xxxvi INTRODUCTION. 



advance along the ridge, which he found almost impos- 

 sible, hampered as he was with wounded. The officers 

 were discussing the feasibility of such a movement when 

 the Indians in large numbers were observed coming up 

 the valley. The attack on Ouster had evidently been 

 concluded, and they now hoped to complete the destruc- 

 tion of the 7th Cavalry by the annihilation of Eeno's 

 party. The ground was hard, and the shelter imperfect ; 

 yet attempts had been made to dig rifle pits ; so when the 

 fresh assault had been delivered, the soldiers were in a 

 measure prepared. Yet for a few minutes the lives of 

 all hung in the balance, so desperate was the charge of 

 the blood-stained Sioux. Hand to hand the struggle was 

 maintained ; some of the Indians who had expended their 

 ammunition, entering with clubbed rifles, even hurling 

 stones : and it was long before the Bed Men drew off 

 exhausted and cowed by the loss inflicted. 



No sooner had the day dawned than the attack was 

 renewed with deafening war-whoops, and now all the 

 Indians, numbering 3,000 to 4,000, appeared to be 

 gathered around Eeno. The men had been without water 

 36 hours, and, as the sun grew hot, the suffering increased, 

 and the animals showed signs of perishing, while around 

 rose the piteous cry of the wounded for the water which 

 flowed in a limpid stream below at a distance of some 

 200 yards. Though every inch of the ground was com- 

 manded by Indian sharp-shooters, Eeno determined to 

 procure a supply at all hazards. Suddenly a party sprang 

 out of the entrenchments and rushed down the hill as if 

 to repeat the charge on the valley. The attention of the 

 Indians being diverted by this unexpected attack, another 

 party with camp-kettles and canteens ran into the river, 

 where a storm of bullets passed over their heads, for their 

 comrades were firing at the Indians across the stream, 

 while the Indians were firing at them. So quickly and 



