The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1865-03-01

Cheyenne friends, ''How ~ Immediately
after the affair Of the 9TH ult. At this place,
the troops on the road concentrated At
Cottonwood, and on the 18th, under com.
mand Of Gen. Mitchell, started for large
village Of Indians reported upon the Repub.
lican River, 100 miles south. Upon
arriving at the village, it "wern't thar
plenty Of fresh sign" was discovered,
however, but no satisfactory conclusion
could be arrived At as to what direction the
main force had gone, and after remaining .
few days, scouting the country, it was de.
termined to return to the road, the weather
being very cold, Thermometer IL below
zero, rations short, "commisssry" played
out. &C., and nary Indian seen-arriving
at Cottonwood the 9th.
While this expedition was out, the In.
dams made their appearance in large force
30 miles west, killing several. taking captive
one Mrs. Morrison and child, burning
ranches, hay, &C., and driving Of all the
stock they could And. They attacked
Valley Station and Godfrey's and Moore's
ranches, the 9Th, but were driven of, with
loss Of 10 killed and several wounded
= squad Of go soldiers being stationed at
Valley-but not until they had burned the
hay and driven of the stock at the ranches.
The Indians then started leisurely down
the road east, destroying everything they
could not take away : and Saturday, the
28th, about $50 attacked s men at rancho
as miles west, who kept them OF until
night, when the men took to the hills,
reaching this post in safety Monday night.
The 29th the Indians continued on east,
burning mail stations, ranches, &c., and
driving of al the stock along the road,
arriving 800 to 500 strong At . rancho 8
miles west, which they At once besiseed.
there being large train ''corral'ed," mum.
bering l8 men, ranchmen and tcamsters.--
After skirmishins for some time. they we're
obliged to take refuge in the rancho, where
they fought them until dark, killing 7 out
right, and wounding several others. After
the enemy retired TO the hills, the men left
the rancho, took to the ice. and arrived
here all right, not man hurt. We could
hear the firing and see the smoke Of the
burning hay, bu. could not 60 to their re,
lief. the Go. not yet having arrived homo
from the expedition, and there being only
% Of US here, sick and well. to garrison
the post. The same day the Indians came
down the opposite side u the river and
drove of three herds Of cattle, abou. 300
head, belonging to rsnchmen who had
driven them here for protection. OF the
party that fou .ht at the rancho, one was an
"intelligent African" ard the version he
gave Of the affair was laughable, notwith-
standing the narrow escape they had. He
is now at the post IS Lieut.. BIS assistant
in tho Q. NJ. Department. For several days
spies were seen lowering about the hills.
but they showed no disposition to modest
US, the company having arrived. The next
day after the return of the Co., q detach-
ment was sent below to escort the Pay.
master here, and no sign Of Indians being
seen at this time, small party was sent up
the road to learn of their whereabouts.
wh'cn they were not long IN doing. They
had not gone far from the post when their
farther advance was disputed by = large
force, and our men slowly fell back, nobody
being hurt of our men, though several
ponies were running about riderless, one OF
which we captured. In short time, from
800 to 1000 Of the enemy made their ap
pearance about US, but declined to attack
the post in force, though few would ride
within range, fire at US, doing no damsge,
when some Of the, boys would return pony.
minus rider, ts his friends on the hills
This would not do, SO they concentrated a
large force upon two sides of US, just out Of
range, to keep US at home, while third
large party, 200 l should think. wen,
below, burned and plundered the rancho
miles east, the mail station and telegraph
Office II miles. carried their plumber across
the river, and returned to their rendezvous
ut the rancho 8 miles west. We could not
! leave the post TO- save the station, there be
ing only SO here under command Of Lent
Brewer. Capt. O'Brisn not having arrived
yet from below, for the moment any Of us
were seen to leave, their ''rsserves'' would
haye given those remaining call" and
the chances were that al OF US would have
been in. and the post destroyed After
they had crossed the river, . piece OF
artillery was run down to the bsnk, and
We shelled them as long as they we're within
reach. doing them no trifiMg damage from
the number Of ponies suddenly deprived Of
riders. and the anxiety they showed to get
out Of our range. That same evening
C.pt. O'Brien arrived. having heard our
firing and seen the smoke of the burning
station, but VAS unable 70 reach here in
time to give us aid. - ~ = ~
~ b"e AeeuuWe he"s VI sue gSHuAuOh
here was sent east. and Col. Livingston,
with 500 men, started for this place imme
diately, arriving 4 g. m, Sunday, 9th, hav
! ing marched night and day. The Indians
were still up the road, and scouting party
was sent out early in the morning, return.
ing in . short time and reporting Indians
in sight Another party was Immediately
sent up the road to End the enemy and
bring on ~ engagement, bnt we're too late
the Indians had learned of the arriva! oil
troops, and not one Was to be seen. The
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