The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-19


from the Missouri Democrat
sr. LOUIS, No.. Feb. 3, 1869.
Editors Missouri Democrat:
The following extract from private letter TO l
gentleman of this city, from participant in the |
CAPTURE of "Black Kettle'sn camp, throws some
light upon the secret history OF that hgnt, anu
accounts for the fact of Moi. Elliott and his men
being reported missing, and will no doubt prove
interesting TO your readers:
FoEr CoBr, I. T., Dec. %, 1868.
My Dear FFisRd-I wrote TO you from Camp
Supply which place We left on the tn, arriving at
this post on the evening of the 18th. On the ilth
camped within few miles OF our battle OF me
Washtan and Gems. Sheridan and Cusssr, with
detail Of one hundred men, mounted, as escort,
went out with the view Of searching for the bodies
Of cur nineteen missing comrades, inclrding MsJ.
Elliott. :,
as naked "a when horn, aud frozen still Their
heads had been battered in, aud some OF them
he'd been entirely chopped Oh; some had the
Adams annie cut out Of their throats; some had
their hands and feet cut OF. and nearly all had
been horribly msngled in way deiicacy forhids
me to mention. They lay scarcely two miles from
the scene OF the fight, and all We know OF the
manner thsy were killed we have learned from
Indian sources. It seems that Major Elliotts party
IN ms IN. p Ssrsssssa OF sss
az the tribes were encamped, and were sur
rounded by the reiusorcelents coming to the
rescue of the pursued before the major was aware
of their position. They were then out OF sight
aud hearing of the seventh cavalry, which had
remained at and around the captured village, about
two miles away. As soon as Major Elliott found
that be was surrounded he caused his men to dis.
mount. and did FoIne execution asaong the INCL.
ans, which added to the modification they must
have felt at the loss Of the village and herds OF
their friends and allies, and enraged them 30 that
| they determined upon the destruction OF the
| entire little band.
L haatfnr haa-t fhev Htra1ad
their yearning eyes IN the direction whence help
| should come? What must have been the despair
that. when all hopes of succOr died out, nerveo
| their stout srms 10 do aud die! Round ana round
| rush the red fends, amallsr and smaller shrinks
| the circle huC the aim of that devoted, gallant
knot of heroes is steader than ever and the death
| howl of the murderous redskip Is more frequent.
| But on they come in masses grim, with glitterng
| lance and one long, loud, exultlng whoop, as II
| tue gates of hell had opened and loosed the whoe
internal host well directed voley from their
uusty carbines makes some OF the miscreants
| reel and fall but their death.rattles are drowned
ia The greater din. Soon every voice in that little
band j. still IN death but the heltish work OF tue
savages Is scarce begun, aud their lnRenuues are
taxed TO invent barbarities TO practice on the
bodies of the fallen brave, tho relation OF wnicn Is
scarcely necessary 10 the completion of this tale.
| And now, to learn why the snxiously looked Tor
| succor did not come, ls: Is view the scene IN the
| captured village. scarce two short miles away.
Light ekirniishing is going on 81 around. SaVages
| on fiying stseds, with shields and festhers gay.
| are c;rciirg everywhere riding Ike devils incsr-
nate. The troops are On sll sides or the village
| looking on ana picking oil some OF those daring
riders with their carbines. Bat does no one think
| of the welfare Of Msior Elliott and pGrtyY IL
! seems not. But yes squadron of cavalry u 10
motion. They trot; they gsiiop. NOW tney
| chGrgsi TIL cOw8Tdly redskins lice the coming
| shock aud scatter here aud there among the mis-
secure away. Bat 1t is the true linewill the cav
airy keep it, No, no! They turn! All. tits
only to intercept the willy foe. See gray troop
| goes on in die direction again. One more short
| mile spd they viii be saved. on, for mothers
prayers win net some good augel prompt
| them They charge tbs mound--a few scattering
shots, and the murderous pirates OF the plans 20
| unLurt away. There is no hope for that brave
| little band. the death doom IL theirS, Tor the cav
| alry halt and 1856 their painting stce0s.
And now return With me TO the village. Ohceri
| and soldiers are watching, resting, eating and
sleeping. IN an hour or SO they vii! De reireshed
and then scOur the hills aud plains for their miss
| ing comrades. The commander occupies himsei
! in taking an inventory Of the captured properly
, | which be has promised tho officers shsll be dis
| tributed amonQ the enlisted men OF the comman1
. | II thew fslter or halt not in the charge.
} | The CAV il drawing 10 a close and but little ha
! | been done save the work Of the first hour.
> | great Zeal remains TO be done. That which can
| not be taken away must be destroyed. Elgh
bupdred ponies are to be put to death. Our chic
| exhibits his close sharpshooting and terT1hes To
| crowd OF fIighted. captured squsws and pa
pooses by dropping the stragging ponies IN deaf
| near tne1s An nc Is n CiSfcl iLaAh oihohs w
even DO the poor dogs of the Indians escape bl
| eve and aim as they drop dead or limp howlin
. | away. But are not those our men On guard o
the other side of the creek ? win he not hit them
"My troop is on guard, general, just over there,
| saws an officer. swell bullets will not go throug
OF around hills, and you see there IL hill betwee
4 us,r was the reply and the exhibition goes on
! No one will come that way intentionaly-cel
tainlY not. Now commences the slaughter Q
the ponies. Volley on voey is poured into thei
| By too hasty men, and they, iimping, get eva
| Only 10 meet death from q surer hand. The wor
progresses The plunder having been Guile
= over, ia hastily piled the wigwams are pnle
u down and thrown OF it, and soon the whole
| one blazing mass.
, Occasionally startling report is heard and
, | steamIike volume OF smoke ascends as tae III
reaches a powder bag, and thus the glorlo'
deeds of valor done in the morning are cele0rat'
!. by the flaming bonfire OF the afternoon. tne "a
pony j. BILLED The huge r 5ero a,ss 81 o1I oos
~ dsy-are carefully lad on ready amoulancss az
= | as the brave banG OF the seventh cavalry STRIKE
= Up the all, 4" Amt glad to get out ot the wilde
- ness" We slowly PICK oor way across tina cree
, | over which we charged so g9u&ntly Ia the earl
| morn. Take care do not trample on the dea
bodies OF that woman and child lying there In
" short time we shall be far away from the scene
Is cur daring cash, and hight Will have thrown M
| dark mantle over the scene. Bat surely son
ii | search will be made for our missing cOTrade
No, they ere forgotten. Over them and tao 90
8. ponies the wolves will hold high carnival, al
their bowl.ngs will be their only requiem. Slowl
e trpdeing. re return 20 our train. some twen'
ID miles away, and with bold, exultiug hearts, lea
TX from one another hOW many dead Indians hs'
ID been seen.
Two weeks eiaDse-s larger force returns III
as wsy search IL made and the dead bodies a
found sirewn rouBd that little circle, frozen IL
Id end hard. VINO shall write their eul0ryz
This, my dear friend, IS the true Story Of q
{" battle Of the Wsshita," poorly told Tsf
"a Douh4e TSnxedy az q. PunezAl uear Ma
30 shall, HeKas.
The Harrison Flag OF the 1lth instsnt, says:
On last Saturday evening most unfortunai
D, fatal aud shameful tragedy was enacted about ii
~ miles west Of Marshall. on the Henderson rOa
A number OF negroes were conveying the corp
n OF a negro child to place of interments Singh
a. some hymn, when young man by the name
, | lobe Grain, being very much intoxicated, JOIN
IN the procession and the singing, aud on arriving