The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-10-30

any OF our organization nave -uoon 90
gaged-that at C. E. Smith on the lst OF
August, and that at the "Pinery" about
five miles north of Phil. Kearney. both
of which came near being but repen.
tions of the horrible massacre OF LAST
winter. Having been Temporarily
attached to company sd" of the I'd cav
airy, commanded by Brevet Major ID. ..
Gordon, "a Franklin county, Pennsylyan-
ian, by -the-by) had been at c. T. Smith
for some days, having accompanied
Brevet Brigadier General Bradley,
(Lieutenant Colonel 27th) when he
went to assume command of that post.
On the afternoon of July 31st l rode
down to the bayfield,, (about four miles
on the Big Horn River with no com
pany but my orderly, to say farewell 10
Lieutenant Sternberg, little thinking
that it was q final one, and, gaily BAN
tering each other in the usual way here:
"take care of your hair" left him, ana
at three o'clock in the morning we were
on our way to Phil Kearney. AS we
crossed high bluff about six miles
from that post &C. F. Smith) on turn.
ing around / saw a large column OF
smoke arising from the direction OF
Lieutenant SIS hay camp, and although
feared knew the cause, was not certain
of it until about two weeks after, when
on the arrival Of o train. information
was received of an attack upon him by
800 Indians, and of his death in the
first charge. The command then de-
volved upon a Sergeant, who shortly
after was wounded, and then the little
band with the assistance of the harvest
hands fought until late in the afternoon,
when they were reinforced and relieved
by two companies and a piece of artil-
lery from the fort.
Almost simultaneously with this, and
no doubt intended to be altogether so,
(on the morning of the 2d) an attack
was made upon Brevet Major James
Powell, and little band of twen-
ty-six men who were guarding
the wood party at the "Pinery,"
where it was my pleasure (i) to spend
twenty-one days, almost Immediately
after it occurred. Being still en- route
from G.. F. Smith, which is ninety-one
miles from our post, of course / knew
nothing of it until our arrival on the
evening of the Sd, but from certain
signs-the finding of white mans
scalp, the discovery of dead cattle and
the still burning grass-we knew that
some depreciation had been committed
at, or in the neighborhood of our Fort,
even when we were fifteen miles distant.
In this attack it is estimated that 1900
Indians participated, and it is wonder
full, when we consider that they were
only protected by wagon bodies laid on
the ground, that even one was left
to tell the story. Charge after
charge did the infuriated savages
make upon this noble little band for
four long hours, and was making pre-
parations for what was supposed to be
the final charge, and, doubtless, sue.
cessful one, when the boom of cannon
from tho direction of the fort announced
relief to our now almost hopeless braves,
and induced q speedy retreat of their
foes. We lost Lieutenant Janness and
two men killed, while three escaped to
the mountains, where they no doubt fell
into the hands of the merciless savages.
The loss of the Indians could not fall far
short of two hundred, but Of this there
is no accurate acknowledge, as they
always carry off their dead and wound
ed if at all possible, and in this case
only fire we're left upon the ground.
For his GOODNESS and unflinching brave
~, Captain Powell, who has now seen
ten years of service, and mostly
in the West, should be richly rewarded
by the War Department as his merits
and service Justly deserve.
These reverses, and the hope of secu-
ring their own terms-the abandonment
of this country upon our part, and the
withdrawal of the troops, are no doubt
the cause of our present quiet Since
about the middle of August no Indians
have been seen in this neighborhood,
the last being body of inspection of
two hundred to look at our situation at
the "Pinery," who rode away without
any demonstrations.
But the " solitude of my imagination"
there being no other officer with me-
has led me far beyond the length to
which intended to give it range, and
has, perhaps, wearied your patience,
and, therefore, 1 must "draw the reins."
Hoping that this "cruel war is over"
and that we may soon be permitted to
enjoy few pleasant hours together en-
ronte to the "old homestead" am
Yours sincerely,
A. WIsHART,
9th u. S. Infantry.