of battle, but after a few shots exchanged, the Indians
suddenly disappeared. A few moments later, however, the
pickets reported the Indians crossing the river in strength,
and it was thought prudent to retreat to camp. On the
following day Barnes, with his spy company, was unable
to discover anything further of importance. On the same
day the southern battalion arrived in camp, its available
force being three hundred and thirty-five men, swelling
the army to five hundred and forty-five men fit for duty.
Colonel Kelsey on the twenty-fourth, assisted by Major Latshaw, led one hundred and fifty men of the northern battalion towards the enemy, using a detachment of fifty as a decoy to draw him into an engagement, when he was fired on. At the same time, Major Bruce assisted by Ad jutant J. M. Cranmer, led an equal number of the southern battalion down to the Big Meadows to make a reconnois- sance of that favorite position of the Indians, but found none there as expected ; nor were the volunteers able to discover them that day.
Again, on the twenty-fifth, tweiit} r -five men from the northern battalion were sent to take a position on the high ground northwest of camp, to note whether the enemy passed up into the mountains to the west, and to discover, if possible, what he was doing. At the same time, twenty- five men from the southern battalion took a station on high ground southeast of camp, to observe the enemy s movements during the day. Nothing was discovered be yond what was known, that the Indians numbered several hundred men, women, and children.
About sundown on the twenty-sixth, the picket guard observed Indians firing on some cattle belonging to the regiment, which had strayed three-quarters of a mile from camp, when Colonel Kelsey with one hundred men, imme diately pursued them, they fleeing before him. It looked, indeed, as if they could not be brought to battle, so easily did they elude pursuit, and so difficult of access was their encampment.
