The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-24

General had also the like opinions or the Officers
Soe force we so er - br ae d o. so
tude OF the scene. Suddenly the distant tinging OF
bell broke upon the alert ears OF the party. This
Slight and welcome sound solved the mystery. The
Usage Chief repeated hii wDr s, "Heaps ponies.n
The General, turning to those with him, said IN
Village a s nt ae ,s ~ wear
ing such ornaments as bells In this country" The
party now returned. and fearing that the untimely
neigh OF horse or some unusual sound might signal
their presence TO the sleeping savages the column
was withdrawn TO o distance. The men were or
dered to stand by their horses and not allowed to
build fires or even 10 stamp feet for fear OF de-
ieating the success OF the attack. small detach-
ment Of dsmSun men Wee left to watch the WI
the savages show any sign 4 suspicion by issuing
from their lodges.
with him to a point giving an idea of the village.
| He then explained to each officer what he pro-
posed as plan OF attack The village lay upon the
south bank VI the Washita. The Cheyenne lodges
were IN the centre the Arapahos above and the Sioux
below, all ranging along the banks OF the stream.
The nature OF the ground. as could he ndstincy
traced by moonlight, seemed to Indicate that the vii.
| lage was accessible from all points. The General
and his officers now retired to a ravine near the
column and determined upon the following plan of
attack. Four columns, composed follows were to
attacEthe village from different drections:-
| tenant Colonel William Thompson commanding
Captain G. W. Yates, Iiectenaas ID. M. Wallngford
and F. M Gibson on duty with column.
Right centre cOlumn-Brcve; Lieutenant Colonel
| Edward Myers commanding: Bievet Charles Brews
ter and First Lieutenant J. NJ Johnson on duty with
| column.
! Centre coumn-Companies A d, and X, Brevet
MAJOR General G. A. Custer commanding in person;
vet Maor Rc Rrsya g. AL w srs
| Captain l.. NJ. Hamilton Brevet Lieutenant Colonel
T. W. Weir, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel I. W. Custer,
Brevet Captain NJ. Berry and Litutenants E. s. God
| frey and Ed. Law on duty with column.
| Left column-Companies G. H md NJ, Major Joel II.
Smith on duty with column. dsachment Of sharp.
| W. Benteen, Leutenanfs Owen Hale and III. w.
shooters, under Brevet Lieutenant Colonel w. W.
| Cook, with centre column
The signal was to be the firing OF shot, or the
gray OF dawn If beyond hearing. The columns took
| position and at the preconcerBd time every COM
came dashing towards the village Black Kettle broke
| from his bed OF robes and in an instant appeared
| without his lodge. He had heard the tramping OF
| the horses on the snow. He boxed around HIM
and, witnessing the approaching columns, fired his
springing up as if by mage. seized his riaee
and responded to the yell Of despair
v Which so broke !, from the lips Of the
river and began fighting at the same time, standing
waist deep in the water; Others took to ravine
by. The squaws fed toward the high hills south OF
| the village 1t was as the centre column was charg
ing down the PERCEPTIONS bluffs 10 cross the river and
take the village that Captain Hamilton was killed:
When struck he gave one cOnvulsNe start sttfened
In his strrups and was thus carried clrpse tor
distance OF several yards, when he fell from his
cause terribly iacerated and disagured. Colonel
Barnltz fell, seriously wounded, while charg-
w nht E necas column up the river
his antagonist and started for him. Ii was after
this mode OF fighting had commenced that Major
Elliott with the Sergeant Major Of the regiment and
handful OF men, started down the river after Q
small band Of Indians. During the excitement OF
the fight the Major was not missed. At one time
heavy firing was heard at distance which was
supposed to be signals to the villages below When
the c0nict lued the question carried along the
reply was that he was last seen charging some fugi-
tives fleeing down the river. There IS now no doubt
nai ne ana MS party struck the approaching Kowas
ennes and were cut of by them. There is
no question that each man q this Inflated
his post. For these unfortunate men there was no
possibility OF escape Their alternative was death
by friendly bullet or death by the horrible tor
ture which the hellsh ingenuity OF the savage alone
can invent.
Before the fight the Usage Indians seemed to have
some msglving as to their own part In the affair.
II IL known they hes tated and for some cause or
other they took II into their heads that troops
would there dictate peace, and that ten Usage war
riors. To be given up to the Cheyennes were TO
DC the price or so dshonorable q transaction. The
osages. not to DE caught. determined TO light on
horseback. The chief, Little Beaver, took posi-
tion behind the color-bearer Of the regiment
and followed him. After the fight was over and the
victory complete the % Osages were probably the
the sincerity OF the whites In securing and uring
their services according TO the stlpuatons. After
the fight had commenced party OF Osages dis
covered the squaws trying to escape. They imme-
diatey started IN pursuit. and Selling switches, gave
u
tried to escape again they would give them another
beating Amer this exercise OF authority the squaws
became exceedingly submissive and made no fur
ther Efforts TO get away, and nave since manifested
the greatest terror Of the Osages
While the Tight was the thickest dimi-
n IUok rere eossS Wrapped blanket
time Lieutenant H. W. Smith was charging
by, followed by bugler. He ordered the buglef
fallen from his lips than arrow was seen to TAXI
Its flight from beneath the blanket OF the dimnut(e
Dager and Ranging around the blade tearing the
scalp haif the circumference OF the head. The
wound had the appearance OF producing a confusion
OF the skull but upon examination was discovered
to be merely arceration OF the scalp In retalia-
ton as he rode by, the wound not having dsmounted
him. the bugler despatched the individual who had
wounded him. The diminutlve figure was found
under his blanket were taken ~ bow
participated In the nght, and were seen firing with
all the energy and precision OF warriors. The
counter between Colonel Benteen and the OF
Black Kettle was at close quarters and quite hot for
time. Colonel Bcnteen made an effort to capture
the young warrior, who responded 70 these over
fred several times at the Colonel when but few
yards distant. Ills escape was miraculous, one
ball taking effect upon the Colonels horse, killing
him. The young warrior male a rush at the pros.
trae officer, but was arrested In his nmrderous de-
sign by being despatched with pistol
1t would be impossible to enumerate the hair
breadth escapes and hand 70 hand encounters which
were had with the Cheyenne warriors. The appear
dnCe vi the hlOWa lrOln INC
villages below was an unexpected attempt at rescue.
The lighting for several hours ensuing even In
creased In desperation. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel
Weir was detached with his squadron to encounter
the fresh warriors who had come upon the field.
The Kiowas and Arapanoes fought with unusual
courage, maintaining, however. the customary mode
OF Indian fighting circling around and making
dashes upon vulnerable points. When the savage
allies OF the Chcyennes saw ta their EFFORT could be
Of no avail they took to nght, seeking their own
safety.
ON the morning OF the discovery OF the FIRST signs
OF Indians the Usage chief, through the medium OF
some superstition, remarked to General Custer that
Indians would be seen that day. To the credit OF
his mysterious prompter the Usage was right.
during the pursuit the same day at sunset the
Usage chief again said to the General, through the
interpreter that the signs were favorable that the
sun had gone down covered IN slight haze, which
was an omen always when the 0sayes went to battle
that they would be successful, or, n bis own words,
at good medicine" Prior TO ne nght OF the
Osages was In mourning for tie murder OF his
squaw some months before by Inrty Of Cneyennes.
Every night and morning he kept up his wall OF
grief When the fight began, while all his COM
panions were covered with war paint and pre-
scented more the appearance OF SO many
devils rather than human beings. he mourning war