By this manoeuver we had avoided discovery by the Sioux scouts, and we were confident of giving them a complete surprise.  Keeping the command wholly out of sight, until we were within a mile of the Indians, the General halted the advance guard until all closed up, and then issued an order, that, when he sounded the charge, the whole command was to rush into the village.

As we halted on the top of the hill overlooking the camp of the unsuspecting Indians, General Carr called out to his bugler:  “Sound the charge!” The bugler for a moment became intensely excited, and actually forgot the notes.  The General again sang out:  “Sound the charge!” and yet the bugler was unable to obey the command.  Quartermaster Hays—­who had obtained permission to accompany the expedition—­was riding near the General, and comprehending the dilemma of the man, rushed up to him, jerked the bugle from his hands and sounded the charge himself in clear and distinct notes.  As the troops rushed forward, he threw the bugle away, then drawing his pistols, was among the first men that entered the village.

The Indians had just driven up their horses and were preparing to make a move of the camp, when they saw the soldiers coming down upon them.  A great many of them succeeded in jumping upon their ponies, and, leaving every thing behind them, advanced out of the village and prepared to meet the charge; but upon second thought they quickly concluded that it was useless to try to check us, and, those who were mounted rapidly rode away, while the others on foot fled for safety to the neighboring hills.  We went through their village shooting right and left at everything we saw.  The Pawnees, the regular soldiers and the officers were all mixed up together, and the Sioux were flying in every direction.

General Carr had instructed the command that when they entered the village, they must keep a sharp look out for white women, as he was confident the Indians had some captives.  The company which had been ordered to take possession of the village after its capture, soon found two white women, one of whom had just been killed and the other wounded.  They were both Swedes, and the survivor could not talk English.  A Swedish soldier, however, was soon found who could talk with her.  The name of this woman was Mrs. Weichel, and her story as told to the soldier was, that as soon as the Indians saw the troops coming down upon them, a squaw—­Tall Bull’s wife—­had killed Mrs. Alderdice, the other captive, with a hatchet, and then wounded her.  This squaw had evidently intended to kill both women to prevent them from telling how cruelly they had been treated.

[Illustration:  INDIAN VILLAGE.]