The company which I headed struck out toward the northwest over a route indicating the march of about one hundred Indians, and we followed this for nearly two days.  At a short bend of the Platte a new trail was discovered leading into the one the company was following, and at this point it was evident that a junction had been made.  Farther along, evidences of a reunion of the entire village increased, and now it began to appear that farther pursuit would be somewhat hazardous, owing to the greater force of the Indians.  But there were plenty of brave men in the company, and nearly all were anxious to meet the Indians, however great their numbers might be.  This anxiety was appeased on the third day, when a party of about six hundred Sioux was discovered riding in close ranks near the Platte.  The discovery was mutual, and there was immediate preparation for battle on both sides.  Owing to the overwhelming force of the Indians, extreme caution became necessary, and instead of advancing boldly, the soldiers sought advantageous ground.  Seeing this, the Indians became convinced that there had been a division of General Carr’s command, and that the company before them was a fragmentary part of the expedition; they therefore assumed the aggressive, charging us until we were compelled to retire to a ravine and act on the defensive.  The attack was made with such caution that the soldiers fell back without undue haste, and had ample opportunity to secure their horses in the natural pit, which was a ravine that during wet seasons formed a branch of the Platte.

After circling about the soldiers with the view of measuring their full strength, the Indians, comprehending how small was the number, made a desperate charge from two sides, getting so near us that several of the soldiers were badly wounded by arrows.  But the Indians were received with such a withering fire that they fell back in confusion, leaving twenty of their warriors on the ground.  Another charge resulted like the first, with heavy loss to the redskins, which so discouraged them that they drew off and held a protracted council.  After discussing the situation among themselves for more than an hour they separated, one body making off as though they intended to leave, but I understood too well to allow the soldiers to be deceived.

The Indians who remained again began to ride in a circle around us, but maintained a safe distance, out of rifle range.  Seeing an especially well-mounted Indian riding at the head of a squad, passing around in the same circle more than a dozen times, I decided to take my chances for dismounting the chief—­as he proved to be—­and to accomplish this purpose I crawled on my hands and knees three hundred yards up the ravine, stopping at a point which I considered would be in range of the Indian when he should again make the circuit.  My judgment proved correct, for soon the Indian was seen loping his pony through the grass, and as he slackened speed to cross the ravine,