The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-01-26
Further Particul ars Of the I'm.
dian Rattle at Jui esburg 2.

dian Battle at Juiesburg
JASuARY, 9Th, 1865.
Have heen- engaged for the last two days
hunting beef c,ttle which bad been driven
off blythe Indians. We found trail yes
te rday, and returned to the post for an es-
cort. At A.. NJ. on the 7th, the stage
coach was attacked three miles east Of Jules
burg. At 6 A. NJ. the troops were In the
saddle.
Edward Montana reported train attack.
ed at Buell's ranch, and one man killed and
one W aundeds who was pursued by thirty
Indians Capt. O'Brien ordered troops TO
pursue the Indians, whom he heard number
ed shout seventy. with forty in sight on the
bluffs. Capt. Murphy with ten men was or
dered to the right. Lieut.. Brewer, with the
sa me number, was ordered to the left. Col
Summers. 7th Iowa cavalry, and Capt.
O'Brien brought up the centre. The com.
mand dismountel to scalp and secure the
trophies. Col. Summers here discovered
DO dy Of Indians approaching from the
bluffs-one thousand strong. Capt MIR.
phys squad was surrounded. and Col Sum
mers or dered O'Brien to leave Murphy and
join the main command. Murphy's squad
killed eight Indians and captured three
horses. Lieut.. Brewer. fighting bravely,
lost five men killed His forces killed eleven
In dians, and cutting their way through
joined the main commanft. Col Summers
hot the principal Chief, at this stage Of the
fight, which caused panic among the In
dams. Our command was halted and con,
centrated on the bluffs. The whole country
arc und US seemed to swarm with Indians,
and our command slowly fell back to Buelrs
ranch-distant six miles from the battle
ground. Col Summers. Capt. Murphy and
Lieut.. Brewer remained here for the protec-
ton of di amounted citizens who had joined
the com mand. while Capt O'Brien fell back
to the stage station for the protection Of cit.
liens, the tel egraph Office and valuable OPP
erty there. A squad was dispatched for ar
dians were di scovered approaching from the
bluffs. Meantime an equal number were at.
lacking by squads the party at Buell's ranch.
Three citizens being pursued by 30 Indians,
Sum mers. Murphy and Brewer. hurried to
the rescu e, bringing the men away in safe.
ty. o. Brien held the stage station, when .
4 >,l~:.
him for assistance O'Brien charged gal
lantly through the indians, reaching the
post and artillery without the loss Of man
Meantime the fnf iaDs took possession Of the
Mail Station. fired the Stage Company s
buildings, rife the mail bags. and Express,
and milking total wreck Of the telegr,ph
office-the operators barely escaping with
their lives.
Capt O. B-ien, returning to the relief Of
Col. Summers, trained his artillery upon
the Indians, killing several Then charg.
ing he drove them to the bluffs, extinguish.
ed the fire and repaired to the relief of Dol.
Summers. He found Col. s safe with his
command. excepting one soldier and four
citizens, who were cut off.
Thirteen saldiers AMI Ave citizens were
killed during the day. These we're horribly
mu.ilated-their legs, feet and hands beng
severed from their bodies. Cutting hole
in the head Of one of their victims, the In
dams filled it with powder ana blew It to
atoms Fifty. five Indians in all, we're kill
ed. and many wounded. The fight was on.
y terminated BY the darkness-the Indians
retreating southwark. The bate field ia
strewn with trophies arrows,
spears, &c. Col. Summers killing the Chief
secured his magnificent equipments.
The Indians drove away all the cattle
within ten miles Of the post.
We have given the particulars of this bat
tie as we know them to exist from actual
personal observation. The attack was made
by the largest body of Indians yet seen in
the Platte Valley.
Considering the number of troops en-
gagged. (only forty) this is certainly the best
contested field ever fought on the Pl.ins,
since Harney's time. The troops displayed
the greatest gallantry against terrible odds.
Especial credit is due % the officers, who
were cool, and self. possessed throughout.
j. A. MORROW,
Ranchman.
P. HOLCOMB.
8. r. SMITH