376 INDIANS. 



where he must fight at such disadvantage. All plains 

 tribes share with the Cheyennes their contempt for moun- 

 tain Indians on the plains, and their fear of them in the 

 mountains. 



The mixed band under Two Lance, before spoken 

 of, had to go well upon the head waters of the Eepub- 

 lican to find buffalo in sufficient numbers. This brought 

 them to the edge of the Ute country. As, Two Lance 

 told me, they feared would be the case, the Utes soon 

 found them out ; and a few warriors, slipping into the 

 vicinity of camp during the night, stampeded the ponies 

 at daybreak, and, in spite of the overwhelming force and 

 hot pursuit of the Sioux, got safe to the mountains with 

 over 200 head. 



In 1867 almost all the plains tribes were on the war 

 path, making a last desperate effort to preserve to them- 

 selves the great buffalo range between the Platte and the 

 Arkansas. A company of fifty Pawnee Indians in the 

 service of the United States, and under a white captain 

 (Major North), was stationed on the Platte opposite Plum 

 Creek. A force of Cheyennes, afterwards ascertained to 

 be 154 strong, came north to capture a train on the 

 Union Pacific Eailroad, and so certain were they of success 

 that they had with them squaws and pack mules to carry 

 off the booty. The Cheyennes struck the Platte at Plum 

 Creek, and, as soon as it was known, the Pawnees were 

 ordered across the river to engage and hold them in 

 check until additional forces could be brought up. 



The captain of the Pawnees, finding his force greatly 

 inferior, resorted to stratagem. Stripping his men to 

 Indian fighting costume, he made each put on his uniform 

 hat, and throw over his shoulder his uniform overcoat, 

 buttoning only the top button ; he then advanced to the 

 attack. The Cheyennes had a most admirable position. 

 Plum Creek is a deep bed, generally dry, some sixty feet 

 wide, with high and almost perpendicular banks. The 

 stage road was crossed by a bridge. The Cheyenne line 



