, 1865-10-28
70 Rrevet Bslgadies General Edward j. Salomo1
Q. S. Volnntecs.
THE EASTERN INDIAN EXpEDI.
TION,
Another Fight with the Savascs-SIx
ofour Men Killed,

Another Fight with the Savascs-SIs
ofour Men Killed,
Correspondence Of The Chicago Tsibune.1
POWDER RIVER, MONTANA TEun11puf.
September 5, 1si5 (
During a march Of eight hundred miles
through Wild Indian country, up to i've 0.
H., Sept LIST, not hostile Indian had been
seen and but few traces of them, Many
thought that the further prosecution of the
expedition was useless, that catching Indians
was as difficult as catching "jnck o'lanterns,' -
and that In country 80 destitute and difQ-
cult to pass through, now that tho horses
Wcre reduced and rntions nearly exhausted,
1t would be wisdom to return, But Colonel
Cole would not listen to this without d further
effort to accomplish the object of the expedi-
tion, and the orders we're to march the next
morning.
Wehad remained quietly in camp four days.
resting the stock, preparatory 10 resuntng
the march. The grass Ind been fed of near
by, and the mules and horses werc driven two
miles away for pasture, with only light
era1d. Indians occupied the least of our
thoughts when one Of the guards came raj
lopfng into camp with the startling announce.
ment that the t'horses were being driven of
by. tue lndians." 'sBoots and Saddles' WAS
sounded, and the few horses In camp quickly
mounted, and Capt. Rowland taking COM
mand OF the detachment, hurried of at full
speed to the scene Of operations.
A teW Of the guard taking refuge behind
trees, poured scattered fire upon the In
dians and gave the remainder of tie guard m
opportunity to drive most Of the stock TO
camp. The Indians, however, secured fifty
OF sixty, and were making oil to the bluns
with their booty when Capt. Rowland with
his party Of iftcen men came up with them
and commenced IN attack. The Indians,
numberin$ about one hundred, let most Of
ground against tue Csptain, but they were were
being punished severely with our Spencer
cartincs when they were reinforced by three
or four hundred more, who cnme dashfng
down from the hills and nearly surrounded
The Captain and his little party, and killed
and wounded four Of the men. Finding that
It Was useless 10 contend against such over
whelming numbers, and being slightly
wounded with an arrow, the Captain cxtsica-
ted himself from the savngcs ind retreatcd
toward camp. As fast as the horses re-
turned from grazing they were mounted,
and and strong party under Col. Cole
met the Captain and oil returned
SO large force coming out, fed to the hills,
and though warmly pressed until af1er dark,
would not stand for light, Quite number
Of the Indians were killed and ali bnt
eighteen Of the horses they had stolen were
recovered.
On the battle ground were two OF our men
dead and two Others 50 severely wounded that
they died before morning. AL Of them were
sca!Fed aud most horribly mutilated, their
bodies being perforatcd With arrows, md cut
with knives and tomahawks.
\ party Of Indians came upon three men
that were hunting and killed two of them,
bnt the third resolved TO sell his Life as dear
as poseible and shot two of tho Indians dead,
In safety.
The Indians carried away most of their
dead. A portion Of those they LEFT were
brought 70 camp and buried by US. Our own
dead, SIX IN number, were carried one DAYS
march AWAY, and buried where the sayascs
could not find their graves 10 commit more
atrocities on their bodies
Ihc march wRs resumed down the west
bank of Powder river, over terribly rough
country tlat YVES cut up by deep rayines
coming down the mountains, which In places,
vent oru further progress. By a great deal Of |
bard labor, cutting woods and filing litchcs,
We managed to push ahead slowly. When II l
came time TO camp no grass could be found |
Tor The stock, and the march was kept up till |
dark III the hope Of finding some. Bnt all |
"as uiy Auu ucsolAte, save heavy growth OF |
sage brush and cactus, no vegetation existed. !
v G had marched thirty-one miles, and 1nauy /
OF the animals were ready to drop with hun
ger and fatigue: During the night 1t rained
and cold north wind sprnng up and swept
with Jury through the valley. III the morn
ing two hundred Of our horses we're dead.
4 Reconnaissance down the river reported
" no grass" To return was ali that could be
done, and seventeen miles to march before
grazing could be found. We are now one
days march on the back track. Our proyts-
Ions are nearly exhausted, and NC have given
up meeting Gen. Connor, who has supplies
Tor us. Fort Laramie Is our nearest poift for
supplies, but how far re must 70 to reach
hem none in the command can tell. We arc
u what may be termed tight place.
L. G. BENNETT, |