Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-10-09

The 9Th Iowa Cavalry Engaged.

Details Of the fight with the Indians, Sept
Sd, on the head-waters of the Missouri have
reached us. The number of warriors actual.
ly engaged was about l 500, representing four
different tribes of the Sioux, viz: the Saun.
tees, Black Feet, Cut Heads and Yanktonians
led by the noted Ink-pa-du-tah. Their kill.
ed are estimated at 200 or $50. Our forces
took 100 prisoners besides; also, 200 ponies
and 100000 worth of buffalo meat, robes,
furs, &c.
Our forces consisted of the 9th Iowa cav.
airy, eight companies of the I'd Nebraska
cavalry, one company of the 7th Iowa caval
ry, (from Sioux City, acting as Gen. Sully's
body -guard,) and battery Of six mountain
howitzers. Our total loss is 20 killed and
4s wounded. Of this number the 9Th Iowa
which bore the brunt of the battle, lost IA
killed and 1S wounded. Col. d. =. Wilson
who commanded the 9th, had his horse shot
under him. Col. Furnas of the I'd Nebraska
also had his horse killed. Lieut.. Leavtt
Adjutant Of the 9th, was severely wounded
and, in the excitement of the conflict, was
either forgotten, or his fellow soldiers were
unable to reach him. He lay upon the field
unattended during the entire night and until
late the next morning, when he died. His
body is to be brought home for burial.
From a description of the battle we make
the following extract:
The Indians had taken their stand in q
ravine that was tlanked on either side by lines
Of gently ascending hills, and here were CO.,
lected not cny the main proportion of the
warriors, but a large proportion of their
squaws and papooses who had been unable
in the surprise and consequent panic to effect
their escape. The musketry from the 9th
Iowa and I'd Nebraska was rapid, and as well
directed as the rapidly app oaching darkness
would admit and the havoc made among them
was ter ible. As the darkness came on, hun
dreds fed in every direction, s. eking to
escape, and as they scattered were picked up
by dozens and scores. The CHASTITY forms
Squaws and papocses, as well as Of brave and
Scared warriors the vctors and heroes
perhaps of hundred bloody fights-dctted
the field everywhere. The battle continued
long after darkness had set in, and during the
entire night our boys were busy picking of
those who, feeling a sense of security in the
stiffness Of the night, had emerged from their
lurking places but 1t was not till the ligh,
of the next morning illuminated the scene OF
the last nights conflict that the horrible and
barbarous method of warfare practced by
these Observation-Disclosures hands had been i'm
butd in the innocent blood of women and
children was manifest. Those of our men
who were so unfortunate in the exct lnent Of
the battle as to venture far among them were
cut of, and their bodie- subject to the most
horrible mut'la'ions. Tongues were cut on,
the boiy dismembered of head or limbs or
both deep gashes cut across the face with
the murierous war club, or brains dashed on,
with their own rifles, were but few of tho
savage indignites and tortures inflicted upon
the few who fell into their hands. Fortu
nately, however, their number was very few