MONUMENT STATION, ON THE PLAINS,}
                                                                                Saturday, March 10, 1866, }

    This place, of somewhat gloomy name is so called from the huge masses of rock which tower up on all sides of it, not unlike monumental piles. This station, abandoned late in February for want of subsistence stores, has lately been re-occupied by two companies of the Frst [sic] United States Volunteer Infantry, while Pond Creek, fifty miles west and two hundred miles east of Denver City, has been garrisoned by a company of the second United States Cavalry, (the old Second Dragoons, who did such valiant service in Mexico.) It seems the design of Government to protect the overland route to the mining regions, and thus encourage the development of the resources of the country.
    A Government train with lumber from Denver, for building quarters for the troops at Pond Creek, reached that place on Monday, the 5th instant and its cattle being turned out to graze on the short, sweet buffalo grass with which the region abounds, were by some means stampeded during the night. In the morning the herdsmen were sent out to see if they could find their missing stock; two of them followed the road to the east, in going into a deep ravine, came suddenly upon a large body of Indians, with their lodges and squaws, moving south towards the Arkansas. As there was no chance to escape, they determined to sell their lives as dearly as possible, and dismounting from their horses, awaited the attack of the Indians, who at once, in their peculiar mode of warfare, commenced circling about them on their ponies, letting their arrows fly from time to time as they drew near them. In the midst of this manuvering [sic] a man, who seemed to be a leader among them, gave orders to the Indians to cease firing, and laying down his arms, made signs to the men that they should not be further molested. On drawing nearer he was recognized by one of the herdsmen as a Wyandotte half-breed by the name of Guerrier, who he had seen at Fort Lyon last fall, at the time the Commissioners were treating with the Indians there. This recognition, no doubt, saved their lives, as it is a notorious fact that these barbarians take no prisoners.
    Guerrier informed them that he was sent out as a special courier from Maj. Wynkoop, at Fort Lyon, to bring the Indians into a council, and desiring them to inform the 'soldiers and the public' that there would be no more depredations committed on this route, sent them back to Pond's Creek unharmed. Little confidence, however, is given to this report, as the next day they fired upon a man who was out a little distance from the station, and it is thought that the whole affair was a ruse to remove their women and children to a safe distance from the soldiers, of whom they have a wholesome dread. Coloring is given to this view from the fact that they were dressed and painted as if for the war-path.
    From their trail there must have been from one to two thousand, including women and children; and if so, we shall be likely to have lively times here as the spring opens.

Source:

Unknown, "From the Plains, A Great Indian Movement--An Exciting Scene," Daily Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colorado, Monday, 30 April, 1866, Page 2.