Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-10-28
Correspondence Of the New York Tribune.
Extraordinary Indian Fights.
NEW MExIco. IAnnnst

u
1852, that Mr.. Grandjean--a Swiss by birth,
and for two or three years a resident of this
country--was travelling with three Americans
in the vicinity of Corraltes, State of chihuahua,
being at the time in pursuit of a man who had
gone off with some property belonging to the
former) where he was suddenly surprised by a
party of nearly hundred Apache Indians
This occurred between the hours of eight and
nine o'clock, when the little party had, for ten
minutes only, arrived at the Rio Santa Maria,
and had dismounted for the purpose of camp
ing, after having travelled over hundred miles
with scarcely stoppage. As the party were
resting themselves, and preparing to battle, the
Indians made their appearance AT the point
BILE for fighting, owing to the presence of nu-,
merous bushes, behind which the attacking
party would be sure to post themselves To
cross the river to attain a clear ground was Mr..
CTS first movement, leaving four valuable
mules, quantity Of blankets, and five hundred
and twenty-five dollars in gold in the hands of
the Indians. The latter were too close upon
them to allow more time than served to snatch
up their arms. The Indians commenced firing
ere the party had crossed, and followed close
in their rear. There were three rifles and a
number OF Colts revolvers in the party, num-
bering among them forty-two shots.
Aware that their chance for escape was inn
possible, and resolved that if they must fall
they would die game, the four posted them
selves, at a distance from each other, at right
angles, the better to Withstand the attack made
upon them from all sides. On dashed the In
dams, with furious yells apparently certain Of
their victims. When within twenty yards each
Of the attacked singled out his victim and fred
with deadly aim. One chief was rushing about
ON horseback, giving orders to the others, who
were dismounted, as is their custom in charg-
ing.) His white horse was singled out, and.
though on the full gallop, was tumbled to the
ground. One red skin had brought large
stone, and digging an excavation behind it,
was firing from dead rest. Nought but his
head was seen; but he had time to fire but
two shots ere bullet crashed through his
brain. The fire from the attacking party
wounded three out of the four men, among
whom was Mr.. Grandjean, bullet passing
through the feshy part of his thigh, but mis-
sing the bone. The other two were wounded,
one just above the ANGLE, the other in the thigh,
but no bones broken, although each supposed
so at the time. They were unable to stand up;
Mr.. g., the only one wounded who had that
power.
Meeting with so hot reception, the Indians
disappointed, chagrned and chafed by their
loss retired to distance of some $50 yards,
and kept up from behind shelter constant
fire, but without effect. After the lapse of some
four hours, they made signs for parley, and
asked the Americans if they did not want water,
as they were cut off from the river by the
enemy. Mr.. G. proposed to meet one-half way
if both parties laid down their arms To this
they assented, and an Indian advanced, and
Mr. G. also to meet him, but when about 100
yards distant, perceiving the Indian had some
thing concealed under his blanket he declined
going further
Again, from distance, the Indians renewed
their fire, which they kept up till night SEN
tlnels were posted in considerable numbers,
and constantly during the night would be heard
the call, in Spanish, "Sentinel, alerto.'' The
one of the little band who had escaped wounds
declared his intention, then, Of going in quest
of aid to Berenco, distant, as he supposed, but
eighteen miles, (but really not less than thirty
six,) promising to be back with aid early the
next morning. Stealthily twisting himself
along, fiat to the groand, he made good his es-
cape. The night wore away--Mr. G. alone on
his feet, his two comrades sitting with arms in
hand-morning came, and with it renewed
fire, at distance as before, from the Indians.
Nothing but a certainty Of some of their lives
being sacrificed, should they again charge, de-
| TERED them from doing so. These Indians
dread to lose any of,their number, and all who
have fought them say they may be kept off
long time by pointing your gun at them only.
know Of an instance of a mans keeping
off fourteen Indians for two hours thus, and
| not firing till the expiration Of that time when
| an Indian bit the dust and the rest fed, al.
though the one charge fred was oil the Ameri-
can had ready. These Indians in fighting
keep in constant motion, so that they are not
easily shot. Mr.. G.'s aid did not arrive, al
though it was now nearly night. Having ex-
pended all their ammunition, the Indians ceased
firing. Some of them hailed Mr.. G., giving
him to understand that they were sure one Of
his party was dead, pointing to blanket that
lay near him. "Look," said Mr. G., raising up
the blanket, she is not here, your sentinels are
women; this man, still unwounded, went off
last night and will be back with aid here in less
than half an hour" AT once the Indians held
consultation; many went off in various d.
rections to look for the track Of the fugitive.
In about half on hour they found it, and fear
full of a new arrival, brought up their horses
and all soon moved off,
But still no aid arrived, and Mr.. G.. fearful
his comrade had been killed or lost his way,
determined himself to set out for Berenco that
night. lie removed his companions some 200
yards distant, dug holes in the ground in which
to lay them and covered them over with grass
in order to shield them from observation should
any more Indians happen along. They we're
perfectly helpless, and wounded as he was also,
performing this simple duty, occupied two en-.
tire hours. He then set out, his wound stiff
and paining him much, partly hopping. partly
dragging the wounded limb behind him. He
had not been gone more than fifteen minutes
when he saw advancing party whom, in the
dark, he mistook for Indians. Consequently he
avoided them. Unfortunate mistake! The
party were the aid his companion had obtained.
Iurnngasde to avoid his supposed enemies,
he lost the road. He was armed only with
brace Of revolvers, and wandered four DAYS ere
he fell in with aid--not having, all that time,
drop Of water or a particle Of food-which,
together with the two days of the fight, was six
days without nourishInent of any kind, besides
the suffering his wound caused him. At last
he observed what he supposed a party of In
dams. 1t was at the time broad daylight. They
were coming toward him SEEING fba;r lo,o