The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-09-13
BATTLES WITH TIE INDIANS.

n
A correspondent of the 81. LOUIS New
Era. w: i,ing from Fort Mann, on the 2oih
ul,.. pives an account Of two engagements
betveea the Inl ans ot the Plaile and Il pnr-
lion of the Santa f. Battalion. The first
party left Fort Mann nn The 7Ih ofJu!y, Capt
Griffin in command, with two subatcrns,
Lieuts.. Eh!ridgc and Bensnn.
On the 9Th, signs Of Indians were dlScov.
cred, the command being then encampcd on
the inarone. On the 9th an advance was
ordered. and Mexican boy, wl'" had been
prisoner with the CamancheS. was taken.
lie stated where the Cananciic tam!EeS
were encamDed, some eight or nine mites
distant. and volunteered to conduct the COM
Inand to the spot
Capt. Griffin ordered the movement OF
The whole body towards the Indian encamp-
ment, which they ncarcd about 3 o'ri"rk.
p. Nj. The Indians advanced To give bat
tie. and brass six FOUNDER was put ~ nc
QUESTION, and shots fired at the enemy. at
the distance OF Two miles, but OF course with
ou, effect. The Indians then took up p'-
silion on hill in considerable numbers and
the two Licu,enanls, with scpera'e com
mands, were sent TO dsperse them: the Cap
tail with the six FOUNDER, and part OF the
command, remaining in stutn quo.
81 The attack was made, and the Indians
fed in every direction, but on Y one death
was actually ascertaincd, although II waS
understood that Capt. Griffin has reported
twenty five or thirty killed. The Indians
was afterwards disI,d .cd from another hli';
when, 10 the establishment of all, the whole
command was drawn of, very much 10 the
chagrin and disappointment ot officers ana
tnen--thc captain saving =! an not g''!!I t"
have nv command cut up 1t was supl:"s-
ed that there were from eight hund' I'd I"
thousand lodges of Indians, and that they
had from fifteen hundred TO two thousand
animals with them.
Afterwards another party was se"t Out III
the same direction: llcunsS,ed of one hum
dresl men, under the command OF Captain
jones and Lieuts, Eldridgc, Balm and k'liIicr.
Thev had brass SIX FOUNDER and provisions
for twelve days. Nothing remarkable "c-
Cured until the Goth, when the glildc report
ed Indians in the direction OF son!c graves OF
timber up the Cimarone river. The COM
rnand was disposed in order OF attack;
Lieuts, Edridse and Balm having seperate
commands, aud Lieut.. Kuh!cr III charge OF
the brass piece.
On approaching the timber it was found
TO cover an area OF more THAI fifty acreS.-
A mounted Indian was at this time pcrceI-
we'd on the hills, endeavoring 10y S:!am To
draw the command in his direction; Lieut..
Balm aud his command was then ordered 10
examine the grove, and on entering IL
was quick attacked an hotly engaged hand
TO hand with numerous body OF Indians.
Lieut.. Edridac was then dispatched with
his command to the head "t the grove, where
he met and drove back tn, INDIANS, who
were then retrcating from Lieut.. BAN. The
enemy was now between tho parties, VIII"
were clnsing towards each other, tins the
destruction Of the Indians was soon effect.
cd.
The number of the Indians seen was Al;
of these, twenty.nnc were found dead by
Can't. Jones personally-who has report d
accordingly; but in general the command
consider the killed TO be nearer thirty; SIX
escaped unhurt. The remainder were II"
doubt waunded and had. as was supposed.
secrcted themselves or fallen into the creek
Liem. Ehlrihge and prvates klrchIo, Vance,
Hoover. and Williams, were severely woun-
ded with arrows.
The Indians fought bravely and were all
shot in the breast, (spmc having several
ssounds.) This was suppose to be party
of Pawnces. Capt. Jones then rcconn"'i"r-
ed around and came on llle abandoned camp
of the indians, which had been attacked ny
Leuis Eldridge and Benson, under Captain
Griffin, on the OH ut. The village oppear
ed 10 have been abandoned with the great
est precipitation. =,
lodges, lodge poles, saddles, bags Of salt
and provisions, hclng scattered over Inc
ground in every direction; but after making
every effort Ca pit. Jones was compelled I"
return withou, finding the iug''lvcs. From
various signs and circumstances he c"ncl'-
ded thew had proceeded onward towards the
lower Canadian or the country between The
Canadian and Red rivers.
Capt. Jones speaks in the highest terms
of the conduct and bravery of the officers
and men under his commaiR His only
difficulty was in restraining their ardor, and
though last not least. in the afray was the
Young liberated Mexican who fought WIN
the most heroic bravery.
They who would be young when they
arc old must be old when they arc Young.