The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-12-11
THE INDIAN WAR.
BATTLE OF THE WAsHITA
Gen. Custar's Report to Gen. Sherida

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HEADQUARTERS SEVENTH u. S. CAvALaY.)
INrnr FIELD ON THE wAsHIrA RIVER.
November %, 1868
Major General l.. II. Sheridan, Com
snqnding Deportment cf the Mis-
SoaVi:
GENERAL:-On tha morning OF the
26th ult., this command, comprising
eleven companies of the Seventh
Cavalry, struck the trail OF an Indian
war party, numbering about one hun
.ired warriors. The trail was not
quite twenty-four hours old, and was
tirst discovered near the point who're
he Texas boundary line crosses the
Canadian river. The direction was
toward the southeast. The ground
being covered by over twelve inches
0. snow no difficulty was experienced
in following the trail. A vigorous
pursuit was at once instituted. Wag
ons, tents and all other impediments
to a rapid march were abandoned.
From daylight until 0 o'clock a,
night the pursuit was unchecked
Horses and men were then allowed
one hour for eshment, and at ten
P. nj. the march was resumed and
continued until 1:30 A NJ, when our
Usage trailers reported village
within less than mile from our adj
vance.
The column was countermarched
and withdrawn to q retired point, to
prevent discovery After reconnoi
tering with all the officers of the com
mand the location OF the village,
which was situated in strip OF heavy
timber, l divided the command into
four columns of nearly equsl strength;
the first consisting Of three compa-
MES, under Major Elliott, was to
attack In the timber from below the
village the second column, under
Lieutenant Colonel Myers, was to
move down the Washita and attack
in the timber from above; Brevet
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 il
on the left bank of the Washita.
The hour at which the four columns
were to charge simultaneously WAS
the first dawn of day, and, notwith-
standing the fact that two Of the col
umns were compelled to march sew
eral miles to reach their positions,
three Of them made the attack $50
near together as to make it appear
like one charge. The other column
was only few moments late. There
never was q more complete surprise.
My men charged the village and
reached the lodges before the Indians
were aware OF our presence. The
moment the charge was ordered, the
band struck up "Garry Owen,' and
with cheers that strongly reminded
me of scenes during the war, every
trooper, led by his officer, rushed to-
ward the village. fee.-
The Indians were caught mapping
for once, and the warriors rushed
from their lodges and posted them
selves behind trees and in the deep
ravines, from which they began
a most determined defense. The
lodges and their col tents were in our
possession within few minutes after
the charge was ordered but the real
fighting, such as has rarely, if ever,
been equsled in Indian warfare, be
gan when attempting to clear out or
Kill the warriors posted in the rsvinss
or underhrush; charge after charge
was made, and most gsllantly too !;
bur the Indians had resolved to cell
their lives % dearly as possible
After q desperate conflict of several
hours, our efforts were crowned with
the most complete and gratifying sue.
cess. -
The entire village, numbering
forty sevon lodges OF Black Kettles
band Of Cheyennes, two lodges OF
Arrspahoes, and two lodges of Sioux
fifty one lodges in all, under COM
msnd of their principal chief, "BIsek
kettle"-fell into our hands. By a
strict and careful examination after
the battle, the following figures give
some Of the fruits of our victory:
The Indians left on the ground and
IN our possession the bodies of one
hundred and three OF their warriors,
including "Black Kettle" himself,
whose scalp is now in the possession
of one OF our Usage guides. We
captured In good condition eight
hundred and seventy-fve hoi ses,
ponies and mules two hundred and
Orty one saddles, some of very fine
md costly workmanship, five hundred
md twenty-three buffalo robes, two
and ten axes, one hundred |
md forty hatchets, thirty five reyol, |
'ers, iorty-seven rifles, five hundred
md thirty i've pounds OF powder, one
housand and fifty pounds of lead,
our thousand arrows, ninety bullet
nolds, thirty-fve bows and quiyers.
welve shields. three hundred pounds
# bullets, seven hundred and sew
nty-fve lariats, nine hundred and
orty buckskin saddle bags, four hun
lred and seventy blankets, nirety-
hree coats, seven hundred pounds
'ftobacco. In addition, we captured
IL their winters supply OF dried
'ufalo meat, all their meal, -four and
ther provisions, and in fact every.
hing they possessed, even driving