White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1863-10-15
Correspondence.
For shs chieE)


fought on the ID Of sepesmbes. between the
forces under command Of Brig. Gen. Sally.
composed Of the Sixth Iowa Cavalry. the lss
and ID BsttalIons Of The Second Nebraska, and
q Company Of the Seventh Iowa Cavalry, num-
bering about men. and . body Of Indi.
ans, csnsissing Of eeubinstion Of Santee,
Yanktonian, Cathead and Bsuls Sioux, mum.
bering about eleven hundred young warriors,
at White Store Hill. Dakota Territory, pro-
pose 70 give you brief and truthful sketch Of
that aGAir. 80 7
After the expedition had proceeded a. far
as White Lake, without meeting any enemy.
and, on account Of the worn-out condition Of
the animals in the transportation department,
and the scarcity Of provisions. bad takea cir.
cling course back to Fort Pierre. feeling entire
~ hopeless Of accomplishing anything of i'm
portanee. on the % inst, scouting party which
had been sent out, returned With Information
that they had discovered indications of Indians
having been in the vicinity very lately. They
found remains Of buiIaloes newly killed, and
also camping plaee. With the hrss yet scarce
ly cold.
On the morning Of DE ID, Gen. Sally sent
out . battalion OF he Iowa 9Th, 70 scout in
force on the lels Aank. while the wagon train
and the main body Of the command proceeded
BY more practicable route. During the day.
We passed over prairies strevn with the re-
mains Of bufEaloes killed within few days by
the Indians, and encamped about O'Clock be-
side small lake. of which many abound in
that region. We had been here about two
hours, when messengers arrived in camp from
Maj. House, and reported 400 lodges of Indi-
ans about eight miles south of our position.
We were ordered Immediately 10 proceed and
attack them, and In an incredibly short time
We we're on our way to the Indian encamp-
ment, every one eager to engage the enemy.
After rapid march of little over an hour.
We came up with Maj. Houses battalion of the
Iowa 9Th, drawn up in hollow square, on the
north side of the Indian encampment. The
Indians had fallen back behind the brow of
small hill, with their women and children in
their rear, and taken their position in . deep
ravine. Gen. Sully, with the Sioux City cav
airy company. 9TH Iowa. and two battalions
of the 9Th, took his position on the hill on the
north side, while one battalion of the 9Th form
ed in line of battle on the left, and the I'd Ne
braska on the right of the enemy. Col. Furnas
formed his men within four hundred yards of
the Indians, with the first battalion. under
Maj. Tahe, on the left, and the second, under
Capt. Taboo, on the right; Maj. Piernan being
left in command Of the camp. The first bat
TALON consisted Of Companies E. H, I, and Z,
under command of Capt. Hill, Lieut.. Wilss,
Lieut.. Demming, and Capt. Patrick, respect
lively; and the second, of Companies F, G, L,
and M, under command Of Lieuts. Hill and
Mason, Capt. Bayne, Lieut.. Bayne. and Lieut..
Hewett, respectively.
When the line of battle was formed, Capt.
Laboo asked Col. Furnas If he should COM
mence the action. Col. Furnas answered that
he had no order to fight, and must wait for
further orders from headquarters, and that if
he (Laboo) fred on the Indians, he should do
% on his own responsibility, as he should not
be responsible for bis action. Time was pre-.
cious; night was approaching; Capt. Laboo
turned and asked Capt Bsyne for his advice.
Capt. Bayns answered: Let us fight them,
Captain; that 10 my advice" The order was
Immediately given to Ere, and steady and
well-directed volley was poured into the enc
my. causing considerable confusion among
them. We then advanced to within hundred
yards, and poured two more rounds among
them, to which they responded briskk, the
balls generally passing over US. We again
moved forward to within thirty yards through
. steady fire, from which position . murderous
fire was kept up from our whole line, until the
Indians were scattered, except small numbers
hidden in the ravines and grass. and the dark
ness rendered it impossible to distinguish friend
from foe, when We fell back short distance,
reformed, and lay on our arms during the
night.
When We first formed in line of battle, at
the commencement Of the engagement, we dis
mounted, and left every fourth man to hold
the horses. These advanced As the column
moved, urging their comrades BY such express
sione as "Give them fits, boys; your horses
are SAFE" "Give them another round, boys."
and 80 forth.
The men Of the Second all behaved with the
eoolness and bravery of old soldiers, when the
bullets and Arrows vhistled thickest around
them. Not look Of fear or hesitation was
seen. They went into the action without any
seeming conception Of danger. and as cooIly
- they would go about their every day EN-.
ployment. The 9Th Iowa, who held the posi-
ton on the Left, and who are q good . regi-
ment - any in the service, suffered through
the bad Management Of their officers, who
brought them up to within thirty yards of the
enemy. with rifles slung on their backs and un.
loaded; and even when fred upon. they failed
to give any orders to return the FIRE, although
the men did 20 without any orders. Nor we're
the men dismounted, but we're kept mounted
ss though herding cattle.
Our loss was about 60 killed and wounded
in the whole brigade, while the Indians lost
$50 killed and a many wounded. besides leav.
ing al their property. except the ponies they
rode, scattered over the field, and dsd precipi
lately under cover of the darkness. Some Of
their children we're being left in their haste.
Among the casualties were John vanorder and
Charles Devenpors, Of Go. 9, killed. and John
Hsllsteea, OF the aAe company, wounded. In
tAe skirnishing which took place In the nexs
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