The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-07-21
Expedition Against the Cam anche Indians
Major Van Dorm report.
yne San Antonio Hsyctd Of the 29tn u.s. cOstatns Major
Vsn DOsos detailed report Of his expedition against the
WuIOU VIC WY NC TUIIVNo
HEADQUARTERS WICairA EXPEDITION,


Vsn DOos detailed report Of his expedition against the
eananches, which we copy. as ioIioSs:=
HEADQUARTERS WIcairA EXPEDITION,
Camp Radz uinssi o. }. MAJ 81, 1859 !
CAPIAN-I have the boaor TO make the following m)re
6ao report o. the expedition con ucieo ~ me during
the montn against the CanaDcoe indians.
Ga the 8ctn uG, when found the grass suft hensy
nasaJed TO sustain our anGaas, mtrSaea WIN sne c.
from the brszos Agency, With the intention OF establish
bs Depot provisions on the Canadian ri9er and from
country t0wasds the portn wherever
nisht tina It most likely should meet with success
On the fourth days march in the valley OF toe False
Wichita irver, Lieutenant Harrison, in command OF
small detachment of cavalry sne right faux OF the
column, captuI I'd q boy, oae OF party OF three "a
msucte goi, 10 Texas s,ea horses was informed
bs this oIh That his people we're In force 81.
stream north OF the Cmsrron, aud was to1 oy
hun Rat he would conduct me 70 their camp FUN coan
cenre " as 10, gwen st,tmeht, but nevertae
lees Thought advisable 70 exlena my mircn ino tnas
Of country. Accordingly, after eorraiug my pro
yon wagons the Canadian river, about thirty miles
be o~ the Antelope HUG, aud leaving guard 10 protect
until 10Y return marchcG notb 10 the Cimatfoa
wnist 10 comp TINS stresm tle lnolsn spies or vi
or ts discovered gave chase 10 hunhng party Of
Camspcbes Que OF woon they oVerroosed and k' led.
Gu toe l2sa mat, the s.c0na Gay ater ieaVihe Tue
Cusryop Ihe column need into TIE valley OF tae
r, scu.ungs beautiful stream, direct tributary Oh tue
krksusss whose sweet waters an1 green sopns banks,
thseo by groves OF the nicKest Ioage were especially
mv,,ny 10 us Just emerging from desert, as they ~ere
no colpt at all tmss, 10 tne oansncnes Here were
jouna ne remains camp of several hundred-prooi
bv as MANY ar tbous Iad,aos-~hich had not been
abandoned more than ten or twelve oays
sccudipg,y nalte5, and ordered ouI my Indian fpes
who returned about the intelligence that there
large feh trail going nortn, about Ioar mues doSn
the valley. put the column on tue tran next mofnog
and tolo There incessant fall OF rain dur
ire The march, panied by COD norta wnd which,
Tho II tae prooaols Of our sucssss ms 10
TIE ground extremely heavy, slippery ana leg "eatyhg
10 the horses ana PACK mules After folio ring the trail
therefore, untl about two O'Clock, matted 10 rest aud
craze ihem intending TO move on a.er IA the evening"
our BIZ ouac bfes haa kndied loag before
aar was given by the sentinel OF the picket guSrd gno
reported tnat he had tso Camsncues peerng over
the crest of peignoOrng hill into camp immeiiiiey
et W., b..
the truth ofhe report and TO ace ne could discover
any Signs Of the enemy presence our vicinity. Ia
snort tine messenger from the ieuien ant dashed n.o
camp and reported 10 me that was large party OF
Camlnches ravine about three miles OIL, that Lieut.
endeavorng separate them and their borses
that he would try and keep them "at bay" Unit
could bring up my command. -
Iordered $40 horse to be sounded, the guard 10 be
lef. in charge Of the pack mus and then mounting po
ceeded ut gaop TO the scene Upon my arrival foaud
Lieut. Royal with his detachment noantad near a ra-
vine, holding the Camarches in check in their camp,
from whom he had very adroy driven OIL their horses,
for great credit is due him. the position taken ~
the Indians found TO be remarkably strong one for de-
fence being deep ravne, densely covered with stunt
ed WITH Of lumber and bramDes, through which small
etream with abrupt banks meandered from bluff 10 bluff
on either side 1t impossible TO penetrate the jungle
but slowly, and was equally Impossible to get glimpse
of the concealed enemy until whia rev. Ssres OF hum
from the ground, indicated his locality.
