Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-10-29
The Indian War.
COrrespOndshrces Sf5ths state Journal 3rE
Ennr, n. =

Correspondence efzthe State Journ al ~
FORT RILEY, Kansas, Oct. z, 1854
Gen. Blunt returned to this place on ~,
Sd inst after having been gone out on a.
Plains about four weeks after the india
He went with his command as far as the Pr
nee Fork without meeting with anytbin,
worthy of note. At that place the adTabcee
guard ran on TO a small party of Indians who
Immediately fled, the guard pursuing and
after following them a short distance tbav
came on to large body of Indians, and the
boys in turn retreated and the Indians nnr.
sued. After retreating a short distance the
guards, consisting of one company of Colo.
RADIO cavalry, made stand and Handsomely
repulsed the: Indians, who immediately ex
tended their lines. At this juncture one Of
the guards fell, shot through the heart And
the boys made another stand, determined thar
if the Indians got one scalp they should have
more with it. By this time the command had
advanced to. within hearing distance. and
were halted for the General to talk with SIX
Indians who pretended to be trying to form a
treaty. The boys halted few minutes, but
they could not be kept any longer in hearing
of where their comrades were contending
with ten times their number of red skins
And Capt. Conkey being temporarily in com.
mand gave the order forward. :" The men
went with cheer and the Indians fed in
CONSERVATION. The Chief that was TALKING
with the General when he saw the command
start to the rescue of the little band that was
fighting, gave the General some pretty saucv
words, and the General drew mis- revolver and
one Indian fell off from his poney, the other
men standing by drew their revolvers and
three ponies were left riderless The result
of the engagement was eleven Indians killed
Our loss was one killed, two wounded and one
missing. The Indians were well armed with
Sharp's rifles. They have a shield that will
resist a rifle ball, made of rawhide two thick
nesses dried as hard as horn, which they car.
~ in their hand and hold it nearly edgeways
to their enemy. One edge passes just back
of tile left shoulder, and then Obliquely by
the breast and face. When they retreat they
lay forward on their ponies, and the shield is
so constructed that they can throw it over
their hips.
Gen. Blunt's command returned as far As
Walnut Creek, where they stopped to erect
fort as defense against the Indians and
winter quarters. They are progressing finely
The post is to be called Fort Zarah II Is
about one hundred miles west of this place
and is at present garrisOned by a detachment
of the Sd Wisconsin cavalry and two sections
of the 9th Wisconsin battery. The health of
the boys is excellent.
Fort RILEY, Oct 1lth.-After writing the
above, | learned that the rebels, under Price
had captured several trains on the Hannibal
and Saint Joseph Railroad, and as that cuts
off all Of our communications with the North
and Northwest, did not think it best to mail
it then.
Fort Riley is as nice post as can be found
in the Southwest. 1t is on an eminence where
it is dry and airy, with splendid quarters all
built of stone, well ventilated, and for the
health and comfort of the soldiers there
seems to be nothing lacking.e
The hospital far excels anything of the
kind ever saw; it is under the charge of Dr.
Sabin, an old and experienced practitioner,
and perfect gentleman. He is a very feel
ing man and father to a sick soldier The
boys all learn to love him as a father.
The following is list of Wisconsin sick
and wounded men in hospital at this place:
Orderly Sergt. o. j. Whitman, 9th battery,
wounded slight in head, nearly well; John
Harris, 9th bat, left shoulder, severe, doing
well; James II. Pine, Sd cav, bilious fever;
A. G. Enits, Sd cav, ossifcation of left leg;
NJ S. Krake, Sd cav, fever.
Yours for Lincoln, the Constitution and the
enforcement of the laws, or a soldiers grave
III. A. SHARP, 9th Wis. Bat.