enemy approach, but none came. The four men, in the mean time, ran
to the fort and gave the alarm. We followed them and attacked their
fort. One of their braves, who seemed more valiant than the rest, raised
his head above the picketing to fire at us when one of my braves, with a
well-directed shot, put an end to his bravery. Finding that these people
could not be killed without setting fire to their houses and fort I
thought it more prudent to be content with what flour, provisions,
cattle and horses we could find than to set fire to their buildings, as
the light would be seen at a distance and the army might suppose we were
in the neighborhood and come upon us with a strong force. Accordingly
we opened a house and filled our bags with flour and provisions, took
several horses and drove off some of their cattle.
We started in a direction toward sunrise. After marching a considerable
time I discovered some white men coming towards us. I told my braves
that we would go into the woods and kill them when they approached.
We concealed ourselves until they came near enough and then commenced
yelling and firing and made a rush upon them. About this time their
chief, with a party of men, rushed up to rescue the men we had fired
upon. In a little while they commenced retreating and left their chief
and a few braves who seemed willing and anxious to fight. They acted
like men, but were forced to give way when I rushed upon them with my
braves. In a short time the chief returned with a lager party. He seemed
determined to fight, and anxious for a battle. When he came near enough
I raised the yell and firing commenced from both sides. The chief, who
seemed to be a small man, addressed his warriors in a loud voice, but
they soon retreated, leaving him and a few braves on the battle field.
A great number of my warriors pursued the retreating party and killed a
number of their horses as they ran.
The chief and his few braves were unwilling to leave the field. I
ordered my braves to rush upon them, and had the mortification of seeing
two of my chiefs killed before the enemy retreated.
This young chief deserves great praise for his courage and bravery, but
fortunately for us, his army was not all composed of such brave men.
During this attack we killed several men and about forty horses and lost
two young chiefs and seven warriors. My braves were anxious to pursue
them to the fort, attack and burn it, but I told them it was usel
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