Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1862-03-15
l~We are informed that q certain

was entertaining o crowd in the Pos. Office
in this city with decla,nations against Gen.
J. B. S. TODD. Among the moutbines
and frothinss Of this valiant pnse, was
charge of cowardice against Gen. T.--that
at the battle OF Ash Hollow he Zen. T)
exhibited the white feather, &c. This
came charge has been made against Gen.
ToDD by other spoonies, and to show how
plain tale will DISPOSE Of this falsiGca-
tons, we here copy extracts from Gen.
HARSEY's official report Of that battle.
HEADQUARTERS Sioux EXPEDITION,
Camp on Blue Water Geek, N. T.,
September 5, 1855
Colonel: have the honor 10 report, for
the information OF the General in Chief,
that on my arrival at Ash Hollow, on the
evening OF the I'd instant, ascertained that
large portion Of Drule band of the Sioux
nation, under "Liile Thunder,' was en-
camped on Blue Water creek, (Mee.na to
wsh pah,) about six miles northwest Of
Ash Hollow, and four from the left bank
Of the North Platte.
Having no doubt, from the information
l had received from the people Of tho coun.
try / had previously net on the road, and
from the guides sccompanyin: me, OF the
real character and hostile intentions of the
party in question, l ct once commenced
preparations for attacking it. | ordered
Lleutenan. Colonel p. St. Geo. Cooke, Cd
dragons, with companies l." and " X 1"
Of the same regiment, ligh. company &c"
4.h artillery, and company e. 10Th in.
fantry, all mounted, TO move at 3 o clock
a. m, on the Sd instant, and secure po-
sition which would cut off the retreat of
the Indians to the Sand Buttes, the reput
ed stronghold Of the Brules. This move.
ment was executed in most fau:less AM
successful manner-not having apparently
attracted the notice or excited The suspi
cion OF the enemy up to the very moment
of the encounter.
At AZ o'clock a. m, left my camp with
companies "A,' e." H. 49, and
" H. 9th infantry, under the immediate
command of Major A Cady, Of that regi-
ment, and proceeded towards the principal
village OF the Brules, with view to attack
ing it openly in concert with the surprise
contemplated through the cavery. But
before reaching it. the lodges were struck e,
and their occupants commenced IL rapid
retreat up the valley of the Blue Water
precisely ia the direction from whence
expectediy the mounted troops. They
halted short of !ese however, and parlcy
ensusd between their chief and myself, in
uh,,h | .tufal H.
faction which the government felt towards
the Brules, and closed the interview by
telling him that his people had deprecated
upon and insulted our citizens whilst NOV.
ing quietly through our country; that they
had massacred our troops under most Ag-
grsvatsd circumsta tame es, aud that now the
day OF retribu,ion had come thu, did
not wish 10 harm him personally, as he
protested TO be a friend Of the whites; but
that be must either deliver up the young
men, whom he acknowledged he could
not control, or they mnss suffer the conse-
auences OF their past misconduct. and take
the chances of battle. Not being able.
OF course, however willing he might have
been, to deliver up all the butchers Of our
people. Little Thunder ~ returned to his
band to warn them of my decision, and TO
prepare them for the contest lha. must
follow.
Immediately after his disappearance from
my view | ordered the infantry to advance,
the leading company Captain Todd s. as
sklrmishers, supported by company :" H. y
9th infantry. lander Lieutenant McCleary,)
the remaing companies of the 9th being
held in hand for Interior movements. The
skirmishers, under Captain Todd. opened
their FIRE, crowned the bluffs on the right
bank CT the stream where the Indians
had taken their last position in very
spirited and gallant manner, driving the
savages theretrom into the snare laid for
them by the cavalry, which last troops
burst upon them so suddenly and 30 unex-
pectedly as to cause them to cross, instead
OF ascending, the valley of the Blue Water,
and seek an escape by the only avenue
now open to them, through the bluffs on
the left bank of that stream. Blu. al.
though they awaited themselves OF this
outlet tor escape from complete capture,
they did not SO without serious moestAtion,
for the infantry not only took them in flank
with their long range lhes, bu. the cavalry
made most spirited charre upon their
opposite or left flank and rear, pursuing
them for Eve or six miles over very
rugged country, killing number Of them,
and completely dispensing the whole party.
This brilliant charge Of cavalry was sup.
ported as far MS practicable. by the whole
body of the infantry. who we're eager from
the frs, for fray with the butchers of
their comrades of Lieut.. Gra,tan's party
The results of this affair were, Sc killed
wounded, about 10 women and children
captured, 60 mules aud ponies taken, be-
sides all indefinite number killed and dis.
abled. The amount Of provisions and
camp oquipase must have comprised near
ly all the enemy possessed; Tor teams
have been constantly engaged in bringing
into camp everything of any vi ne to the
troops, aud much has been destroyed on
the ground.
The casualties of the command amou mt
to 4 killed, severely wounded, 5 slightly
wounded, and one missing, supposed to be
killed or captured by the enemy en-
close herewith list OF the above, and
also field returns exhibiting the strength
of the troops engaged in the combat.
With regard to the officers and troops of
my command, have never seen finer