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meet them and drive them on to an island in the Gillon stone where they fortified themselves strongly. It was late when we commenced the attack but we continued the fight till sun set and then had to retire, we lost one man in Killed a Deleware Indian a brave man, and one of our men was wounded. In the morning we started for the island but found they had left it on examination of the fort we discovered that during the attack of the previous evening they had lost several men. There was a great quantity of blood Spattered about the fort and a hole in the ice of the stream Showed us where they had disposed of their dead. We now Knew that the main village of the Blackfeet was not far away. Bridger, an old, experienced mountaineer said Now boys the Indians are near In a short time a party of five or six hundred of them will return to revenge the deaths of those we have slain & it is necessary for us to be on the lookout in the course of fifteen days his words were verified At a distance of about one mile from camp there was a larger Butte, on the Summit of which we posted a sentinel during the day so that he could command a view of the surrounding country. On the fifteenth day he discovered the Blackfeet marching toward us. They encamped on a large island and immediately commenced to build fortifications. Thereafter other bands kept joining them till at least 1500 warriors were assembled in this one spot. As Soon as we knew of their approach We began to still further our own position We were confident that they would come in force so we had faith our forts were built in a very strong manner and felt sure that Nothing but artillery could do it any serious damage. We were therefore fully prepared to