The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-11-23
Correspondence of the Courier.
From the Plains--Battle with the In
dams.
BEArvAIs STATION. G.. T., !
November 10th, 1865.

| BEArvAIs STATION. G. T.,
November 10th, 1865.
Dear Brother Having n few leisure
moments thought would improve them
by giving you a few items of Indian news
ring the last two weeks.
Since the return Of Gen. Conner's grand
expedition. the Indians, which have beer
north of the Platte all summer, have
shown indications of wintering south OF
the Platte, their favorite hunting grounds
and during the last month committed
some depredations upon trains between
Julesburg and Alkali. killing several
| soldiers and citizens. stealing stock &c.
On the Both inst. Gen. Heath collected
what troops he could i'm the vicinity Of Al.
kali, l52 in number, and with six DAYS ra-
| tions on the saddles, started in pursuit of
party of 800 Chevenens. who had captured
driving off eighty head of cattle. They
went south and did not appear to be in
much ola hurry to get away, as they
camped only ten miles from where they
captured the stock the first night.
One company (F) of the LIST Nebraska
was sent ahead on the trail with orders to
overtake and engage the Indians, and en-
deavor to draw them back towards the
main column which they did, overtaking
them on White Mans fork Of the Repub-
| lican, and had a spirited little running
| fight, lasting seven hours, in which TWEEN
fx,f x-o TyI; |,
ately night came on and the Indians with
drew before help could reach them The
Nebraska boys reached our camp at eleven
o'clock at night. The next morning I was
| ordered to take twenty-five of my COM
pany and push ahead in search of the In
dian camp, which I did, reaching the river
at eleven O'Clock, p. m. but did not discov-
er any traces Of them and halted to Craze
my stock and rest. The column came I'm
In about two hours and halted for an hour,
then we moved on down the river, and
discovered that the Indians had just cross
ed the stream and gone. south; we pro-
ceeded down the river moving very eau
iously, as the bluffs We're very close to the
river, and very high. That afternoon
| camping on the river, every man on guard
during the night, expected an attack be-
fore morning, but everything passed off
| quietly, and we were On the move very
early in the morning. Scouts were sent
south into the bluffs, who returned by 10
p. m. reporting that the main trail had
gone south towards,the main Republiessn
| and that, with the amount Of rations we
had, it was useless to follow them. 1t was
then decided to return to the Platte, but by
another route than that which we had
come. We allowed the river east fifteen
or twenty miles and camped for the night
intending to strike for Cottonwood Springs
thenext morning. Every one in the com
mand felt secure and made extensive pre-
parations for good nights rest, even tile
General undressing. / was Officer of the
Night, and gave the Pickets very strict iili
structioRs. The ICFo'clock Relief had Just
been posted and had nladea good fire
WITH the intention of making myself COM
| Portable, when allof II sudden, whizz came
a bullet uncomfortabry close to my head,
which knocked every idea Of comfort out
of it, and the air was filled with the most
| unearthly yells I ever heard i'm my life.
The req devils poured a'pertect' shower of
bullets in our camp; saaking- the attack
upon three sides of the CAMP, and made a
dash for our horses, but the men fell into
line in moment, when a spirited fight
ensued lasting about twenty minutes, but
the boys made it to warm for the cowar(llv
whelps, and they withdrew leaving sever
al of their killed behind.
There were evidently white men among
them. as they followed, scrub Pile s of b.
in good English at MS; they also had a
Bugler and blowed all the calls nicely:
We expected that they would attack us in
the morning again; and made every prep
eratioM for-it, but they met such warm
reception the night before they sid!not at
tempt it.
In the morning we ate our last ration
and had eighty miles to go before reach
ing supplies, and what was worse, with
out water or grass. We got an early
start i'm the direction of Cottonwood, but
for some reason the course was changed
during the day, and we pointed towards
Alkali nearly due west course, following
| the main divide between the Platte and
north fork of the Republican, arriving
there in two days co Rletely- worn out,
both man and beast.
I remained at that Station two days and
| then was ordered here twenty-five miles
west, but do not expect to remain long, as
the Indians are again on the road, in force,
have been fighting for two days past at
Alkali, and made their appearance to-day
on the bluffs south of this.
They evidently intend to take possession
of the road, and unless the Government
sends more troops here they will certainly
do it. All the expeditions that have been
sent against them this summer have been
benefit rather than an injury to them, as
they have captured quantities Of arms,
clothing and stock from them, just what
they wanted, and have been whipped Just
enough to make them mad. There is an
idea prevailing in the minds of many per-
sons that one white man can whip any
quantity of Indians, but assure you that
they are as brave as anybody, and are we'll
armed; better than the troops on the road,
and much better mounted, at least have
so found all the Indians have ever met,
and have 40 further curiosity to meet
them. GEO. p. NORRIS.
From the Plains--Another Expedi-
ton.
The following is from private letter