The Montana post., 1869-04-16
OPENING OF THE SPRING CAM
PAIGN.
Great Indian Ffght-Nfne Indians
KIIled-Loss by the whites, one
Killed and Three wounded.

Killed and Three wounded.
BY Jim Caldwell. the Bozeman ES-
pressman, Just arrived at this place. we
learn the particulars of an Indian fight
which took place on "Wednesday last,
and which resulted in the death of nine
savages and with loss to the whites
of one killed and three wounded.
A STEALING EXPEDITION.
Planned aud executed by an independ~
ent order of ten red men, was the prime
cause of the difficulty. Early on Tues
day morning ten Indians, supposed TO
be Blackteet, entered the Gallatin Val
lev ON foot, at a point about twelve
miles northwest of Fort Ellis, known as
Flat Head Pass, and proceeded To
ranch located on Dry Creek, stealing
therefrom seven head of cattle and one
horse belonging to Mr.. Marsh, the sur
veyor. As soon as the robbing became
known
PURSUIT
Was made by small party of citizens,
who, after following on the trail short
distance, returned, thinking themselves
too weak to attack the large party which
they supposed was opposed TO them. In
the meantime news of the depredations
and forty mounted soldiers, accom-
panied by fifteen or twenty citizens,
combined in a second and more success
ful attempt TO capture the savages. At
ter following on the trail for some %
miles from the East Gallatin, over a
difficult road, the Indians having select
ed the toughest country for their route
of retreat in order TO avoid pursuit. the
thieving band was discovered ascend
ing a steep and somewhat isolated
mountain, upon which they doubtless
hoped TO make stand against the
whites. The latter however, bringing
their strategy TO bear, outtianked them,
hurrying around the mountain and com
ing upon the Indians from the rear. So
rapid were the movements of the whites
that they reached the top of the noun
tain in the rear of the savages before
the latter had time to gain the summit,
and from this position they were ena-
bled 10 pour down their shots with tel
ling effect. The Indians had huTriedly
thrown up slight breastworks on the
lower side of their position, but these
were of small avail. unlees considered
as forming one side of the pen in which
they were slaughtered. Upon the issue
of the battle depended the question of
life and death with the Indians, and
they fought desperately, with one ex-
ception, this exception being in the case
of a noble red man who bestrode the
solitary horse of Mr. Marsh and escaped.
The other nine were almost instantly
killed, and Immediately thereafter de-
prived of their scalps in due and an
cient form. We regret being obliged
to record the death of one OF the sol~
diers, private Corbly, of Fort Ellis. who
Il.
as we'll as to private Thompson and
Corporal Sheridan we learn great credit
is due for brave deeds. Two other sol
diers were wounded, one by having his
leg broken above the ankle, and the 9th
er receiving a gun shot wound in the
elbow One of the citizens, Lafayette
Pool by name, received a severe arrow
wound in the head, and another citizen
was slightly wounded. The fight took
place on Wednesday and to-day the
wounded were brought into the settles
ments and for the present all remains
quiet at the seat of war.
IL may not be improper TO state in
this connection, thar the commissary
department OF our savage enemies is
about to be re-supplied by three wagon
loads of flour now on their way to
Twenty Five Yard Creek, said flour be-
ing furnished by the whites. Would
that the "Quaksr Commissions could
be substituted for the -four, even as the
Forty Thieves were for the oil. Such
lot OF shaking quakers as would soon
present themselves would astonish the
natives.
1t is rumored that the Crows have
burned their treaty and propose going
on the war~path.
Snail soon be able to reDOrt further
particulars from the front.
EVERYWHERE.
RADERsBURG, NJ. T., April 9Th. 1869.