On the Border With Crook - ERBzine

258 ON THE BORDER WITH CROOK.That evening a party of picked scouts,under Frank Gruard,was sent to scour the country in our front and on our right flank ;there was no need of examining the country on the left,as theBig Horn range was so close, and there was no likelihood ofthe savages going up on its cold flanks to live during winterwhile such better and more comfortable localities were at handin the river and creek bottoms. The sun was just descendingbehind the summits of the Big Horn, having emerged frombehind a bank of leaden clouds long enough to assure us that hewas still in existence, and Major Coates was putting his picketsin position and giving them their final instructions, when a boldattack was made by a small detachment of the Sioux ;theiradvance was detected as they were creeping upon us through agrove of cottonwoods close to camp, and although there wasa brisk interchange of leaden compliments, no damage was doneto our people beyond the wounding slightly of Corporal Slavey,of Coates's company. Crook ordered a large force to marchpromptly to the other side of camp, thinking that the enemy wasmerely making a " bluff " on one extremity, but would select afew bold warriors to rush through at the other end, and, bywaving blankets, shrieking, firing guns, and all other tricks ofthat sort, stampede our stock and set us afoot. The entire command kept underarms for half an hour and was then withdrawn.From this on we had the companies formed each morning atdaybreak, ready for the attack which might come at any moment.The early hour set for breaking camp no doubt operated to frustrate plans of doing damage to the column entertained by wandering bodies of the Sioux and Cheyennes.Colonel Stanton was accompanied by a colored cook, Mr.Jefferson Clark, a faithful henchman who had followed thefortunes of his chief for many years. Jeff wasn't a bad cook,and he was, according to his own story, one of the most bloodthirsty enemies the Sioux ever had ;it was a matter of difficultyto restrainhim from leaving the command and wandering outalone in quest of aboriginal blood.This night-attack seemed tofreeze all the fight out of Jeff, and he never again expressedthe remotest desire to shoot anything, not even a jack-rabbit.But the soldiers had no end of fun with him, and many andmany a trick was played, and many and many a lie told, to makehis hair stiffen, and his eyes to glaze in terror.