Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-02-13
The Great Indian Butchery.
Full Details of the Ft. Kear-
ney Massacre.
HORRIBLE ATROCITIES.
FrOm the JOnesville, Wis.. Gazette. Jan. 80.

| y 4ckbCI " III Law ia
VsnkiIk of this city, written by his
son, Horace D. Vankirk, Company Q,
twenty. seventh United States hfan-
try, now stationed at Fort Phillip
ReArney, we are permitted to make
some extracts in relation to the Indi-
an massacre which occurred on the 2lst
of last December. He says:
"On the morning of December 2lst,
about half-past eight o'clock, firing in
the direction of our wood train, en-
route to the pinery for timoer,ws heard
and the picket on the lookout hill I'M
mediately signalled Indians in that di-
rection Company c, Second United
States Cavalry, and about forty-fve in
fantry, under command of BreYet
Lieut.. Col. Fettermsn, accompanied by
1 Lieut., G. W. Grummond and Capt. F.
II. Brown, with orders to go to the aid
of the wood train, and il they thought
they could take il to the pinery and
return in safety, to do so, were inne-
diately got ready. Meanwhile, Indi-
ans appeared on the hills across the
PinsFy Fork, about . mile distant,
although scattered and in small qusnti-
ties. The II FOUNDER was got into Po-
sition TO give Bhem . she'll or two, and
Colonel Fettssman'S party started out
the nerth-Vest gate. The Indians had
begun to eight out" from among the
bushes along the banks OF Pinery Fork,
IS shell or two went over their heads
in the direction of their comrades on
the hills. The firing by this time had
ceased in she direction Of the wood
train, and Colonel Fetterman had gone
down into the valley Of the Pinery
Fork (which runB only about 400 yards
from the north corner Of the stockads)
to where the Indians were getting out
Of the bushes, and who bad not been
seen till one or two shells from the IL
FOUNDER had begun to make them
think it was not exactly safe around
there, they had evidently been lying
in ambush there since sometime before
daylight. There were, should judge,
about $50 in number, and they were
running up ravines and from one place
to another, to keep out of sight. When
Col. Fetterman got down into the val
ley, he threw out q skirmish line as ne
advanced toward the creek : the lndl-
dams were retreating in northerly
direction toward Peno Creek Valley.
where Lieutenant Bingham snd-S
geant Bowers were killed on the 9th.
A small party of men joined Colonel
Fetterman's party in the Pinery Fork
bottom, consisting of about three sol
diers and three or four citizens, who
went out on their own hook.
Colonel Fetterman's party kept on,
and finally disappeared over the hills
toward the Peno Creek Valley, and
shortly after heavy firing was heard in
that direction. 1t was by this time al
most eleven o'clock A. n, and every !
thing in the garrison pursued its regu- /
lar routine of garrison duty. About half
past eleven A. NJ, messenger arrived !
from the scene of action ndrequested /.
more assistance and men were soon
gathered to the number of about forty /.
FIVE, under charge Of Captain t. Ten .
Eyck, to go to their assistance. The /
messenger reported the Indians eharg- I
ing on our men in great numbers. l /
was anxious to go, and I could not get |
gun handy without going down to /
the company after my own, and knew !
1 would not have time enough for that I
so I concluded not to go, but an init
mate friend of mine went, and l get
the following statement from him. He
is, think, very good judge.
Z" He says they proceeded In haste to
the field, and upon arriving at the edge
of Peno Creek Valley, they discovered
further down and in the valley, what
appeared oldcottonwood limbs stripped
of their bark. The valley was one NOV
ing body of Indians, yelling around
and cutting capers as far down the val
ley az the eye could reach. My friend
estimated them at from three to FIVE
thousand, and he has seen armies in
every position. and l think he has
made a careful estimate. They pro-
ceeded along the edge of the valley to
see if they could find any trace of Col.
Fetterman's party. but not daring to
go down into the bottom of the valley
for they knew it would be folly, for
they would be Immediately surrounded
by the Indians if they should. They +
continued along the edge of the valley
until they got to point opposite to
where the apparent cottonwood trees
were lying, and Capt. Ten Eyek sent
twenty men to 60 down and examine
the rubbish, and 10, and behold, they
were the dead bodies of Colonel Fetter-
man and party. and not one was found
to have the leSst particle of lite lefs.
When Capt. Ten Eyck left the post, an
and three army wagons,
with hay in the bottom to bring in the >
and take out 5000 rounds Of
81 IL
after Captain Ten Eyck's party had left.
After it had been discovered that none
Of Colonel Fetterman's had left the tale,
the wagons and ambulance were driven
down, and all OF the men except few
that were left on high point to keep
! lookout, went out to load up the bod
dies. The Indians bad retreated down
the valley aud did not seem anxious to
renew the combat, but very slowly kept ,
falling back, leaving about thirty FIVE
dead on the field. Being unable to
10 bring them in, we returned the next
day, the 22d inst, and brought in the
The bodies were stripped '
perfectly naked and horribly mutilated.
Some had the top of their skulls cut
of and their brains taken out, others
IN every shape and way I'M !
.ginable, and had arrows, in considera-
bic quantities stabbed in their bodies.
One man, a soldier in Company E,
Second Battalion, Eighteenth Infant =.
y, had 155 in his body, another IS,
md some had only FIVE or six, more or =
ess From all appearances and best !
,Yidence is that .the party, Colonel $
went down into the val e
ey on = charge, and only $50 or 200 b
indians were visible, and when they .
lad got fairly in the bottom, Indians D
prang out from among the ravines and
behind the little hills, in immense
numbers, and Immediately surrounded
hem, for they had evidently fought to
he last man, and by all appearances
ought we'll Their bodies were all in
he space of forty feet square, although 7
hey were not piled on top of one an ;
ther. The Indians could not have g
Inished their work of torture many a
before the arrival Of Captain !