The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-06-30


prefer then went over, and had talk with
the Chief but he denied having stolen, until
informed that we had trailed them from the
very spot where the cattle had been stolen from,
s,ghen he said that a small party of Camanches
had not long since driven these cattle through
the Canon. The Lieutenant then informed
these fierce and painted savages that he must
regain the stolen property, and for that pur-
pose was determined to follow the trail. We
then started through their hamick the Indians
falling back before us, until we came to where
they had killed some of the horned cattle when
they deployed on our right and front, and ar
rayed themselves in battle order. If they had
only been armed with bows and arrows, and
rclubs, like the Mohaves, thirty of US would
have considered Ourselves sufficient for the two
or three hundred but many of them had good
rifles and some experience In fighting civilized
soldiers. And here | will remark, that If the
Indians had fired on us at that time, they would
have killed every one OF US before we could
have fired shot.
At this critical turn Of affairs, it was deemed
prudent to retire to a more cOngemal locality,
which we did, by retracing our steps to a point
of timber about two miles beyond the mouth OF
the Canon, where we encamped. Here We con
graduated each other on our safe return, but
narrow escape out Of a place which had hereto
fore been the scene of bloody massacres, and
the terror of the whole country round about
and boasted that we had accomplished feat
| never before performed by any body of troops.
But the end not yet, and the worst was To
come.
After we had somewhat refreshed ourselves,
the Lieutenant ordered "a midnight march, and
attack upon the Indians i'll their hamick. We
started between twelve and one o'clock, with
twenty-five rihemen, Mr.. Martin and five MeAl-
cans, all on foot leaving the rest back to take
care of the horses. In going up the SIX miles
| of Canon, waded stream OF water not less
| than twenty times, and finally halted on the
| plain where we had been the previous after
| noon, and awaited the approach of day, when
| the lieutenant divided the force into two equal
| parties taking charge of one himself, while
Sergeant DE l.aney took charge of the other.
| We stole into their hamick but our birds
had flown, leaving their nests still warm. They
| had discovered our movements, and moved
back over the hills and up into the mountain.
| We pursued them until daylight, when We
| overlook three straggerS, whom We killed ul
| course. We next eig bit or ten Indians for
whom we started, but before we got within rifle
| range of them we discovered "A hundred
making for us. One party gained the top of "a
| HILL but all fired ut once, and had to retire to
reload their guns. BY this time, the enemy
came scampering down the hull upon US rs
| lllck As stones brOkfn loose from lle lhilSStN'
| rocky lodges. Then commenced a desperate
struggle for life and death. Oh, but that
| an exciting time The terrific war whoop OF
two or three hundred grimly painted, w;.r.cos-
TUNED Apaches the returned yell al twenty
| two as good and brave men ever fired
| Minnie rifle, the sharp ringing crack of our
| rifles the whistling of balls, the CHANGING and
| glisiening of barbed arrows, and every now and
then clear, calm, cool, and yet distinct com
mand from lieutenant Lazelle, all cunspired
| to render the scene one of intense animation.
| We deployed along the mountain, moving
| from rock To rock, and keeping the enemy at
| long range of our rifles. Their arrows fell short
OF us, but as thick as hail IN a DacOtah hail
| storm At almost every crack ct our rifles,
Indian bit the dust. Just before gong INTO
| action, | took my handkerchief and tied IT
! tightly around my left arm above the elbow, az
| order 10 check the circuation of blood, and
| give me "A steady nerve for shooting off handed.
| In the midst of the hardest fighting, was
| taking aim over a rock, when ball struck 1t
not three inches from my face, and went whiz-
zing by my ear so close that j felt the heat. J,
however picked off my Indian, and was taking
another position, when a muskct ball struck the
| peak of my forage cap and sent it whirhng
| rood behind me. The conclusion stunned me
somewhat, but left no mark. Nhlle IN the act
| of rcluadng "A large ball struck me In the right
arm midway between the shoulder and elbow,
entering the heshy part, ust grazing the bone,
| but not breakngit. The hammer WAS Jared ont
of my hand, and fell at my feet. But kept my
| eye on the Indian who shot me- finished load
ing, took deliberate aim, and sent ball through
| his breast. He sprang high in the air, gave an
unearhly YELL and fell dead.
| then fell back and crept behind large
rock, where | performed surgical operation
on myself, by pulling some cotton wadding out
Of my Jacket, and stopping up the ball holes on
| each side OF my | then took my hand
kerchief off of my left arm, and tied 1t over the
| wound While thus engaged, our men had be
gun TO retreat down tho hill, and found myself
midway between friends and foes. However,
loaded nay rifle and gave the red devils part
ing shot before following my comrades. On
coming up with orr men, | noticed that poor
Newman had his leg broken by ball. and four
men were carrying him, while a fifth WAS carry
ing their arms. This was a great drawback to
our small force, The Indians now closed in
UPON u.s. We beat them back and they beat
us forward alternately until we gained the foot
of the hill. During this close engagement, Al
len, Golden, and Burke, were wounded. In
order to gain the point Of the next hull, where
We hoped to obtain vantage ground, we had to
30 through a thcket of underbrush. Ogden,
one OF the men carrying Newman, was killed.
Another shot also killed poor Newman. Lieut.
Lazelle was severely wounded, being shot
through the lungs. Lexington and Stamper
were also severely wounded.
When we reached the point, we had a short
respite aud breathing spell. But here my arm
failed me, and could no longer use it to load
my rife. We had now been fighting hard for
Am hour and "A half or two hours. Two of our
number were killed, and eight wounded. Our
cartridges were nearly exhausted and we were
eight miles from the mouth of the Canon. The
Lieutenant and four of the worst wounded men
started for camp, under the protection Of the
Mexicans.
We now determined to extricate ourselves
from an embarrassing predlcalnent best We
could The Indians had ceased firing for the
time being and volunteered To place myself
in their sight, and decoy them into the belief
that we were still at that spot, while the others
made good their retreat. The party divided
again Sergeant De l.aney took wrong trad.
started 10 follow him, but soon discovered the
mistake and struck across to JOIN the other
party On looking back, saw ten or twelve
Indians almost at my heels. All, thinks |,
now nv time has comel Presence of mind is
said to be very essential in time OF action but
on this particular occasion was very iorcibly
IMPRESSED with the idea that absence of body
was a great deal better. Stamper had also left
Sergeant DE Laney'S party and was running for
dear lie some fifty yards to my right He too,
was bareheaded and every now aud then would
pass his hand to his bald Uranium, rs much
as 10 say. You needn't trouble yourselves.
Messrs. Indians; you'll get no hair here
Although have prided myself on my run
ming qualities, | found that at this time | was
no match for the bloody scalp-takers, and would