The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-17
THE INDIAN WAR.
BATTLE OF THE wAsBrA-GEN. cusrAR's REPORT
TO GEN. SHERIDAN.

In the Field on the washita River,
November Is, 1857
Nsjoren- Sheridan. commanding Department of the Mis-
General-On the morning of the 26th instant.
this command, com prising eleven troops OF the
seventh cavalry, struck the trail of an Indian war
party, numbering about one hundred Q00) war
riors. The trail was not quite twentyfour hours
old, and was first discovered near the point where
the Texas boundary line crosses the Canadian
river. The direction was toward the southeast.
The ground being covered by over twelve inches
of snow, no difficulty was experienced In follow
ing the trail. vigorous pursuit was at once In
stituted. Wagons, tents and all other impedi'
ments to rspd march were abandoned. From
daylight until o'clock at night the pursuit was
unchecked. Horses and men were then allowed
one hour for refreshment, and ct 10 P. n. the
march was resumed and continued until l:SO A. NJ,
when our Usage trailers reported village within
less than mile from our advance,
The column was countermarched and withdreW
to retired point, to prevent discovery. After
accommodating with all the officers of the COM
mand the location of the village, which was stu
ated in strip Of heavy timber, divided the
command into four columns OF nearly equal
strength the first, consisting Of three companies,
under Major Elliott, was to attack in the timber
from below the village the second column, under
Lieut. Col. Myers. was to move down the Washita
and attack in the timber from above; Brevet Col.
Thompson, in command of the third column. was
10 attack from the crest north Of the village,
while the fourth column was TO charge the village
from the crest overlooking it, on the left bank Of
the Wasbita.
The hour at which the four columns were to
charge simultaneously was the first dawn of day,
and, notwithstanding the fact that two Of the col
umns were compelled to march several miles to
reach their positions, the attack OF three of them
made the attack so near together as to make
it appear like one charge. The other column was
only q few moments late. There never was
more complete surprise. Ny men charged the
village, and reached the lodge before the Indians
were aware of our presence. The moment the
charge was ordered the band struck up Carey
Owen" and with cheers that strongly reminded
me of scenes during the war, every trooper, led
by his officer, rushed toward the village.
The Indians were caught mapping for once, and
the warriors rushed from their lodges and posted
themselves behind trees and in the deep rayines,
from which they began most determined defense.
The lodges and all their contents were in our pos
session within few minutes after the charge was
ordered but the real fighting, such as has rarely,
il ever been equalled in Indian warfare, began
when attempting to siesb fnib RI charge after
charge was made, and most calamity, too but
the Indians had resolved to sell their lives as
dearly as possible. After desperate conflict of
several hours our efforts were crowned with the
most complete and gratifying success.
The entire village. numbering forty-seven lodges
of Black Kettles" and of Chey ennes, two lodges
of Arapahoes and two lodges of Soux-ffty-one
lodges in all, under command Of their principal
chief" Black Kettle"-fel into our hands. By a
strict and careful examination after the battle the
following figures give some of the fruits of our
victory;
The Indians left on the ground aud in our pos
session the bodies of l03 of their warriors incud
ing /" Black Kettlep himself, whose scalp is now
in the possession of one Of our Usage guides. We
captured, in good condition, s75 horses ponies and
mules, 24l saddles, some of very fine and costly
workmanship; 523 buffalo robes, 30 axes, l40
hatchets, IS revolvers, AZ rifles, 635 pounds Of
powder, 1850 pounds of lead, 1000 arrows, 80
houuu nd IA
300 pounds of bullets, us lsrists, $40 buckskin
sadde.bags, 40 blankets, SO coats, 200 pounds of
tobacco. In addition, we captured all their win
ter supply Of dried buffalo meat, all their meal,
flour and other provisions, and, In fact, everything
they possessed. even driving the warriors from
the village with little or no clothing. We destroy
ed everything of value to the Indians, and have
now in our possession, as prisoners Of war, fifty
three squaws and their children. Among the
prisoners are the survivors of Black Kettles and
the family of Little Rock. We also secured two
white children held captive by the Indians. One
white woman who was in their possession was
murdered by her captors the moment we attack
ed. white boy held captive, about ten years
old, when about to be secured, was brutally muir
dered BY squaw, who ripped his entrails with
knife.
TIE Kiowss, under Satanic. and Arspahoes. un.
der Little Raven, were encamped six miles below
Black Kettles village, and the warriors from
these two villages came to attempt the rescue of
the Cheyennes. They attacked my command from
all sides about noon, hoping to recover the squaws
and herds of the Cheyennes. In their attack they
displayed great holiness, and compelled me to use
all my force to repel them but the counter charge
of the cavalry was more than they could stand
by 3 O'Clock we drove them in all directions, pur-
suing them several miles. | then moved my en-
tire command in search of the village of the kio.
was and Arapahoes, but after march OF eighty
miles discovered that they had taken alarm at the
tate of the Cheyenne village and fled.
was then three days march from where had
left my train of supplies. and knew that wagons
would not follow me, as the trail had led me over
q section of country so cut up by ravines and
other distinctions that cavalry could with Diff
Guilty move over 1t. The supplies carried from
the train on the persons OF the men were ex-
hausted. My men, from loss of sleep and hard SER
vice, were wearied out; my horses were in the
same condition for want OF forage. therefore
began my return march about P. NJ, and found
my train Of supplies at this point it having accom-
plished only sixteen miles since left it. In the
excitement Of the fight, as well as in selfdefense,
it so happened that some of the squaws and few
children were killed and wounded. The latter
have brought with me, and they receive all the
needful attention the circumstances Of the case
permit. Many of the squaws were found with arms
in their hands, and several of my command are
known to have been wounded by them.
The desperate character of the combat may be
inferred from the fact that after the battle the
bodies of thirty eight dead warriors were found in
a small ravine near the village in which they had
posted themselves.
now have to report the loss suffered by my
own command. / regret TO mention among the
killed Major Joel Fl. Elliott and Capt. Louis W.
Hamilton, and nineteen enlisted men; the wounded
includes three officers and eleven enlisted men
in all thirty of the officers. Brevet Lieut.
Col Albert Barniiz, captain seventh cavalry, is
seriously il not fatally wounded. Brevet Lieut..
Col. J. W. Cusiar and Second Lieut.. j. z. March.
seventh cavalry. are slightly wounded. Brevet
Lieut. Col. F. w. Benteen had his horse shot under
him by a son of BLACK Kettle. whom he afterward
killed. Col. Bsfnitz. before receiving bis wound.
killed two warriors.
cannot sufficiently commend the admirable
conduct of the officers and men. This command
has marched constantly five days, amidst terrible
snow storms and OYER go1Sh country s z by
more Than Twelve inches OF snow. Omcers and
men have slept in the snow without tents. The
night preceding the attack officers and men stood
at their boTsts' heads for hours awaiting the mo-
ment of attack. and THE, too, when the tempers-
ture was far below the freezing point. They
have endured every privation and fought with un-
surpassed gsllantry against powerful and we'll.
armed foe, and from first to last / have not heard
single murmur; but, on the contrary, the Off
GERS snd men of the several squadrons and CON-
panies seemed to vie with each other 10 their
attention TO duty, and their patience and perse-