Democratic banner., 1848-08-14
esgR0M RHB PLsaL1tS.
1AfrALIba cAMs, Fort Mann,
July 18th 184S.

1S Cot. 0ItPIE:
- &r-Ihereby report the operations of
the detachment under my command, be-
twesn the 6ti, and 18th days Of July.
The detachment was composed of one
Lieutenant, three Sergeants, three Corpor-
ais, and fifty two Privates, of ga" Com
papy, one Lieutenant, one Sergeant, one
Corporal, aad eighteen Privates, of "B"
Company; one Gun, two Sergeants, and
thirteen Privates, of sc" Company and
fve Privates Of CD" Company.
We left camp, near Fort Mann, at noon
on the 9Th of July, proceeding Southwark
~ about twenty-five miles !; we encamped
on Crooked Greek, a branch of the elmer
on river. We proceeded, on the 9Th, down
Crooked Greek to its mouth; thence down
the Cimeron, on the north side, until near
sunset, when, from an .eminence neal the
river, | discovered a grove of timber on
the south side, extending as far south as my
eyes could reach. determined at once to
examine It. and for that purpose crossed
over, and encamped upon the south bank
having to-day travelled upwards Of forty.
miles. We were under march the next
morning BY daylight, after twelve miles
travel, We reached the above mentioned
grove, where we found deserted camp of
the enemy, and from the signs, / suppose
thsre might have been thousands Of them.
We halted upon a small stream of water in
the center Of the grove, to prepare break
fast and refresh ourselves. Whilst eating
Corporal Casteel, of CA" Company, re-
ported ar Indian in sight, on horseback
l ordered Lieut.. Eldridge to take twenty
men and reconoitre the vicinity of the
camp. He had not proceeded far until met
BY the Mexican boy, now a prisoner. From
him ] learned that the Camanche village
vas not more than three leagues of, down
the Cimeron l got everything ready imme-
diately, and marched in pursuit. In three
hours we came in sight of their warriors,
about six hundred strong, posted on a well
chosen piece Of ground, on the north side
OF the Cimeron. They were drawn upl
pearely in the form Of a crotchit, the WINGS
thrown forward, the right upon and behind
a'high ridge their left along a continuous
range Of said hills, shaded with cotton
wood trees, at the terminous of the river
bottom. We marched upon the intermedi-
ate ground, between the extremes Of theirl
wings, which was near half mile part,
where We found a ravins in our front. II
halted, prepared the men to receive al
charge, s~urveyde carefully their position,
and estimated their numbers. In the mean
time, they fred several times at US, some of
the balls passing over the line. Findingl
thstI oculd cross the ravine to our left, II
decided to attack their right-frst makisg
a.dsmonstration upon their left. I accor-
dinghy ordered Sergeant Kaditz to unlim-
Der, and thrown raund shot at a group near
the csntre Of their left wing, Whilst I gotIl
ready for a charge. Every thing being
ready deployed to our left, and ordered
Lieut.. Benson and Sergeant Clark of "A"E
Company to take twenty men, and drive al
party of the enemy, that had advanced and
taken position in the ravine and up the hill
on the other side, and there maintain their|
ground (; which was done in a gallant man
ner-the enemy disputing every foot Of
ground up the hill. At the crown, they
were met by about two hundred lancers
d~isnnounting in good order, they poured up
on them a deadly fire from their carbines
and pistols; at the same time, 9 Aanking
party OF the enemy opened a volley of
small arms upon them from behind the hill,
which they kept ~ necessarily. Having
got the gun and the whole force across the
river, ordered Lieut.. Eldridge, Of "B"I
Company, to take twenty men and supports
Lieut.. Benson, which was promptly done.
The firing Of the enemy now ceased, and a
fresh body Of ~lancers showed themselves in
thas direction, aiming to get in the rear of
Benson party. l ordered up the residue
Of ths cavalry, and led them myself, until
/ discovered that their left had gained over
our and was fast concentrating there
within eanister range of the gun, which had
at this time not exceeding seven men with
aftllery'men having joined in the
charge. I halted them, and a portion of
cavalry to the support Of them which came
but before it could be gotls
rsddy for action, the right gave way, and
the left fell back to its origional position in
the sand hills. | now ordered Lieut.. Ell
bridge with twenty men, to follow the rel.
treating enemy on our left, and Lieut.. Ben.
son1swithf the same number to advance to-
} CERTAIN point in front of the enemy's left, :.