536 The Book of Woodcraft 



barrack. These formed in line m front of the barrack and 

 opened fire on the guardhouse and upon the troopers as 

 they came pouring out of neighboring barracks. Thus 

 they held the garrison in check until the women and 

 children and the old and infirm were in full flight. 



Taken completely by surprise, the troops, nevertheless, 

 did fearfully effective work. Captain Wessells soon had 

 them out, and not a few entered into the fight and pursuit 

 clad in nothing but their underclothing, hatless and shoe- 

 less. 



The fugitives took the road to the sawmill crossing of 

 White River, only a few hundred yards distant from their 

 barracks, crossed the White River, and started southwest 

 toward my ranch, where they evidently expected to mount 

 themselves out of my herd of cow ponies, for they carried 

 with them all their lariats, saddles, and bridles to this point. 

 Here, pressed hopelessly close by the troops, their gallant 

 rear-guard melting fast before the volleys of the pursuers, 

 the Indians dropped their horse equipments, turned, and 

 recrossed White River, and headed for the high, precipitous 

 divide between Soldier Creek and White River, two miles 

 nearer their then position than the cHfifs about my ranch. 

 They knew their only chance lay in quickly reaching hills 

 inaccessible to cavalry. 



All history affords no record of a more heroic, forlorn 

 hope than this Cheyenne sortie. 



Had the bucks gone alone, many would surely have es- 

 caped, but they resolved to die together and to protect their 

 women and children to the last. 



Thus more than half their fighting men fell in the first half 

 mile of this flying fight. And as the warriors fell, their 

 arms were seized by the squaws and boys, who wielded them 

 as best they could! 



In the gloom of night the soldiers could not distinguish a 



