Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-06-23
Great Battle with Indians Seven
81 ty-six Killed.

force Of Indians, in which the latter were
disastrousIy defeated. with loss Ofseven-
ty six killed. ln the Austin (Texss) Ga
zette, Of the 9th, uR.. we find the follow
ing official report Of the battle from Cap.
tains Ford aud Nelson. AT the Cotton
wood Springs they were joined BY Cap
tain Ross and ll2 indians Of the Brazos
reservation, and then marched towards
the head walers Of Red river, in Northern
Texas. They crossed Rec river. and Rrst
fell in With Camachas on tbe 18th Of May,
near the Fort Smith and Santa Fe Road.
0s the 18th they came upon the main
camp Of the enemy. on the north shore Of
the Canadian river. and Immediately at
acked than. Captain Ford gives a par.
ticular account Of the battle, from which
we extract the following; 'e.r'....
The right wing in charge of myself and
Lieutenant William A Pitts, moved straight
through the camp and poured in agalling
fire upon the retreating enemy. Leute-
nant Allison Nelson, in command Of the
left wing, assisted by Liutenant James II
Tankersley and Lieutenant Wm c Pres.
ton, charged to the left, and pursued the
flying Camanches with vigor and effect
In the meanlin e, the head Chief, Iron
Jacket, had ridden out in gorgeous array,
clad in a coat of mail, and bore down upon
our red allies, He was followed by war.
riors aud looked for salty to his armor.-
The sharp crack Of FIVE orslx rifles brought
bis horse to the ground, and in few mo-
meuts the Chief fell riddled with balls.-
Our Shawnee guide, Doss and jim Pock-
mark, the Andarco Captain, claim the
first aud last wounds. e.. o..
The fight was now general and extend
ed, very soon, over a circuit Of six miles in
length, and more than three in BREADTH
1t was, in fact, almost series Of single
combats. Squads of Rangers and Indi-
ans were pursuing the enemy in every di-
rection. The Camauches would OCCASION
ally halt and endeavor to make a stand,
however their efforts were unavaling; they
were forced to yield the ground to our
men in every instance. The din Of the
battle had rolled back from the nver-the
groans of the dying-cries Of frightened
women and children, mingled with the re-
ports of firearms, and the shouts of the
men as they rose from hilltop, from thick
ct and from rayine.
The second Chief had rushed into the
conflict with the friendly Indians. A shot
from the Shawnee captain, Chul.le-qua,
closed bis career. The Camanches be.
tween the camp aud the river were all Kill
led or driven from the field, and our red
slies sent up a wild shout Of triumph
BY direction of Capt Ross, aertiOnof
them held the camp Of the enemy.
The Rangers aud the friendly Indians
still pressed the Camanchas, nor did they
stop pursuing until their falling horses ad-
monished them. that they could do 70
more. Between IL and l O'Clock the f.
ring had almost ceased; and squad after
squad of the troops were returning 10 the
Camanche camp, bringing with them
horses, prisoners, and other trophies Of
victory. Capt Ross had very properly
suggested to Lieutenant: Nelson the pro-
priely of keeping the men well together;
and when returned from the pursuit l
found a large proportion Of the men drawn
up in order Of battle.
The Camancbas had another large en-
campment three or four miles above, on
tue Canadian. They had heard the fl.
ring, embodied, and threatened to charge
us. They were evidently playing for an
advantage, and their manoeuvres induced
our Indians to believe them very strong
Our allies proposed to draw them out,
and requested me to keep my men
in line to support them, if necessary.
The Camanches descended from the bill
to accept their proposed invitation. With
yells and nenaces and every species OF IN
suting language and gestures, they tried
to excite the Reserve Indians into some
act of rashness by which they could profit
A scene was now enacted beggaring de,
scription. 1t reminded me Of the rude
and chivalrous days Of knighthood.-
Shields and lances and bows and head,
dresses, prancing steeds and many minu-
tiae were not wanting to complete the re-
semblanee. And when the combatants
rushed at each other with defiant shouts
nothing save the piercing report of the
rife varied the affair from battle field in
the middle ages. Half an hour was spent
in this without much injury to either par
ty. A detachment OF Rangers was advan'
ced to reinforce the friendly indians. and
the Camanches quilted the field; and the
imposing pageant quilted the field like a
mimic battle upon the stage.
Captain Ford closes his report with the
following observation:
The exhibition has decided several
questions. Indians can be pursued and
caught in the buffalo region--Ihs country
beyond the Red river eau be penetrated
and held BY white men, and the Canaan
ches can be followed, overtaken, and beat
en-, provided the pursuers will be laborious,
vigilent and are willing to undergo priva'
tions. t...5....