, 1862-09-10

The Battle OF Birch Cooley.

FROM tHe SL. raul Ifess, Gth
Capt. Grant, Of company a, Sixth Rezi-
TeIt' arrived IN this city yesterday moruiug.
From him we CLEAN many particulars Of 16c
late battle at Birch Cooley. The first knog
ledge they mad u tile presence OF Indians, was
= terrific yoliey from three or tour hundred
mutHets. which penetrated to al parts of the
camp, killing and wounding the horses, euter-
ING the tents, etc: This occurred just at the
gray OF dawn, before it was light enough to
sse the secohd sight on the guns; aud ta1s
circumstance accounts for the fact tina. SO f.T
cou para!lvely were Injured, when SO m1ny
shots #e:e fired, they being generally aimed
too high.
The Indians poured in their vo11eys from
all sides but one, evideutly intending to drive
the men ont OF the camp 10 that direction .aa,i
then come forward and stize the horses anu
Flunder, willie at the sans time, as it after
ward appeared, they had party stationed on
1he prairie to cut to p'eces the mcn as taeY
tan Tan 70 make thelr escape very good plan,
but which the sreadiness of the men at this
sudden tire entirely frustrated. Scarcely a
man tlncted from his duty, and many we're
clamorous to eh .r.e upon their un-ern foe,
As soon as possible the men selected such
position behind the wagons ard dead horses
Is afforded slight protection, aud returned
the tire OF their assallanta, and with such q
steady aim that many red skin was made to
bite the dust. There il no doubt tn It it the
Indians had made charge at that time. ehec
would have succeeded in their murder3us de-
sign, but they were too cowardly to face the
Certain death, that they knew would atseud
EoGn an attempt to great many Of them.
Iht fight continued without cessation till
about Line O'Clock in the morning, when it
oegun to f1ack gradually, which enaoied C apt.
Grant TO entrench little, but if man ey-
postd himself ever SO little he VAS sure to be
snot e a.; and the only way they succeeded in
finishing their earth work was f,,r nortinn oe
the boys to watch while the Others txcaTsted
and when red skin raised up his head to take
! sure aim, the CRY OF "down. down, !,
brought sll tat upon the ground, and tue sh IT
passed harml. IS over their he Ids The fight
lng continued IN this manner till the goiug
ooHn OF the moon near Midnight, when tue
Indians took advantage Of the darkness to
cary away thtir dead.
Early in tie morning Of Wednesday. the
firing Was renewed, and continued during tue
morning. At this time, the comm ander of
The Sioux called out In the Dakota language
to the halt bTeeds, some seyeu or cigat, in
Capt. Grants force. to leave The whites, aud
they would be Protected; that the Indians did
rot desire the blood Of the mixed breed-theY
only wanted that of the whites; that they
were going to charge i'm nedi .telY on tue
camp and pnt every person to death. &c.
This Was heard By all the halt-breeds, and by
Major Jos. R. Brown, who transla:ed it for f
Capt. Gsant- Of course none Of the half
breeds attempted to have,
eoon after this the cannon under Col. Sib-
~ 1yato command was heard to speak, and an
ano 1noaan horseman came rapidly up to their
m9notr 6y Maiae OF head Chief, and was overheard
E cnites Mefe coming to the relief OF Caot.
s5rant; i Ihe Indians we're then ordered al to
go and attack Col. sibley, With the ercrnt5en N
Capt. Grant, ' @u0 ""'cn
The Inoians went of with ve,t hnt ~,
nearing Col. sibley's force. they were saioted % e
By shot and schrapncll from the batterv ~
Mark Hendricks, and were wise enour6 fn
keep at a safe distance. Col. S,bley soo1 afser
came up and relieved Capt Grants force from
ne per,loqs position thy bad been in 70,
thirty-si1 hours without food or sleep.
The loss Of Capt Grants company In the
above fight wae eleven killed and four wound.
cd, one fatally.