The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-10-04
IFron the St. Louis Republican Of the 27th-l
BATTLE OF BLUE WATER.
MISEre, OR Blue CREEK, NEAR ASH }
HoLLow, $50 MILES FROM FoRr LARAMIE. )
September s. 1855. !


MrSEro, OR Blue CREEK, NEAR ASH
HoLLow, $50 MILES FROM FoRr LARAMIE.
September 5. 1855.
DEAR am fortunate enough TO day
to have an opportunity to reply TO letter re-
ceivsd from You some time before reaching
Fort Kerry. and fiatter myself that l cannot
only answer it, but can in doing so impart
some very interesting news.
We left Kerry on the cath of August after
having remained there few days to gather
up the troops at that point, and also to lay in
a fresh supply of provisions for the trip from
that point 10 Laramie. Our life had nothing
interesting or worthy Of notice in it until last
Sunday, (September Cd when We crossed
the Ash Hollow. famous in Indian depreda-
tons in time past. We were informed by
men in charge of large train that We would
find large number of Indians encamped al
the mouth of Ash Hollow. We encamped for
the night on North Platte. l suppose We
came into camp about five O'Clock. We could
perceive from the bluffs above the Indian
encampmeat, about five miles of. After ia
king everything into consideration. namely: the
various depreda.iens committed by them, (the
Brule .Indians,1 it was determined to attack
them in the morning. They had sent US
word by the traders, that if we wished peace,
they We're willing; but if we wished to fight,
they were also willing.
The plan was for the Dragons, consisting
of four companies, to cross the river al three
O'Clock in the morning, and endeayor to get
the position behind them; the Infantry to
march at four O'Clock under the command of
MAJOR Cadv, Immediately upon the camp;
General Harney and Staff to march at half
past four; Major Cady TO wait for the General
before crossing the river. Our plans. being
formed the night before, were executed with
promp.ness in the morning. Monday. the Sd
s. of September will long be remembered By
every one engaged in the. attack, and who
was on the field went out as a volunteer
aid to the Doctor, and was therefore with the
staff; l never could have remained quietly in
the camp. The dragons were commanded
bv Col Cook Rev. Robertson commanded
one company. Harry Heth another. We has
four companies of Infantry. The Infantry
moved up in beautiful style upon the village
As we moved up the Indians showed signs o
parley but, as we had come for and no
Tor peace we paid attention to them. A
soon as they saw that. signal WAS ( iven tc
their lodges, and they began TO move beautI
fully in the very direction of the Dragons
thai is, in the position hougk they would
be- The Indians, being well mounted, were
about 10 escape us, we thought. when We
determined to talk awhile with them, SO as Il
give $40 Dragons tinee to show themselves
We gave the signal, and the Chief. Littl
Thunder, came up to us. We had lon.
talk with him, and discovered that this wa
the band which had attacked the Mail Train
While talking with the Chief we perceived
great commotion among the Indians wh,cl
showed us plainly that the Dragons wer
near The conference was broke up and TIL
Infantry were ordered to place their rifles a
long range from six hundred to one thousan,
yards, and advance rapidly. The Indian
ran, of course. to the hills and were in a fin
position to relel an attack Of Infantry whei
the Dragons showed themselves then,
can assure you dear -, the fun commences
in reality. Inever saw more beautiful thin,
in my life. When the Infantry saw the Ora
goons coming down in such beautiful style
they gave one veil, which resounded far ans
wide. The Indians threw away everythin,
they had in the world. We suppose we kill
ed about seventy. You know that they car
ry off the dead SO rapidly that i, is almost i'm
possible to tell with certainty as to the numbs
killed and wounded. We lost four men killed
four wounded and one missing. They sho
remarkably well. We. Of necessity. killed
good many women and children. We too
forty women and children prisoners, goot
many horses, and buffalo meat enough to las
the whole command for some time. / do no
suppose that the Indians in this country eve
had such perect clearing out as on this oc
cssion. They will have cause to remembe
General Harvey for a long time. In thei
route they threw away powder horns. saddle,
and everything they had in the world. W
destroyed every thing that could be found; tha
is what we could not bring away. The Bi
Chief is supposed to be killed; it almos
amounts to certainty. The horses were order
ed 10 be turned over to the Government