New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-08
THE INDIAN WAR.
BATTLE OF TIE yA ASH Sgs shy RE
p0RT TO GEN. SHERIDAN "a. ..
HpoRs. TIN U. s. CAVALRY, IN THE ri
~ mr. WASFIIrA RIVER, Nov. Is, 10


VpoRs. 7rH u s. CAVALRY, IN THE FIELD
az TIE WAsTuTA RIVER, NOV. q, 1900
lfator-Gen. T. II. SHERIDAN, eo""'""""S D'P''
GrSERAI: On the morning of the goth inst
ths command comprising II troops OF the Itn h;
stpnek the trail of Indian party numbering aoo
100 Warriors The trail not quite "a hours olG, anu
rs discovered near the Pon Tv %e The direction
was toward the southeast The ground DelnS Oyooed
by over u neHSs {s Vigorous pursuit was at
instituted Wagons tents, and all other tH
iaPu ma %, ngbt the pnrsuit was unchecked Horses
and men then allowed one hour lor IeIos a
,imned nntil 1880 a. m, when our Usage tailers
reported a village within less than mile IoIn UuI
drawn 10 retired point prevent discovery After re-
eonnoterng with all the officers Oh ms cSnar i 90
ioeation of the village which situated IN silp Oh
heavy timber divided the command INTO our Colus
Of nearly equal strength the first CONSISTING ot s1ive
Ter from below the village; the second column, ulGeI
Ieutenant-Col Myers was TO move down tne M MS
son in command of the third column was to attack hrU
the crest north Of the village Te re se oTerooknS it,
OIL the left bank Of the Washta The hor at which tne
ionT conmr were to charge simultaneously was the hrs
dawn Of day and notwithstanding the fact that two Of
the columns compelled TO march several IlSs 10
reach their positions three Of them made the attack so
,eor together as TO make appear like one charge Inc
other column only few moments late lhere never
was more complete surprise. My men charged lhe VIZ
LACE and reached the lodges before the Indians were
aware of our presence. The moment the charge was
ordered the band struck W Garry owen ana VIII
cheers that stror gy reminded Of scenes during me
war every trooper led by his officer rushed toward the
village The Indians were caught mapping for once eae
e warriors rushed from their lodges and posted e !Sen
s g@ f s9s Sssnss The Cdses
all their contents were in our possession WITHIN Anew
minutes after the charge was ordsred Dut he rea hf
ing sueh as has rarely If ever been equaed III Indian
warfare began when attempting TO clear GUY OF A tle
warriors posted in rayines or underbUsh; charge oeI
charge was made aud most gallanuy toQj put the In
dams had resolved TO sell their lives az dearly as possible
After desperate ccafet OF several th9urs our enort
the most complete ana gratifying sue
cess The entire village numbering a lodges OF Blact
Kettles" band OF Cheyennes two lodges OF AIapahoes
and two lodges Of sioux-5l lodges IN all nn 1l
command Of their principal ehleI od Lac
examination after the battle, the following figures give
Of the fruits OF victory The Indians left on the
Warriors including Black Kettle himself, whose scalp
q e sdo e6nd OF SIS horses ponies and
III saddles some Of very fine and costly %STkmansp,
fes U.s. pounds OF powder 1850 pounds Of lead 1000
rows buetmolds IS bows ard quvers u shields 800
40 blankets % coats pounds of tobacco, In addition
we captured all their Winter supply OF dred buffalo meat
all their meal, flour and other PROVISIONS ana ia iacs
everything they possessed, even driving te warriors
iom te e1crgytb SH Of Value TO tie In
dams and have in our possession. as prisoners
Is are the survivors of Black Kettles aud the family
Of - Little Rock" We also secured two white children
was in their possession murdered by her capors the
moment We attacked. white boy held captive, about
dered by sqnaw, who ripped .out ms entias with
knife. The klowas under satauta, ana Arapahoes
Black Kettles" village and the warriors from these
two villages came to attempt the rescue Q; me enc y
ennes They attacked my command from all sides about
In thor attack thew dispiayed great bold.
and compelled TO OIL my force 10 repel them
hut the counter charge OF the cavalry was more man
lions pursuing them several miles then moved MY
entire command in search Of the village Of the kiowas
and ArapahOes but after march 81 so miles discovered
they lad taken alarm at The fate Of the Cheyenne VII
lage, aUd had fed
as then three days march from where had left
ny Of supplies and knew that wagons could not
follow ne. as the trail lad led me over section OF
country SO cut mp by Iayines ana oher DISTINCTIONS tat
cavalry could with difficulty move over IT, The supplies
carried from the train on the persons OF the men were
exhausted Ny men, from loss Of sleep ana hatd service
wearied out my horses were ~ the same condition
Tor want Of forage Therefore BEGAN my return aarcn
about p N, ana found my tain 81 supplies NJ ms
point having accomplished only &c miles since left ~
In the excitement Of tile fight, well in sefdcfrse
II 30 happened THAT some oil the sllS%s ana lie" ch
dren killed aud wounded. Inc latter have
fion the circumstances OF the permit Many OF the
kauaws taken with arms Ia then hands, and several
them The desperate character o. the combat may DC
inferred from the fact that after tue battle me bodies OF
- dead warriors found In small ravinc near the
village IN which they had posted themselves.
have now TO report the loss suffered by own cam
nand regret TO mention among the killed Major Joel
II Elliott and Capt. Louis W Hamilton. and ~ enlisted
men In wounded includes three officers and II enlisted
men, in all IS OF the officers, Brevet Lieut.. Col
Albert BaIntz, Captain Seventh Cavalry, Is seriously
aud Second Lieut. j. H. March, seventh Cavalry, are
slightly wounded Breyet Lieut. Col J. v. Benteen had
his horse shot under him by Of Black Kettle. whom
he afterward killed Col. BarDtz, before receiving his
wound, killed two warriors. cannot sufficiently com
mend the admirable conduct OF the officers and men.
This command has marched constantly five days, amid
terrible snow storms and rough country covered
by than u inches OF snow Officers and men have
slept in the snow, without tents The night preceding
tho attack officers and men stood at their
horses heads for hours awaiting the moment OF attack
and this too when the temperature far below the
freezing point They have endured every pTivatOn aud
fought with unsurpassed galantry against powerful
and Harmed foe, aud from first 10 last have not
heard single murmuT; but the contrary, the OIL
and men of the several squadOns and companies
seemed 10 vie with each other IN their attention TO duty
and their patience and perseverance under difficulties
livery Ofc sr. man. scout and Indian guide did their full
duty only regret the loss OF the gallant spirits who fell
In the battle OF the Washa" Those whose loss are
called npOm depOre among our brayes AID best
Respectfully subscribed, g. A. GUSTAV,
Lieut. Col. 9TH Cav, BY MaiorGen. U. a.