They had thought to send in such a storm
of lead, even from long range, that it should daunt and drive back those
who had dared the attempt. They had stormed indeed, but could neither
daunt nor drive back. Ray's men had braved death itself in the desperate
essay, and, even in dying, had won the day.
But their losses had been cruel. Three killed outright; three dying and
eight more or less severely wounded had reduced their fighting strength
to nearly thirty. The guards of the sorrels, herded in the stream bed,
had all they could do to control the poor, frightened creatures, many of
them hit, several of them felled, by the plunging fire from the far
hillsides. Even though driven back, the Sioux never meant to give up the
battle. On every side, leaving their ponies at safe distance, by dozens
the warriors crawled forward, snake-like, to the edge of the burned and
blackened surface, and from there poured in a rapid and most harassing
fire, compelling the defence to lie flat or burrow further, and wounding
many horses. The half hour that followed the repulse of their grand
assault had been sorely trying to the troop, for the wounded needed aid,
more men were hit, and there was no chance whatever to hit back.
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