Volume 1

432 NIGHT ATTACK ON THE POST.
edge with heavy loads. 21st. Indians still drinking ; some
fresh arrivals.
July 22d. This evening the drinking-match ceased, and
they all fell asleep in their tents, pitched in a range on the
first bank between the river and the fort. They were 22
men bearing arms, about 50 women, and many children.
In the fort we were nine men in all. The night was dark
and still. About midnight a discharge of firearms on the S.
side of Panbian river was suddenly heard, accompanied by
tremendous whooping and yelling in the same quarter. The
Indians were first alarmed by some balls passing through
their tents: they started up and called out to two families
who were camped on the E. side of the river, asking if they
had fired. They answered, No. At that moment another
discharge from the S. side of the little river convinced the
Indians of whom they had to deal with. Not one gun was in
their tents, for I had taken every one from them before the
drinking-match, to prevent mischief. They rushed up the
hill to the fort ;
the gates being shut, they climbed over the
stockades, and in a moment entered the house, informing
us of the danger. They caught up their guns and ran to
the gates, which were by this time opened and thronged by
the women and children pushing in with their baggage.
They exchanged two or three shots with the enemy, when
the firing ceased on both sides. At this moment I got up,
and having slipped on my trousers, ran out to where the
Indians were assembled, near the burying ground. We
could distinctly hear the Sioux haranguing their own
people. The Indians wished to fire again in the direction
whence we heard the voices ; but I prevented them, got all
hands into the fort, shut the gates, and placed sentinels in
the blockhouses—to see was impossible, the night was so
dark. I gave out ammunition and guns to those who had
none, and placed my cohorn upon the battery,
loaded with
one pound of powder and 30 balls. Taking aim as nearly
as possible at the spot whence we still heard the enemy
haranguing, and having a man ready with a match, I