The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1847-07-30
Battle ON the PrairicS---Further
Particulars.

A letter was received this morning
from James S. Wethered, to his friends
in Baltimore, from which We take the fol-
lowing extracts:
@On the twenty-third day of June,
1917, Pawnee Fork we were attacked
by about so Indians, whom we repulsed
without the loss of any of u men, or
property, though several ofthe men we're
wounded; one of our men in several diff
ferent places; he will probably recover.
We congratulated ourselvesin beingsuc-
cessful in bus driving off these pests of
the prairies; but, alas! this affair was but
a prelude to what was subsequently ex-
perienced by u.s."
1t is our custom on the praries at all
times to make our encampment as safe as
practicable; this we do 10y having the wa
CONS placed in a circular form, inside
Of which some of the cattle are fastened,
the rest being hobbled, the centre being
occupied by ourselves; a guard IS then
set which is relieved every two hours
This was our situation on the 26th inst.
on the banks Of the Arkansas river, and
at A o'clock in the morning, just at the
moment when the cattle were lOosened
to be driven out, an attack was made by
about 300 Camanche Indians, who sue
ceeded in "stampeding the stock, mostly
the property of the government. The
plan adopted by the Indians, was to rush
on the camp, firing their guns, aud ut
tering the most unearthly yells and shouts
which you can imagine. This created a
"panic" among the cattle, who tore of
as made. The enemy was gallantly met
by US. The engagement lasted about
80 minutes, in which three of our men
were wounded, supposed MORALLY.
"Lieut. Love, who commands one
hundred men, ordered out twenty. FIVE oI
them to pursue she Indians, and. if pos.
sible, retake the cattle. They overlook
the enemy, aud had a desperate engage.
ment, in which five of our men were kill.
ed and six wounded; three of these the
doctor reports cannot live. Several hor.
SEES were killed on both sides. The los.
on the part of the Indians is supposed to
be large, they, however, as is their Gus.
tom, succeeded in carrying off their dead.
-Four of our men we found scalpod; one
poor fellow had his scalp taken off and
his ears cut of whilst alive; on another
counted sixteen wounds, mostly made by
lances. These Indians were accompa-
MED by some MeXicans, and it is sup
posed u few Americans are among them;
Il trust this is not the CASEY We shall
remain here until reinforced. There are
thirty-eight Government wagons here
which will have to remain until stock is
provided for hauling them. This will be
forwarded by the express which we send
to the States, after the battle.
1.-The Camanches are the finest eques.
TRANS in the world. They will ride past
US at full galIop. and show our rifles nc
part Of their bodies, but one foot, which
is hooked over the saddle, the rest oil
them being hid by the horse. In that
position they fire under the neck of the
horse. In form they are perfect Apollos
and are considered the bravest and most
warlike Indians on the continent.
"When the government closes the
Mexican war, it will find the Furnishing
of this people quite a serious affair. The
Camanches will have 10 great opinion Of
the power of our government until they
are made to feel it."-BaM. Patriot.