Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-11-03

Van Dorm 5 command and the Camunchcs:
Headquarters WnnirA EXPEDITION.
Camp near Wichita Village. Oct, 3.
tdptdiH-l have the honor To mako the follow
ing report q! the operations of my command since
the 10Th ult the date of my lust report. The
stoekade work in progress of construction Mt that
date, completed ON the Goth, and preparations
were being made TO move towards tho Canadian
river the following morning, when two of my In
dian spies came in and reported u large Camanche
camp near the Wichita village, about ninety miles
due east of the depot. Upon receipt of this inor-
! nation. | had all tho stores, drHught mules aud
extra horses ed at once into tho defensive eng
closure, and marched for this point with the four
companies of cavalry and Indian allies. After
making forced march of ninety odd miles in thir
ty eight hours-dnring the last part Of which We
were continuously in the saddle Tor sixteen and a
hall hours, including tho charge and tho pursuit
We arrived at this camp On the morning of the
LIST inst
| had been in hopes of reaching point in close
proximity to the enemy before daylight aud had
made dispositions for an attack. based on informa-
ton received from the spies but four miles oil.
and found them very inaccurate III their Inform
alton. moycd the companies up in column, with
intervals Of hundred ynrds. and moved in the
direction of which the camp said 10 he, send
ing instructions to the captains to deploy and
charge Whenever it wns seen over tho crest OF the
hills. in advance of us After marching with
this formation ohout two miles, Mt IN increased
gait, the sound Of the charge came from towards
the left, aud in moment the whole command
poured down in the enemies camp in the most
gallant style, and we soon found ourselves eugn-
ged on warmly defended battlefield.
Thcre being many ravncs in aud about the
camp that Instructed the easy operation of cavalry
and gave good shelter to the Indians, II was more
than an hour before thcv 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 animals and get them out Of thcw way. This or
der they eiIectually carried out. The Delawarcs
and Calloes also entered into the fight with the
troops and did effective service, especially in the
skirnshing in the ncghborng hills and rnyines.
We have gnincd n complete and decisive victory
over the enemy. Fifty six warriors are cf, dcad
on the field nndi il presumed thatmany aro lying
in the vicinity as many were doubtless MORALLY
wounded but enabled to escape ON their horses
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, Theirsuppy of ammunition, cook
ing utensils clothing, dressed skins, corn and
subsistence stores were nll DESTROYED or arrropr-
ated to the command Those who escaped did so
with the scnn,y clothing they had on, and thoir
arms. and nothing is left to mark the site Of their
camp hut the ashes and the dead.
| regret TINT have to report that two Indian
women were accidentally killed in tho battles their
dresses only concealed, not indicated their scx.
Two Wichita Indians were accidentally killed,
being in the camnnche camp. Tho number Of
Indians has been variously estimated from three
to five hundred. | think there four hun
dred This victory has not been achieved with
out loss on onr side. Lieut. Cornelius Van Camp.
one Of the most promising and gallant young Off
GERS of our regiment or of the service at largc
charrinr tho cncmys CAMP and died as the brave
alone should die In his loss we feel our victory
to be n dear bought ono Tho following is II list of
the killed and wounded, rs furnished me by the
captains.
Company A-Wonnded, Brevct MAJOR Earl an
Dorm severely; 'orooral jos. +. Taylor, danger
ously
Company k-"oundel'Pri'o'e smith linklcy'
slightly.
Company IIkilled Priyntes Peter Magar and
Jacob Erkarl: missing, supposed to hc killed Pr-
vate Henry Howard wounded Serse"nt y d.
slightly; Buger, NJ. Ahargast slightly; Private
c. Z. Alexander, .evercl j.
Company r." onnued' sergeant - f. narr'-
son. mortaiiy' hhc' oea'' Irhh'eS ~ rih',y
and A. j.: Mcnamara severely and Private w.
Frank shEh,iy. -,
Mr. j. l. Ward sniier 10 inc comnand'and Hir
D R"ss IN ch"r9e o' inc ir'eh"v ',n'nhS "efea!so
woundcd--the former slightly and the ha'tcrquitc
severely. o.,
am so greatly indebted 70 all the ofhrers oi the
command conee'ive'v Tor the energy tue HG"',
the ability and gallantry with which they aided
me in achieving TINS success that ieel 1t mPossi-
bic to name one as ne'ng hSiingu'<hed above 'he
others. am equally indebted IN ahe same man
her 10 an '''c noi-oo,'il,SS'oied oinuers ".u Soi
s,""ooa WI Wv no VI vi Wv, Wv 49, i''o'''
Tl.;. ,.aI,on,r,, ,orsonaI 5.r;na and foarinss IN
iho. s"i'"f y ~, 80 S 80 a ~ "