Southern shield., 1855-10-20
BATTLE OF THE BLUE WATER

BATTLE OF THE BLUE WATER.
 The following extract of letter in the St. Louis Republican, describes the battle with the Indians on the North Platte, which was nothing more nor less than shameful massa- ere:
 Our plans, being formed the night before, were executed with promptncSs in the morn ing. Monday, the 3d of September, will long be remembered by every one engaged in the attack, and who was on the field. 1 went out as a volunteer aid to the doctor and therefore was with the staff; I never could have remain ed quiet in the camp. The dragOOnS were Commanded by Colonel Cook; B5v. Robert son commanded enc company. Harry Heth, another We had four companies of infant ". The infantry moved up in beautiful style upon the village. As we moved up the h. dlans showed signs of barley; but as we had come for war and not for peace. we paid mol attention to them. As soon as they saw that signal was given to their lodges, and they be- gan to move beautifully in the very direction of the dragooas; that is, in the position wei thought tAev would be- The Indians being well mounted were about to escape us as wei thought when we determined to talk while
  show themselves. We gave the signal, and the Chief Little Thunder, came up to us. We had long talk with him, and discovered this was the band which had attacked the mail train.
 While talking with the chief, we perceived a great cOmmotion among the Indians, which showed us plainly that the dragons were near. The conference was broken up, and the in- tantry were ordered to place their rifles at long range of from six hundred to one thou sand yards, and advance rapidly. The Indi- ans ran, of course, to the hills, and were in al fine position to repel an attack of infantry. when the dragons showed themselves, and then l can assure you, dear --, the fun commenced in reality. 1 never saw 6 more beautiful thing in my life. When the infant ry saw the dragons coming down in such beautiful style, they gave one yell, which re sounded far and wide. The Indians threw away everything they had in the world. Vel suppose we killed about seventy. You know they carry off their dead so rapidly that it is almost impossible to say with certainty as tol the number killed or wounded. We lost four men killed, four wounded, and one missing They shot remarkably well. We, of necessi- ty, killed good many women and children. Wetook forty women and children prisoners agOOd many horses, buffalo meat enough toI supply the whole company for some time. Il do not suppose the Indians in this countryl eyer had such perfect clearing out as upon this occasion. They will have cause to re- member General Harney for long time Inl their route they threw away powder-horns, | saddles, and everything that they had in the | world. We destroyed everything that could be found; that is, what we could not bring away, The Big Chief is supposed to bel killed; it almost amounts to a certainty. Incl horses were ordered to be turned over to the government.
 
 TERRIBLE RAvAGEs OF THE CHOLERA IN FLoREYCE-TEN PERSONS BURIED ALIVE A letter from Florence gives very terrible accounts of the ravages of the Cholera. No| less than II ,000 persons have, it is said been carried off in the month of August. The pop uation of the city, which is, on an average 100000, is now reduced to 60, 900 by death and flight. The Grand Duke, it must be said 10 hs credit, has set noble example. AL though his family has left he remains himself, and clad in the black veil of the Fraternity ol Mercy he sometimes assists in the burial of the dead. It is positively affirmed in this let II ter that ten persons were lately buried alive. The horrible fact was brought to light in this way: An Italian warehouse keeper in Palazzuolo Ia iaahorg of Florence) was buried for dead m the Irespiano cemetery, with many other supposed corpses, in @ common grave. Hel aWoke to a sense of consciousness, and so thin wa was the covering of sandy earth above him mat he made his way out to the surface. Still weak, he lived for three days on roots. in the i5oreSt which surrounds the grave yard. Att iast he recovered strength sufficient to reach HIS house, where he startled his family, whoI were ln mourning for him. He assured them mat he distinctly felt the bodies of numerous people inferred with him moving about. The grave was consequently opened, and it ryas found that many (ten in number as I have sald) had stirred, and several of them had bit ten their fingers in agony, and otherwise in- Jqred themselves. They were all dead when the investigation was made. The utmost ex- element prevailed on the subject among the population.