Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1858-11-03
Official Report OF Maj, Vln DOrasaghl with
the Camanehes
HrAD QRs, WIoHTA ExpEulnON,
Camp near Vic ita Village,
n.t.b.r 1910

Camp near Vie ita Village.
October D, 1858.
! Capiaig 81 have the honor TO make the
following report Of the operations Of my com,
lmand since the 25h ult,, the date Of my re-
port, The stOeknde work, in progress Of con-
structiop nt that date, was completed on the
Goth, and preparations were being made TO
move towards the Canadian river the follow.
ing morning, when two of my Indian spies
came in and reported large ComRnche camp
near the WIchin Village about ninety miles
due East Of the Depot, Upon the receipt of
this information, had all the stores, daught
mules, and extra horses moved At once into
the defensive enclosure, and marched for this
point with the four companies OF Cavalry
and Indian allies. After making forced
march Of ninety odd miles in thiriy.eight
hours-durng the last part Of which we were
continuously in the saddle for sixteen and n
half hours, including the charge and pursuit
we arrived at this ca mp on The morning of
the lst. inst.
had in hopes Of reaching point in close
proximity to the enemy before daylight, and
had made dispositions for an attack, based on
information received from the spies, but as
day break came upon us some three or four
miles oil, and found them very inaccurate in
their information, moved the companies up
in column with intervals Of a hundred yards,
and moved in the direction of which the camp
wns said to be, sending instructions to the
Captains TO deploy and charge whenever It
was seen over the crest Of the hills, in ad.
vance of us. After marching with this for
nation about two miles at an increased gait,
al, II "A a., ,hn rti
the left, and in moment the who'll command
poured down into the enemies camp in the
most gallant style, and we soon found our
selves engaged on warmly defended battle
| field.
There being many ravnes in and about the
camp that obstructed the easy operation Of
Cavalry and gave good shelter to the Indians,
it was more than an hour before they were
entirely beaten out or destroyed during which
time there were many bloody hand TO hand
engagements both on the part of the officers
and men The friendly Indians | ordered in
approaching the camp to stampede the ami
mails and get them out of the way. This or
der they effectually carried out. The Della
wares and Caddoes also entered into the fight
with the troops and did effective service, es-
pecially in the skirmishing in the neighbor-
ing hills and ravines. We have gained a
compete and ecisive victory over the enemy.
Fifty SIX warriors are left dead on tEe field,
and it is presumed that many are lying IN the
vicinity, as many were doubtless MORALLY
wounded, but enabled to escape on their hor-
scs from the battle field. How many were
wounded is not known. Over three hundred
animals were captured, about one hundred and
twenty lodges were burned. Their supply OF
ammunition, cooking utensils, clothing, dress.
ed skins, and corn and subsistence stores were
all destroyed or appropriated to the command.
Those who rscaped did so with the. sconty
clothing they had on, and their arms and MOTH
ing is left to mark the site Of their camp,
but the ashes and the dead.
| regret that have to report that two lndl-
an women were accidentally killed in the bat
tie; their dresses only concealed, not indlca-
ting their sex. Two Wichita Indians were
accidentally killed, being In the Camanche
camp. The number of Indians has been va
riousy estimated from three to five hundred.
| think there were over four hundred. This
victory has not been achieved without loss on
our side. Lieut.. Cornelius Van Camp one OF
the most promising and gallant young officers
of our regiment, or of the service at large,
fell pierced through the heart by an arrow
whilst charging the enemys camp, and died
as the brave alone should die. In his loss we
feel our victory to be dear bought one. The
following is list of the killed and wounded,
as furnished me by the Captains
GA" Company-wounded, Brevct Maj. Earl Var
Dorm, severely; Corporal JOS P. Taylor
| dangerously.
/" K" Company-wounded, private Smith Hnkley
go slightly.
cob Eckard; missing. supposed to be killed
private Henry Howard wounded, Sergt.
C. B. McLeand, slightly Corp,l Bishop
Gordon, slightly Bugler, NJ, Abargast,
slightly; private O. . O. Alexander, severely seiervy
mortaIy since dead private C. c. Emery,
and A. j. Mcnamara, severely and pri
vate w. Flank, slightly.
Mr.. ]. II. Ward, Sutler to the command
and Mr.. S. Ross, in charge of the friendly In
dams, were also wounded-the former slightly
the latter quite severely.
am so greatly indebted to all the officers
of the command, collectively, for the energy,
the zeal, the ability and gallantry, with which
they aided me in achieving this success, thai
feel il impossibte to name one as being dis
! tpnuished above the others. | am equally IN
debted in the same manner TO all the non'
commissioned officers and soldiers OF my com
mand, who under all the circumstances OF the
forced march, and the battle, proved themselves
to be soldiers worthy of the name. iheir
gallantry, personal daring, and fearless mtre'
pidity, are the admiration of their officers, ou'
they find themselves unable to discriminate
where all were brave The officers presen
were Captains Whiting, Evans, and johnson
Lieutenants Phifer, Harrison, Porter, ant
Major, and Assistant Surgeon Carswell.-
Capt Evans killed two,-Lieut. Harrison two
Lieut.. Phifer, two, and Lieut. Major, thre
: Indians, in hand to hand encounters durinl
the battle. Mr.. S. Ross, and Mr.. Ward