Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-12-03
THE PLAINS.
A Battle BetWeen Gen. Custar's Troops
and the Indians


| and the Indians
ST. LOUIS. Dec. 2.-The Democrat has
special dated 'Tn the field, Indian Terri
tory, November 2S," which says: The
Cheyenne village of the Black Kettles
band, on the North fork of The Oualch'
river, was captured yesterday morning al
daylight, by the cavalry uuder Gen. Gus.
tar. One hundred and fifty Indians were
killed and fify-three taken prisoners. A
large amount of property was captured,
consisting Of 81 lodges, nearly a 1000
horses and mules, arms and ammunition,
hore equipments, robes, provisions, etc
most Of which was destroyed. Black Ket.
tie, the principal chief was killed. Capt.
Louis Hamilton was killed. Lieut. Colonel
Bomitz severely if not fatally wounded,
and Msj. Elliott missing. One soldier of
the 9TH cavalry was killed and IA wound
ed. The Indians, including women and
boys, fought desperately, but they were
completely overpowered, and very badly
whipped.
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 2.-The following Of
fetal report of the recent Indian battle has
been received at the military headquarters
here:
In TIE FIELD, DEPARTMENT OF THE
NORTH CANADIAN RIVER, AT THE JUNO
TIoN OF BEAVER CREEK, INDIAN TERRI
TORY, Nov. %, IS6S-BREvET MAJ. GEN.
w. A. NICHOLS, ASSISTANT ADJUTANT
GENERAL MILITARY DIVISION OF THE
MIssoURI-GENERAL: have the honor
to report for the information of the Lieu
tenant General, the following operations of
Gen. Custsr's command: Ga November 23d
l ordered him to proceed with eleven COM
panies of his regiment, the seventh cavalry,
in southwark direction toward Antelope
Hills, in search of hostile Indians.
On the 26th ult. he struck the trail Of
war party of Black Kettles band returning
from the North near where the eastern line
of the Pan Handle of Texas crossed the
main Canadian. He at once corfalled his
wagons and followed in pursuit over to the
headwaters of the Onshits, thence down
that stream and on the morning of the
9th surprised camp of Black Kettles
ard after desperate fight 10 which Black
Ket lswas assisted by the ArIpahoes, under
Little Rowen and the Kawas under Satan.
las, captured the entire camp, xii ing the
Chief Black Kettle and ten warrior. whose
bodies were left on the field. All their
stock, ammunition, arms, lodges, robes and
ffty-three women and children fell into
our hands.
Our loss was Maj. Elicit, Capt. Ham,
ilton and l9 enlisted men killed, and Lient.
Col. Bomitz badly wounded; Lieut.. Gel
J. w. Austin, Second Lieut.. T. Z. Marsh
and IL enlisted men wounded. Little Ra-
wins band of Aorapahoes and Ssntanlas
band of kawas we're encamped six miles
below Black Kettles camp. About eight
or nine hundred of the animals captured
were She, the balance kept for militarypur-
poses. The highest credit is due Gen.
Custur ard his command. They started
in a furious snow storm and travelled all
the while 10 snow about u inches deep.
Black Kettle and Little Kawas' families
are among the prisoners.
1t was Black killed Baud, who COM
mitted the first depredstion on the Saline
and Solomon rivers in Kansas. The Kan
sas Regulars have Just came in. They
missed the trail, and had 10 struggle in the
snow On the plains, the horses suffering
much in flesh, and the men living on buff
falo meat and other wild meat for eight
days. We will soon have them in good
condition. If we can get one or two more
good blows, there will be no more Indian
battles in my department. Two white
children were recsptured, aud one white
woman and one boy, ten years old, were
bTutslly murdered BY lndian women when
the attack commenced.
2. II. SHERIDAN,
Major General Comd'g