sioux — The Latter Break and Run — Royall’s Peril—Losses in the Fight—The General Dissatisfied at the Result—How the Correspondents Acted—Treatment of the Wounded —Stuck Full of Arrows —Savage Mutilation —Indians Weeping for Their Slain—An Atrocious Crow Scoundrel — The Retrograde Movement — We Rejoin our Wagon Train, etc.
CHAPTER XI.
IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOUNTAINS.
Monotony of Camp Life—A Period of Inaction—The Indian Allies go to See their Mothers' People—Light Literature in Camp—Schwatka and Sir John Franklin —A Man in Love with his own Wife— Lieutenant Lawson's Peculiarities —Reflections on Idle Life in the Wilderness— Arrival of Lieutenant Schuyler and Party— News from Terry—and Custer — Nearer to the Foothills —Colonel Mills Sees the Smoke of Custer’s Battle on the June 25 —Supposes it to be a Prairie Fire— Military Men Petulant during Days of Idleness —The Noble Art of —14 Sitting Down On " Each Other—Capers Cut Before High Heaven—Unromantic-looking Heroes—Rumors of Custer's Disaster —A “ Heap of Pony Soldiers" Reported by Indians and Half-Breeds to have been “Wiped Out"—Exploring the Big Horn Mountians, etc.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XII.
ACROSS THE SNOWY RANGE.
A Strong Hunting Party—Noble Scenery of the Big Horn Range— The Eternal Snows and Ever-falling Waters—A Duplicate of the Pass of St. Gothard —Picturesque Lakes and Charming Trout Streams —The Western Slope—Beautiful Nature—Killing the Big Horn Sheep— A Charming Camp—Colonel Mills and the Author Cross the Range—On the Mountain Peak—View of Wind River Valley and the Gray Bull and Big Horn Rivers—“Bring along Your Italy!”—A Few Shots at Mountain Buffalo—The Return to Camp—A New Trail—A Snowstorm in July—Hunting for Gold—No Paying Prospect—Back to Headquarters for the Fourth, etc
CHAPTER XIII.
THE SIBLEY SCOUT—A CLOSE CALL.
The Author Volunteers to Accompany a Forlorn Hope—Organization of the Scouting Party under Lieut. F. W. Sibley, of the 2d Cavalry—Leaving Camp-Halt at Big Goose Creek—A Mysterious Object—The Movement in the Gloom - On the Montana Immigrant Trail— "The Rising of the Moon"—Marching by Moonlight—A Dead Silence—The Mountains at Night—A Halt in the Early Morning—Bivouacking near the Foe—The March Resumed—The Scouts sec a War Party of Hostiles—Retreat to the Foot Hills —Our Trail Discovered—Sibley’s Remarks—We Retire to the Mountains —The Sioux Hunting Trail —An Unfortunate Halt—The Ride Resumed —Fired upon from the Rocks and Timber—Seeking Shelter in the Woods —Wounded Horses—A Skirmish Line in the Edge of the Forest —The Indian Charge Repulsed—Fighting for our Lives— The Indian Leader Killed — How it Feels to be Looking Death Squarely in the Face—A Prolonged Conflict—The Indians Reinforced —They Occupy the Passes— Gruard and Pourier advise Sibley to Abandon Remaining Horses and Retreat through the Woods and Rocks in Rear —Sibley’s
CONTENTS
Reluctance—The Scouts Declare it the Only Chance of Escape—Sibley Finally Consents—Beginning of the Retreat — We Ford the Head Waters of Tongue River—Hearing the Sioux Firing Volleys at our late Position—Gruard's Remarks Peak —Toilsome Mountain March—Midnight Halt on Unknown —Terrific Wind and Hail Storm—The March Resumed—A Dash Down a Valley—Scaling an Awful Cliff—A Dive for Water— Sighting Another War Party—Resolve to Retreat no Further— Taking up a Strong Position—Savages Fail to Observe us—Luck on Both Sides —A Welcome Rest—Night March Across the Plains—Fording a Mountain Torrent in Darkness—Two Men Weaken at the Dangerous Crossing —Still more Indians Sighted —Our Exasperation—Soldier Hunters Appear—Surprised at our Appearance—Six Miles in Four Hours — Send into Camp for Horses— Weakness of Sibley’s Men from Toil and Starvation—Arrival in Camp —Our Reception —Congratulations on our Wonderful Escape, etc.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE CUSTER MASSACRE.
General Crook goes Hunting Again—Official Account of Custers Disaster—Statement of the Crow Scout, Curly—The only Survivor of Custer’s Immediate Command —The Fire of the Sioux was “ Like the Snapping of Threads in Tearing a Blanket ” Custer Among the Last to Fall —Gall, the Sioux Leader, Confirms Curly’s Story— Custer never Crossed, the River—How the Companies of Calhoun and Keogh Died in Their Tracks—Custer’s Error—Reno and Marshal Grouchy—General Terry’s Famous Order to Custer—Desirable to Enclose the Hostiles Between Custer’s and Gibbon’s Columns— Irresolute Conduct of Major Reno—Division of the Command and March to the Little Big Horn—Reno’s Retreat to the Bluffs— Junction with Benteen and MacDougall—Benteen’s Statement— First Sight of the Hostiles—“ Hurrah! Custer’s Luck! ” Shouted the Doomed Hero —Custer and
CONTENTS
Samson—Their Shorn Locks—Horned Horse’s Version of the Fight—Captain Clark Pumps the Old Savage—First Appearance of the Troops on the Bluffs—The Indians Rush to Arms —They are Mostly on Foot—The Troops Disappear—The Head of Custer’s Column Shows Itself in a Small Ravine —Its Charge Repulsed—Soldiers Swallowd by the Quicksand —A Terrific Fusillade—Soldiers Melt like Snow Before It—They Fall Dead in Heaps—Their Steady Courage—Panic Among Their Horses —They Use their Revolvers—The Worthless Carbines— Practically Disarmed—The Custer Family Wiped Out—Reno’s Sorry Plight—The Exultant Savages Exhibit Custer’s Guidons— Arrival of Generals Terry and Gibbon—The Soldiers Cheer Them— An Exciting Scene—The Generals Console the Discouraged Troops—Ghastly Scenes on Custer’s Battlefield—The Hero’s Body Escapes Mutilation—Terry Retires on His Base of Supplies—He Rests at Rosebud Landing until August, etc.
CHAPTER XV.
MERRITT’S FIGHT ON THE WAR BONNET.
Return of the Snakes—Indian Deviltry—Arrival of the Wagon Train— Bad Women and Worse Whisky—A Captain Dismissed in the Field —General Crook’s Anger—The Women Arrested and the Whisky Seized—Arrival of Couriers from General Terry—Traveling in the Indian Country, and How it is Done—Waiting for Reinforcements— The 5th Cavalry Unexpectedly Delayed on its March to Join Crook —General Merritt’s Brilliant Conduct in Checking the Cheyenne Tribe on War Bonnet Creek—He Drives Them into Red Cloud Agency—The Chief. Yellow Hand, Killed by Buffalo Bill —Thrilling Adventure of a Scout named Kelly—He Goes Alone Through the Wilderness with Dispatches from Crook to Terry—He Gives Some Pointers on How to Make the Trip