Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-05-25

have been tor them had they Withdrawn
at once from the peril that was closing
around them.
Scarcely an hour had elapsed when
the advance scouts came hurryiug in
with the announcement that large
body of Indians were advancing against
them. Every preparation was at once
made for the engagement, and it began
in Jew minutes. The two forces ell
countered, and began murderous fire
upon each other, both fighting with
gre at fury until dark. when the indians
retired, and the soldiers camped upon
the battle ground, sleeping upon their
arms.
At the earliest dawn of light the fight
was renewed, and continued for a long
time in the character of a scattering
skirmish. The savages had suffered SO
much upon the previous day, that they
were more careful, and seemed to fight
as if they wished to keep their enemies
upon the ground until they could re.
ceive reinforcemeDts themselves.
For the entire day they maneuvered
and dallied in this manner, until eht
fall, when the scouts reported that the
Indians had great increased in mum
bers, so that there could be no doubt of
the arrival of reinforcements
This was alarming Intelligence. The
Indians now equaled the Americans in
number, aud were upon their own fight
ing ground, and where they corld skulk
and fight in manner that suited them
The officers were very uneasy over the
attitude affairs had taken. an at dusk
when the firing had ceased, consulta-
tion was held
The evidence being conclusive that
the Indians were being rapidly reinforced
it was decided unsafe to risk battle
and retreat was accordingly determin,
ed upoL. That they might deceive
their enemies, who were watching them
with lynx eyes, as if they knew they
were foredoomed, it was decided that
the retreat was not to begin until mid
night, when it should be executed with
as little tumult as possible This deci
sion was made known to the volunteers
and the arrangements were made with
dispatch and secrecy.
A little before midnight the troops
we're arranged in good order, and the
retreat began. They had hardly started
when the report of several rifles was
heard in their rear. This caused some
confusion, but the officers prevented a
panic. They had nearly subsided when
some soldier in the fr Mt called out:
boys, the Indians have found us
out, and are after US
This was the signal for one of the
most complete and disgraccful panics
that ever occurred.
The cavalry scattered as if a hundred
bombs had burst in their midst, and all
dashed off in wild terror into the woods,
with only the one thought-how each
mi ght best secure his individual safety
Colonel Crawford and his officers did
their utmost to stay the panic, but it
had taken p, session of all too thor
oughly, and the men, as if determined
Oh securing their own doom, made d
terrific tumult and uproar, so that in a
short time the Indians were among
them and at work Some one carried
the red men intelligence that ''the white
men had routed themselves, and they
had nothing to do but to pick up strag
glers.'
The red skins charged in among
them, and the soldiers bel mostly
single or in couples, were hunted down
and destroyed continually. Through
all that night aud the next day the hunt
was continued, and the terror stricken
II en- fell before the merriless fury of
their pursuers.
The massacre was terrible Over a
hundred were killed or captured. Of
the latter only two escaped, one. of
whom was Doctor Knight, and as stat
ed at the beginning of our sketch, it is
from him that the succeeding particu-
lars nave Ueen ODtdlueu.
Colonel Crawford had son among
the volunteers, and his anxiety on his
account led him so far in the rear and
made him so tardy in his movements
that he suddenly found himself and DIR.
Knight in the most imminent danger
when they sought their own safety
They succeeded in escaping, and
were well away from the scene OF the
battle and massacre, and congratulating
themselves upon their good fortune,
when toward the close of the second
day, party of Delaware Indians rushed
out of the woods upon them, captured
and carried them prisoners to an old
Wyandot town
When within a few miles Of this town
halt was made. and Captain Pipe, a
famous chief among the Delawares,
painted DR. Knight and Colonel Craw-
ford black This proceeding could have
but one meaning. They had already
been doomed to death at the stake.
Shortly after they passed the bodies
of several of their friends, seal ped and
mangled, and wher in the immediate
vicinity Of the village. overlook FIVE
prisoners who were surrounded by a
crowd of women and boys, tormenting
them in every conceivable manner.
Shortly afterward the whole FIVE were
inhumanly dispatched, and scalped in
their presence. so that none remained
except DIR. Knight and Colonel Craw-
ford. The former was given to an old
Shawanee doctor, whose duty it was to