White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1862-09-18
the INDIANS sl<EpAppLE.
FORT ABERcR0MBIE BEsIEGED.
Burning Of Hutchinson.
Barnins 1t Forest City.


Burning Of Hutchinson.
Burning at Forest City.
From the St. Pau! Press, 9Th.
Mayor Prince and Lieut. Stees arrived
at I o'clock last evening from Fort Ridg-
ley. with dispatches from Col. Sibley to
Gov. Ramsey. They left the fort at two
o'clock Thursday afternoon. and travel
ing all night reaching here as above
state.
They bring news of terrible battle
with the Indians on Tuesday last. near
the Lower Agency. between Capt. Grants
company of infantry. Capt. Anderson's
cavalry, and detail Of Soldiers and citi-
zens, in oil about one hundred and fifty
men, who had been sent ont by Colonel
Sibley to bury the dead. The Indians
nearly surprised the camp early on Tues
day morning. Some Of the soldiers
were shot while yet in their tents.
The battle continued all that day. and
on the morning of the next till reinforce
men:s under Col. Silbey came up, when
the Indians were careful to keep out Of
harms way
Thirteen were killed utright, and
buried on the battle field, and forty.four
to fifty wounded out of the forco Of $50
men. Some ninety horses were also kill.
ed. nearly all at the first fire which proved
very fortunate for the boys. as they made
them into breastworks. They could form
no idea Of the number Of Indians killed.
as they were of in the tall grass. and their
bodies Immediately carried away by their
companions.
We ore indebted for the following sue
cinct narrative and list of killed and
wounded. to Mr.. A. j. Ebell, who ac-
companied the reinforcements under Col
Silbey.
Capt. Grant with company of infant
ry, and Capt. Anderson, with Is caval
ry. were sent on to clear the way towards
Yellow Medicine, and bury the dead on
Sunday morning, August 2lst. They
encamped that night opposite the Lover
Agency, on this side Of the river Next
morning (Monday.) Captain Anderson.
with his cavalry and few infantry, ford
ed and swan the river to the Agency,
and buried the dead there, while the re-
mainder of Capt. Grants division buried
large number on their side-mostly
soldiers from Captain Marsh's company
together they inferred IS, greater part
of whom were horribly mutilated. Near
the mouth of Beaver river, Capt. Gran,
picked up woman who had been on the
prairie for two weeks. She was in such
. state of exhaustation and fright that
l have yet been unable to gain any items
of information from her.
Major Brown penetrated as far as the
fork Of the roads to Yellow Medicine and
Coteau prairie. to ascertain. if possible.
which way the Indians had taken. He
saw no Indications of their having been
there for four or FIVE days.
The cavalry rc-crosscd to Capt, Grants
division. and they encamped for the night
ON Birch Coolie. opposite tho Agency,
and three miles from it. Next morning
(Tuesday.) at the early break of day. as
the guards were being charged, the sen.
tinels saw some objects moving over the
prairie towards them they at first sup
posed them cattle, but fred into them
a volley was instantly returned, killing
some of the guard and wounding a num-
ter more.
Within ten minutes the whole encamp-
ment was surrounded with over $50 saw
ages. pouring from all sides CALLING fire
into the very midst of our troops. III
they had then made charge. the whole
Damp would have been cut to peices.
Their fire was briskly returned from our
men, who were Obliged to fight lying
fat in the grass and among the wagons
At 10 o'clock they commenced throwing
up entertainments. working as thsy lay.
for it was impossible for man to raise
his head without at once having num-
Der of shots fred at him. The works
were. however. pushed on, and by P. NJ.
they had their lines entrenched with
and the dead horses, which
they rolled together in line as much as
possible.
Early in the morning our guard at
Fort Ridgley heard the firing. and Maj.
R. N. McLaren. with three companies Of
infantry, and Col. McPhail. with about
fifty cavalry. were sent in the direction
from which it was heard. They advanc-
ed to within three miles of Capt. Grants
on the opposite side of the
river. Here they were surrounded by In
dians who endesvorcd to hem them in
and cut them off from water, intending,
to make charge next morning
at daybreak. They were however. held
at distance by our shell with which we
kept securing the ravine and woods.
A messenger returned, to rs at the fort
about P. N, reporting the state of affairs.
and as soon as the lines could be formed,
Col. Silbey with his whole command.
left for their relief. The 7th regiment
had but just Joined us. and the men were
weary. foot-sore and hungry. but they re-
ceived the tidings of . brush with the
savages with shout. and eagerly pushed
on with US without waiting for food or
rest. We marched till two next morn
lug Wednesday. J when We Joined Maj.
division. Having rested on
our arms q coaple Of hours more. we
again pushed on at break of day. The
nm m hor of Ind;eoe oro,oJ ooox;on.II.:.