1t was necessary to use caution I accordingly dis
moyn.ed come rihemen and felt for his position. Ia
dong this the skirmshers WHO entered above
into the ravine, and further down, under Captain
Y. K. Smith,, got on opposite sides Of the ravne
and were endangering each others lives by a cross
Ere. 1 Immediately eounded the orally" and had
the companies reformed Mounted troops were
then placed the crest Of the hills ABOVE the
Tsvno and at the outlet below, and dsmountei skrmsn
sen. in above TO sweep the ravne through. small
party upeer Leuts Lee and HARRISON first entered and
alanty charged through the left side, finding the ID
dams the creek and behind breastwork of logs, from
which noihug could of their head and
rbouldeIs as trey raised up fire. Leuis Eagle and
Crosby were ordered in with parts OF companies
ann d, accompanied by Lleuts Lee, Harrison and KIM.
inf nnrnu
men from other companies b " and g, led by
cheers the engagement became general as the
epeny's position better asce,taihed II was soon
over The Ceuancnes fought without giving or asking
quarter mill there not one lett 10 bend boz, aad
would have The admiration OF every brave soldier VI
the command but for the Intrusive reflection taat they
were the murderers Of the wives and children OF our
froutiersmeu, and the most ~yetched of thieves.
The result of this engagement has already been given
you in the short report Of the affair written on the ground
Immediately after 1t occurred. 100 higo NEED oil praise
for eslantry and usnchng courage cannot be AWARDED
over so desperate and skfn foe Although superior In
numbers the Indians nevertheless required the cool
est and most undauDteo individual bravery to advance
mon The danger that presented itself in this fearful
yine--a danger as imminent as was unseen Witnous
single Of those Incentives to chivarc deeds-ine
open ed the charge, the shout OF denance ne gaGns
oyettbrow of an enemy by comrade, the cank clash
and glitter Of sisewnout one of these, the troops O.
tbs comm and moved, II were into darkness, and
with courage tina. challenged admiration, felt for ,hs
danger they we're called upon 70 encounter
Nothing gives greater pleasure than in thus being
10 CAL inc ATTENTION OF inc
their galany, aud in testiiyn TO their good behavio'
throughout the expedition To the officers with me am
Rot oay indebted for the mo5 hearty assistance In every
military duty but also, without exception for their con-
epcuous Eanry and energy In achieving the successes
has Deen my good fortune 10 report TO the Department
They were Lieutenant Ftznugh Lee 70 tho
peduou surgeon James Smons and Assistant Surgeon
W. H. Baboock, NJ D., on the staff; and Captain e. K.
'tb, and lhentenants ". B. Royal, r. N. Eagle, g. B.
sn. j. .. Whneren, J. E. Harrison, and H. H. Kin
Ciosos, Cavalry, in command Of troops. Surgeon
mel, stcohS slant Surgeon Babcok assiduous 10
smoas ana SIS ne wounded, only Of the officers
thor attentions tc., ID, but also Of the Indians who
and meg Of the com'as- "Ao
were taken prisoners. "a Ana deuot AZ tbis cam, a.,
TIC extedttou returned ~, resass,s C.up on
| The som Of ,hls month w. 'sF'''N'S' oApAn'
"- EARL VAN DORM, Btcves Mar,
Captain Second Cavalry, Commanding
10 Tho Assistant utnt General San An'0nio' Iexss