es surrounding the fort and drop down it as quickly as
possible. Arrived at the bottom, they were to scale the rocky
counter-scarp, and when they got to the platform they were to keep
moving while they attempted to break the wall of the fort proper.
Crook, who believed in intimidation, advised them to yell and cheer as
much as possible. The general crawled around during the night from man
to man, acquainting every soldier with his ideas and "talking to them
as a father." He reminds me a little of Henry V. before the battle of
Agincourt.

The task he had set his soldiers was desperate in the extreme. It
speaks well not only for the general's reliance upon them, but for the
quality of the men also, that he conceived it possible and that they
carried it out effectively. So soon as it was fairly dawn the soldiers
at a given signal dashed at the crest. So suddenly did they appear
that, although the Indians in the fort across the ravine opened a
terrific rifle and arrow fire upon them, not one was injured. Without
a moment's hesitation, the men plunged down the walls, and sliding,
falling, any way, they reached the bottom. There they were safe from
the fire of the Indians, for the platform around the wall of the fort
prevented the Indians from shooting into the ravine.

Parnell's company immediately began the escalade of the cliffs.
Madigan had not been so fortunate. Where he struck the ravine the wall
happened to be absolutely sheer. Descent was not practicable. His men
therefore stopped on the brink until he directed his infantrymen to
circle the ravine until they found a {308} practicable descent and
there join Parnell's men. He had scarcely given the order when a
bullet pierced his brain. Some of his men were also struck down,
others retired behind the rocks, made a detour and followed Parnell.

The sides of the ravine were so precipitous that no man could scale
them unaided. Two or three would lift up a fellow-soldier. After
gaining a foothold he in turn would pull others up, and thus they
slowly made their way to the edge of the cliffs, Crook climbing with
the rest. They finally gained the banquette, or platform, after a
difficult and exhausting climb. The Indians were behind the walls of
the fort, the soldiers outside. Sergeant Michael Meara, leading the
advance, peeped through a loop-hole, and was shot dead. Private
Willoughby Sawyer, happening to pass by another orifice, was killed in
the same w