g out as hard as he could,
soon got into camp safe and sound. The sight of the military astonished
the Indians so that they did not try to recapture Bennett, but made
good time in every direction to escape. The soldiers were just getting
up for "_reveille_," when the guard saw Bennett coming with the
Indians, they driving and whipping him with their bows. The shout rang
out, "Indians! Indians!" and at once they opened fire, officers and
soldiers tumbling out of their beds. Some had on their drawers
only,--some in one stocking, and many without boots,--all seized their
arms, and rushing to the picket lines, unhitched their horses, jumped
on with no time to saddle, and without hats galloped over the hills in
pursuit of the flying Indians. Learning that some cattle were run off
near the town, some of the soldiers galloped through the streets and
hallooing "Indians!"--a cry the most terrible of all alarms along the
border,--soon brought every man to his feet, and gun in hand, rush out
to meet the foe. Soon these half-naked warriors had cleared the hills
of the red men, and strolling home as the sun rose over the bluffs,
when a horseman came into Major Gordon's camp with the news that
"Miner's Delight" camp was attacked, and the teams of Mr. Fleming, who
was hauling hay for the government. Major Gordon taking Lieutenant
Stambaugh, Sergeant Brown, and nine privates (all the soldiers in the
camp), and leaving orders for the rest to follow as fast as they came
in, they set off for the hay-field, distant about eight miles. There
they saw none, as the Indians had left, but striking their trail, went
on as fast as possible. A storm had been gathering all the morning, and
soon as they had gone six miles, it burst upon them with terrible fury,
completely covering up all traces of the enemy. The major thinking it
useless to follow further, set out to return to the post; but he had
not gone far before he encountered a lot of about sixty Indians. The
snow and sleet was so blinding at the time, that he did not see them
until he came close upon them. A charge at once was ordered, and the
troops dashed forward, scattering the Indians in every direction.
Unfortunately, however, in the attack Lieutenant Stambaugh received a
ball from an Indian's pistol, and Sergeant Brown had his jaw broken by
another shot. Lieutenant S----, though wounded, was held on to his
horse by Major Gordon, until surrounded by an immense crowd of
desperate warriors,