The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-10-08
Tho Indian War.
CAMP NEAR Fort DODGE, KAN,
September 81, 1868.

| ing oreVeI Lieut.. OOl. M. w. heogh,
seventh cavalry, Acting Assistant In
spector General; First Lieut.. 81. J.
Nolan, seventh cavalry. Aide-ds-
Camp, and Second Lieut.. J. F. Wes
ton, seventh United States cavalry,
Acting Assistant Adjutant- General,
together with nine troops of the Sc
venth cavalry, flour companies of
which forming the right column in
line of march, under command of
Major j. II. Elliott, seventh cavalry,
and four companies forming the left
column, under command O. Brevet
Lieut.. Col. Thompson, seventh cav
alry-the remaining company under
command of Brevet Col. r. NJ. West,
seventh cavalry,) and one company
CT the third United States infantry,
under command of Brevet Maj. Page,
third infantry, crossed the Arkansas
River, about two miles West of Fort
| Dodge, Kansas, on the evening of
the 7th ult., and took up their line
Of march South and South west, un-
til they reached, on the 10th ult., the
Cimaronne River, having struck the
Indian trail they were in search of.
After proceeding down the river u
distance of fourteen miles, party of
Indians were discovered in front,
who attacked the scouts and drove
them back. Gen. Sully ordered
detachment of cavalry to ride for
ward to their relief. As soon as the
detachment was within short dis
tance, the savages opened brisk fire
upon them, but without effect, rs
they were driven in every direction,
killing two Indians and one pony.
Gen. Sully, continuing the march six
miles further down the Cimaronne
River, camped within one mile of the
confluence of the Cimaronne and
Crooked Creek.
On the morning Of the 11th ult,
they broke camp, and just as the rear
guard had left, some Indians charged
upon two stragglers, killing one of
them and wounding the other, cap
turing their horses. Troops were sent
to the rear and drove the Indians
back. After proceeding five miles, n
general skirmish began about the en-
tire line and continued several hours,
with loss to the Indians of twenty
four killed and wounded. When the
march was resumed, the Indians re-
tired in every direction, until the
command was within six miles of the
North Fork of the Canadian River.
Here they attacked the rear guard,
but were handsomely repulsed, with
considerable loss.
About 2 o'clock the next morn
ing, party of Indians tried to STAN
pede the stock, by opening fire for
some time, but were scattered, with
no loss on the part of troops.
After marching twelve miles to
Trout Creek, large body of Indians
were discovered waiting and deter
mined to resist with force further pro-
gress. Gen. Sully dismounted eight
troops of cavalry, and with the com
pany of third infantry, advanced,
and after sharp skirmish of about
two hours duration, drove the
savages in every direction, killing
and wounding thirty of them and
capturing two ponies, the loss on the
part of the troops being very slight.
Without losing sight of the Indi-
ans, the command marched down the
North Fork of the Canadian, until,
on the 18th, they reached Middle
River, the savages keeping up brisk
skirmish with the rear guard At
this point, Gen. Sully became con-
vinced he was on false trail, rs it
led into q succession of sand hills,
where no one, the least acquainted
with tue country, would ever think
of going. Having no guide. suffi-
GENTLY acquainted with the country,
he crossed the Middle River and got
into the trap the Indians had laid for
him. They occupied all the hills,
dismounted. The wagon train, which
Gen. Sully had kept with him, on
account of the broken country and
vigorous attack OF the Indians, could
not proceed. Gen. Sully dismount-
cd his men, drove the Indians from
hill to hill, and withdrew the train
from this ambuscade, with little
loss.
The Indians were well armed, some
with the latest patent inventions in
firearms, and seemed to be well sup
piled with ammunition and also
splendidly mounted-mucl better
than the troops. One squad # fabout
100 Indians were drilled with the
bugle, which they seemed to under
stand well. The guides agreed they
were the Cheyenne day soldiers,
Northern Arapahoes, &c. The COM
mop1 ao Dopa6 on tb, r,,oI;o oo..