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The Ravine Fight

The Ravine Fight image
Parent Issue
Day
29
Month
September
Year
1876
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Firing had' ceased, exoept ocoaHional shots froin the ravine on the west side of the village, where it was supposed a single wounderl Indian lay, deterinined to sell his life dearly. During the morning soldiers had been killed by shots froia the ravine. Gou. Crook determined to catch the Indian alive, and eaused th interpreter to make a promise of life to him. Bullets were the only reply. Soldiers posted behind him on the opposite bank had poured their flre into the ravine for hours, but still the Indian's gun was not silenced. Passing frojn the right to the village soldiers were saluted by bullets. Troops were deployed below the inouth of the ravine to make the approach cautiously. They era vs led, with loaded guns. Bullet after bullet was sent over their heads from the depth of the ravine, and they returned, but did not silence the fire. The excitement spread through the camp, and the mouth of tlie ravine becamo the focus of a crowd. Heveral oflicers joined in the siege ; the stronghold was approached by hundreds of eager soldiers under the delusion that they were to see an Indian made prisoner. Hitherto only single shots had come from within; but suddenly there was a volley through the approaching troops, which eaused an indescribabie rush away from the spot, and the wildest confusión reigned. The ravine was f uil of Indiaus, who, after the first charge in the morning, had fled there to hide. The volley wounded private Kennedy of the Fiith Cavalry. The siege became-rnore tragic and earnest. Oapt. Munson was foremostpeering over the steep bank into the ravine, when he slipped in through a dense bramble and found himself among the Indians. The dry water-bed was narrow and deep, and hidden by brush. Seyeral warriors lay face downward in this trench, and had built small breastworks aoross it with mud and roots. Behind these were a score of squaws and childreu. Some of these were wounded, and the raud was drenched and bushes spattered with blood. Munson gaantly seized a squaw, and, putting her papoose on his back, shoved her out. One buck was lying on a dead infant. Munson had barely a glimpse of the interior of this strange stronghold, and then dodged back to escape the muzzles of flve guns over his head. Bullets hissed both ways, the soldiers pressing forward to fire. They several times swayed backward bef ore the flre of the Indians, and the roar of musketry was like that at Antietam. Baptiste, the Pawnee Bcout, dashed in and caught two other squaws and a young brave. They said the rest would surrender, but when quarter was again proposed they answered with búllete. John White, known as Buffalo White, a friend and follower of Buffalo Bill, was shot through the heart. Baptiste just escaped a ball to kill the savage who fired it, and scallped him in an instant. A talk was meanwhile held with the women who had been rescued. One of theni, who was wounded, said she would go into the ravine and induce the Indians still alive to surrender. She weet, and soon after led out a forlorn-looking group. There were several squaws and two bucks, one of them nareed Black Wolf. On entering the stronghold there were found three dead squaws and one dead brave. American Horse or Iron Shield wafc found horribly wounded in the abdomen. He was brought out and cared for by the surgeons, but died this morning. The captivos were twenty-one in number. When they surrendered ihey seemed to expect irnniediate death. A squaw discovered her dead papoose in a tepee, and was a picture of intense woe.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus