The New York herald., 1868-12-08

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So decisive an achievement was not without its
sacrifices. Like all other brilliant deeds in the
record OF war the close sums up with melancholy
anu wen without their attendant chapters OF woe;
bat the. memory OF those who died FOR the honor
Of theiy country n y troate Of respec, ec
and glory OF the killed were Major Joel
H. Elliott ana Captain Louis M. Hamilton. The first
left the column with fifteen men 10 reconnoitre
during the fight and was not again seen. Captain
Hamilton was gailantly leading his men when he
resed n and fell sao. n % the head or The enlisted
Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Albert Barnitz, captain
Seventh cavary-though living at las, accounts, his
wound was pronounced mortal; Brevet Lieutenant
Colonel 1. W. Custer captain Seventh cavalry, aud
brother 70 the General, was slightly wonnded Sec
wounded This was he maiden aSt Of SH this yoans
onicer, who graduated Al West Point during the
past summer He re1ected great credit upon him
sell and the class or 1865. Eleven enlisted men were
also wounded. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel F.'W.
Benteen INDUCED In an encounter with the son OF
BACK Kettle. Colonel Benteen lost his horse Black
Kettle the younger his head General Custer speaks
In the highest terms OF officers and men.
This despatch VIII leave by special express to Fort
Dodge; subsequent despatch will contain full
details.
The banks Of the Little washita are now SILENT
The blackened ruins OF the Cheyenne village all
that Is left OF Black Kettle and his warriors. The
wolf proving In the midst of the charred remains Of
the Indian lodge may disturb the silence which now
prevails The Indian may resort thlther to imbibe
lessons OF just retrburon for the crimes commit.
ted against innocence and humanity the annals OF
entire nation win chronicle the desperate conflict Of
'The Battle OF the Washita.n
GENERAL CUsTER's OFFICIAL REPORT.
The following Is copy of General Clusters oilciaf
report OF the battle OF the Washita-
HEADQUARTERS SEVENTH u. S. CAVALRY
IN THE FIELD, ON WAsHITA RIVER, !
Nov. %, 1868.
Major General p. II. SHERIDAN, Commanding Depart
GENERAL-On the morning or the 2oth inst. this
command. comprising eleven troops of the Seventh
United States cavalry struck trail OF an Indian war
WI
trail was not quite twenty-four hours old, and was
first discovered near the point where the Texas boun
dary line crosses The Canadian river The direction
was towards the southeast. The ground being COW
cred by over twelve inches of snow difficulty was
suit was at one Instituted. wagons, tents and all
other impediments TO q rapid march we abandoned.
From daylight until nine O'Clock at night the pursuit
was unchecked. Horses and men were then allowed
an hour for reireshment, and at ten r. NJ the march
was resumed and continued until half-past one A.
NJ, when our Usage trailers reported villages within
less than mile from our advance. The column was
countermarched and withdrawn to a retired point to
prevent discovery. After recommending with all the
village, which was situated In strip OF heavy tim
Der, divided the command into four columns OF
nearly equal strength. The first, consisting Of three
companies, under Major Elliott, TO attack in the
timber from below the village; the second column,
under Breyet Lieutenant Colonel Myers, was TO
move down the Washlta and attack In the timber
from above. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Thompson,
IN command OF the third column, was to attack from
the crest north OF the village, while the fourth
column was TO charge the village from the crest
overlooking 1t on the left bank Of the Washta The
hour at which the fcur columns were to charge
simultaneously was the first dawn Of day; and not.
withstanding the fact that two OF the columns were
compelled to march several miles TO reach their po-
sitions, three OF them made the attack so near to-
gether as to make 1t appear like one charge. The
other Column was only few momenis late. There
never was a more complete surprise MY men
charged the village and reached the lodges before
the Indians were aware OF our presence. The mo-
up Garry owen,n and with cheers that that strongy
reminded one of scenes daring the war, every
trooper, led by his ofcer, rushed towards the vl-
The warriors rushed from their lodges and posted
themselves behind trees and Ia the deep ravlnes,
from which they began most determined defence
The lodges and all their contents were In our pos
session In ten minutes after the charge was ordered
but the real fighting such as has scarcely il ever
been equalled IN Indian warfare, began when at
tempting to clear out or kill the warriors posted In
ravines or underbrusn. Charge after charge was
resolved to sell their lives dearly possible. After
desperate conflict of several hours our efforts
cess. The entire village, numbering iofty seven
lodges OF Black Kettles band of Chevennes two
lodges Of Arapahoes and two lodges OF slouX-ntty
Black Kettle, fell INTO our hands BY actual and
careful, examination after the battle the following
figures give some OF the fruits or our yctory:-The
Indians left on the ground and In possession the
bodies OF one hundred and three or their warriors
including Black Kettle himself, whose scalp is now
captured In. good condition eight hundred and
ana forty-one saddles. some OF very me and costly
workmanship, five hundred and seventy-three bur
falo robes three hundred and ninety buffalo SKINS
for lodges one hundred aud sixty unanned robes,
two hundred and ten axes, one hundred aud forty
hatchets hrtyiive revolvers forty-seven rifles, a,e
hundred and thrty-nye pounds OF powder, one
Thousand and Atty pounds or lead. four thousand
arrows and arrow heads seyenty-dve spears, ninety
bullet moHlds. thirty-nve bows aud quvcrs, twelve
shields, three hundred pounds OF bullets, hun
dred and seyentyfiye arats, nine hundred and forty
buckskiu saddle bags, -four hundred and seventy
blankets ninety three coats seven hundred pounds
tDDaCcO.
supply OF dried buffalo meat al their meal -four and
other provisions ami = IN fact everything they
with little or no clothing. We destroyed every
thing OF value to the Indians. and have now IN our
and their children. Among the prisoners arc the
survivors OF Black Kettle and the family OF Little
captive by the indians. One white woman. WHO
was IN their possession, was murdered ny her cap
tors the moment we attacked. white boy held
captive, about ten years old, when about 70 be res
cued was bi1ltally murdered by squaw, who
ripped out his entrails with a knife. The Kiowas,
under Satanta, aud Arapahoes, under Little Raven
were enGamped six miles below Black Kettles viz
lage. The warriors from these Two villages came 10
attempt the rescue OF the yheyenncs They attacked
my command from all sides, ahout noon hoping TO
recover the sqnaws and herd Of the Chesenn la
their attack they displayed great boldness, and
counier-charges OF the cavalry were more
than they could stand. and by three O'Clock we
drove them In All directions pursuing them several
of the villages OF the kiowas and Arapahoes; but
after a march OF eight miles discovered they mad
taken alarm at the fate or the Cheyenne village and
had ne1. was then three days. march from
where had LEFT my train Of supplies
and knew that wagons could not follow
me, as the trail had lei me over section
of country so cut up by ravines and other obstrrc
tions that cavalry could with difficulty move over II.
The supplies carried from The train upon the persons
OF the men were exhausted; my men from loss Of
sleep and hard service were worn out, my horses
were in the same condition for want or forage. |
therefore began my return march about eight Y. NJ,
and found my train OF supplies al tins point u only
having accomplished sixteen miles since left IT,
In the excitement Of the light, as well as IN self-de-
fence IL happened that some OF the squaws ana
a few children were killed and wounded. The
latter have brought with me, and they receive
all the medical attendance the circumstances OF the
case permit. Many Of the squaws were taken with
arms In their hands, ana several Of my command
are known 10 have been wounded by them. The
desperate charater OF the combat may be Inferred
from the fact chat after the battle the bodies Of thir
ty-eghi dead warriors were found in small raSine
near the village In which they had posted them
selves.
now have to report the loss suffered by my COM