Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-01-17

FROM Ell EkS0.
Eail Train Attacked BY Indians.

Of an attack made upon small train on
the 18th of November. It is written by
MIR. U. A. Rand, and dated Ell Paso, De.
cember 10:
You are aware that Capt. Skillman
and myself, with Mr.. Gordon and two
Mexicaus, left San Antonio on the Cd of
November, DR.. Giddings aid party, who
were in charge Of the mail, having start
ed on the day previous. We overto TX
them On the l4th, at 8 o'clock in the
evening. The next morning we break
tasted at the "Muerte," Or Dead Mans
Hole, Dir. Giddings's company having
avoided that place as being dangerous
stronghold for the Indians. After break
fast, we passed on, and at about 9 o'clock
met Skillman's mail party going down,
with Capt. Daley in command, and Mr..
Lockwood and company travelling with
them. We stopped with them about
half an hour, and separated, having ex.
changed Mr.. Gordon for MIR. Cooper,
Skillman's driver between here and
Santa Fe,) and being reinforced by the
Hon. Rufus Doane, (who also had come
down with Daley to meet SkiIlman.)
About an hour after separation, we
stopped to feed our animals aad to shoe
a mule which had been lame, and had
hardly embarrassed and turned the mules
loose. when we discovered animals an.
preaching us. Knowing that DR.. Gid.
dings could not be far in the rear, we of
course thought it was his party ap-
preaching, but on examining them with
spy-glasses, we found them to be In
dians. Still we felt no apprehension Of
their being hostile, because being be-
tween US and the other mail party, we
naturally supposed that after a friendly
interview with them, they bad come on
to greet us In similar manner. They
accordingly y approached within about
sixty yards, waving white flag and
shouting amigos amigos :" but all at
once astonished us by firing their guns
upon us. They were then six in num-
Der; and after firing, they passed north
ward around hill, the summit of which
was some two hundred yards from our
camp; we then fonnd that there were
other indians on the top of the hill, and
all hands poured in their shot upon us in
the most lnpolite manner. While we
were gathering and fastening our mules,
DR.. Giddingss s party came up and did
likewise, reporting that the savage5 had
also fired on them in passing, killing a
mule and wounding another. Their ar
rival increased our number to fifteen men.
erybody having solicited Capt. Skill
man to take command of both trains du.
ring the engagement, he did so, and made
his arrangements with his usual valor
ana discretion, two qualities which he is
universally acknowledged to possess in
the most eminent degree, and which are
rarely found so happily combined. Find
ing that we were rather too near the
Indians, they having every advantage of
position, we harnessed up, and withdrew
to the southwark OF the road, to secure
an open clear space. AS soon as the In.
dians discovered our intention, they set
fire to the grass on our north, east and
west; but knowing that our only hope
was in getting out Of reach of their shots
from the hill, we pushed On about six
hundred yards, and then set fire to the
grass before us, to make clear place to
drive upon.
By this time the Indians were over
forty in number, most of them mounted
on good horses. and more than half of
them armed with rifles and Mississippi
yagers. We again embarrassed, and
placed the mules as much as possible
between the carriages, the savages shoot
ing at us all the time, but keeping at the
respectful distance of five or six hundred
yards, having been convinced by Skill
mans long shots, that "distance lends
enchantment, &c.
Skillman had before killed or wounded
at least one of the assailants, and in our
second encampment he fired some ten or
twelve shots with his 'Sharp's rifle"
only three of which shots took effect
These three wounded two Indians and
horse. We are not certain whether any
of the Indians were killed, but suppose
that one or more of them must have died.
as the crowd concentrated together about
sunset, and Withdrew to greater dis
tance, still, however, keeping on the road
we were to travel. We expected to be
killed " anyhow" but decided to attempt
to continue our journey, and started on,
every man ON foot, with gun in hand,
feeling certain that we should be again
attacked during the night; in which,
however, we were very agreeably disap-
pointed, as we saw nothing more of the
red men.
During the first attack, Skillman's best
mule was shot, while was leading him
towards the carriage, and DR.. Giddings
also had two mules killed and two
wounded. Several of us were struck by
spent balls, but all were fortunate enough
to escape without serious injury. And
here let me say that our deliveranee is to
be attributed entirely to the "Shsrp's
rifle" in the hands of Capt. Skillman.
Everybody knows that these Indians are
very cautious about exposing the lives of
any of their number and after discover
ing that Skillman's shots could injure
them at six or seven hundred yards, they
kept themselves carefully out of reach of
our ordinary guns, and too far off for