Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-10-27
The Indian Wsr.
Correspondence of the State Journal
FoRT Riley KansoS Oot


--- FORT RILEY, Kansas, Oct. Z, 1854
zen. Blunt returned to this place on -,
90 INST. after having been gone ont on tLs
flalns about four weeks after the Tn5;a ,ne
de went with his command as far as the De- ,.l.S
nee FORK without meeting with anytbir.
worthy OF note. At that place the 6iva-nsS
guard ran onto small party of indians W.
immediately fed, the guard PURSUING anJ
aiter ioiioSlng them a short distance tbnV
came on TO large body of Indians. and tba
oos III turn retreated and the Indians
80 |hI'et [eIfeatlng short distance the
SuaIuS, eonsistlng OF one company of Colo.
iauo cavalry, made stand and Handsomely
Iepulseu tue Indians, who immediately ex.
.ehueu tnelr INES. At this junoture one of
Tue guards tell, shot through the heart. And
" &c oo4s llaoe another stand, determined that
'-ie -In4lahs got one scalp they should have
more with it. By this time the coDonoa,.5 L.
advanced to within hearino d;S+anaa 'o u"G
were halted for the General tn tall Ia an" n!
Indians who pretended to be trving 80 60, s'A
treaty. The boys halted a few m;nn.ae "a
they could not be kept any longer in besr Gu1
of where their comrades were contaT5;rS
with ten times their number of rcd OkirS9
And Capt. Conkey being temporarily in con,
mand gave the order forward" The ,nn,
went with cheer and the Indians A.d !,
conservation. The Chief that was taILirrr
with the General when he saw the com,,arS
start to the rescue of the little hand thot-n-a,
lighting, gave the, General some. prettv saw
| words, and the General drew his revolyar sn,3
| one Indian fell off from his poney. the othar
| men standing by drew their reviewers and
three ponies were left riderless, The resnIt
OF the engagement was eleven indians kiHed
| Our loss was one killed, two wounded and ona
| missing. The Indians were well armed with
| Sharps rides. They have shield that will
resist rite bail, made of rawhide two tbick-
! nesses dried as hard as horn, which thew car.
| ry in their hand and hold it nearly edoewovs
TO their enemy. One edge passes lust back
| OF the left shoulder, and then obliouely by
the breast and face. When they retreat they
lay forward on their ponies, and the shield i
| SO constructed that they can throw il over
| their hips. |0w d. o. Ya.sa
Gen. Blunt's command returned as far rs
alnut Greek, where they stopped to erect
tort as defense against the Indians and
winter quarters. They are progressing finely.
The post IS to be called Fort Zarah 1t is
ABOUT one hundred miles west of this place
and Is at present garrisoned by detachment
| OF the Sd Wisconsin cavalry and two sections
of the 9th Wisconsin battery. The health Of
| the boys is excellent.
| FoRT RILEY, Oct l lth.-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. r.-.. .s
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
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. Ee is a very feet
ing man and father to a sick soldier The
boys all learn to love him az father.
The following is list of Wisconsin sick
and wounded mel 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 Fl. Pine, Sd cav, bilious fever;
A. G. Enits, Sd cav, Justification of left leg;
NJ. 5. Krake, Sd cav, fever.
Yours for Lincoln, the Constitution and the
enforcement of the laws, or soldiers grave
a---- I'll. A. SHARP, 9th Wis. Bat.