New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-10-19
A BattIe WIN Indians.

We find the following letter in the Washington
States, of the 18th nst giving account of an en-.
gagement between the troops in New Mexico and
the Navajo Indians, in consequence of the latter re-
fusng to give up the murderer of Captain Buffers
servant. The States says:
Ia the dispatches Of agent Y0st to the Commits
soner Of Indian Affairs many interesting partion-
lars Of Capt. mcLeans engagement with the Navajos,
which we were not able to give in the account we
yesterday published. We stated that the affair took
place on the 29th of August when Captain Mclean,
with a force of twelve regulars, assisted by fifty
MeXcans, attacked the NaYajos at Bear Spring, in
Campbel's Pass. The details are appended as given
by agent ost:
"As the attacking party galloped forward to the
place where the Indians were encamped, the latter
depOyed off to the hills on the right and left and in
'front.' with a view as thought to surround us, and
make desperate fight. Those on the right and left
kept out of sight, while those in front fired voey of
arrows gave the warwhoop, aud by gestures invited
to an engagement. As the chief of the Nayaios
galoping up and down before his men, apparent.
ly giving command and rallying them, Capt Mclean
fired a pstolshot at him from horseback This
seemed to amnse more than to frighten them. The
fire was instantly returned from our left, without
doing any damage. VolIey of arrows followed from
all sides but did not reach us. Capt, Mclean gave
the command to three of his men to dismount and
with himself in the lead, pushed on to the attack
telling the Indians at distance of 400 yards with
great accuracy. Fatal shots at such great distance
took the Indians by surprise, and they quickly made
! for the trees. Occasionally they would run out,
seemingly endeayOrng to deCOy the attacking party
into a closer, or rather an ambush fight.
"While Capt Mclean was aiming shot at an In
dian in 'front.' who had seereted himself on the
left about l50 yards distant took deliberate aim at
the Captains heart The latter fred, struck, and, /
believe, killed his man. and wheeled quickly to get
another cartridge. Just as he turned the concealed
indiar fired the ball striking the front of the fifth
lib on the right hand side, passing around some two
and half inches, coming out and producing severe
but not fatal wound. The shock was so great the
Captain staggered some ten PAGES, became very pale,
sick at the stomach, and in fact gave every indiea
tion Of a speedy death. He was mounted on his
horse taken to the wagons and there nursed we'll
as tile circumstances would allow until arrived at
Fort Defiance.
"Dring the fight, which lasted some ten or fifteen
minutes, remained on my horse, on the immediate
spot, and for myself the whole proceeding. Only
one or two OF the MeXicans dismounted. They all
seemed anxious for the fight, and equally anxious for
the booty They captured some twenty-five ponies,
a number of blankets, and one Navajo Indian,
81 cannotsay, with any certainty, how many In
dians were killed, | think, however, the number
must be between six and ten. Three or four were
wounded. On the night of the 29th Lueero (the
! commander Of the so Mexcans who assisted Capt.
| Mclean in the hghD and part Of the men eneamped
on the Pnerco while we pushed to Fort Iefiance,
on account oil Capt. MeLean's wound. The Indians
were around lIucerOs camp all night and succeeded
in stealing two horses, while Lueero captured three
more Indians and their ponies
Sandobal and three or four of his men came into
the fort on the 3Ist He revealed nothing specific as
to the object of his visit He said that he would not
go out among the Navajos, and seemed to fear them
On the list inst John Lucero came in to see whether
Major Brooks was not satisfied alleging that two In
dnns had been killed in the engagement at Bear
j Spring Major Brooks informed him that he was not
satisfied and would not be until the murderer OF his
negro was delivered up, either dead or alive.
''Col. Miles arrived here to-day. He Instructed
Saudobal to call many Of the chiefs together as he
possibly could in five days, before which time active
demonstrations could not be commenced.
:. have no idea that any steps towards pacifiea
ton will be taken The Indians will not give up the
murderer, although he is, | am satisfied, close at
hand The friends of the murderer are far more nu-
merous than the friends Of peace is Col. Miless
determination to commence operations on the sth
instant"