On proceeding to Cedar Creek it was found that the Indians had crossed the river. In pushing forward they discovered a large war party on the opposite bank, and were preparing to cross when they discovered that the Indians were crossing to the south side, with the apparent purpose of engaging the military. A position was taken and rifle pits dug, the howitzer that had been brought from Fort

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

Laramie was placed in position to be of service.

While outnumbered thirty to one, the soldiers behaved with splendid courage, and the experienced sharp shooters of the plains, took advanced stations and opened deadly fire upon the boldly approaching Indians. Finding that to approach in the open meant almost certain death, the usual Indian tactics of advancing under the cover of hillocks and ridges was resorted to. But in this manner only a few could come forward at a time, and as fast as they showed a tufted knot of feathers above the plain, they were picked off with accurate precision by expert riflemen.

A dozen braves had congregated behind a particular eminence some four or five hundred yards from the improvised fort, and at a point of advantage for dropping bullets into the camp. Sixteen men under Lieutenant Patton mounted and made a quick and ferocious charge. The Indians were utterly annihilated. Some two hundred others started after the daring little band of soldiers, which fought its way back with a loss of two men. The Indians then gave up the attack for the day. The following morning they renewed the fight, but not with the same heart as the day before, and soon gave it up and retired into the hills on the north side of the- river. The whole cavalcade of the savage hordes, containing about 1,000 lodges, went towards the Powder river.