The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-04
THE INDIAN WAR.
Tho Recent Battle of the Washfta-A
Horrible scene Of MutilatiOn.

1De new 1OTk HeTUtu mas correspondence
from the hesdwaters Of the Missouri lin the
camp on the Washita:river), which give the de.
tails OF the recent terrible conflict with the
savages at that place. 1t says:-
Entering the space occupied by the indian
lodges; on all sides lay the ruins Of the village
OF Black Kettles band, The condagratIon
started by the troops was so complete that
scarcely anything OF com0ustible characGer
escaped, and to-day the de5r9S of the village
CONSISTED in broken and burned lodge poles,
small pieces of untanned and tanned hides.
From the immediate site of the village the party
rode TO the top OF a hill, about q hundred yards
distant, from which point General Custer
repeated to General Sheridan the details of
the battle and the positions taken by the
different columns. The former site of
the lodges could be distinctly seen by the pins
ranging in circle aud the fireplace in tue
centre. On the right OF the village, at the dis
tance of 150 yards, lay the carcnsses Of the
ponies of the Cheyennel. These covered about
iour acres, ana nambeIed not less than 700.
After the battle was perfectly understood aud
the ground well surveyed, Generals Sher. dan
and Custer, accompanied by Lieutenant Hale,
your correspondent and small detachment of
troops, moved down the south bank of the
Washila, over the route taken by Major Elliott
and the missing meu, in hopes OF recovering the
bodies. The remaindsEIof the party spent s)me
time longer IN the village and moved do Rn the
bed OF the valley OF the river. ...
TIE Generals party, moving down the south
bank, ascended high divide, from which an
country. Descending on the other side the
party had proceeded but hundred yards when
the body OF white man was found perfectly
naked and covered with arrow aud bullet holes.
The head presented the appearance of having
been beaten with a war clnb. The top of the
skull was broken into a number of pieces aud
the brain was lying partly IN the skull and
partly on the ground. AT hrst it was supposed
mat the body was that of Elliott, but upon
minute examination this was found not to be
the case.
Marking the spot where this body was found,
the party continued moving down, stream.
Crossing vita some difficulty small raVne,
about the centre OF an expansive swell, at a
distance of two hundred yards furtner up,
objects were seen lying In the grass and sup
posed to be bodies. Their atteation attr acted
in this direction, the party moved off for the
spot at gallop. few minutes after scene
was witnessed sufficient to call forth the rebuke
of every benevolent and enlightend mind against
the darkened intelects of the so called phllan-
thIoplsts. Within an area OF not more than df cen
yards lay sixteen human bodies, all that
remained of Elliott and his party. Tue
winter air swept across the plain, and
with its cold blasts had added to the
ghsstlness of death the additional
spectacle of sixteen naked corpses. frozen as
solidly as stone. The party here dismounted,
and an examination OF the bo lies Vas made.
There was not siugle one that did not exhibit
evidences OF fearful mutllation. The bodies were
all lying with their faces down, aud in close
proximity TO each other. Bullet and arrow
wounds covered the backs of each, the throats
of number were cut, and several were be.
headed. the body OF one OF the horses which
the men had ridden out was seen lying at
distance OF fifty yards from the pile OF bodies.
Owing to the mutilation OF the bodies, and no
one present having been sufficiently acquainted
with Major Elliott while living, his body was
position OF the bodies and the nature
of the ground surrounding 1T is probable
that Major Elliott (by some it is thought
his horse run away with him) set out in the
direction OF party OF fugitive Indians. Some
| of the men seeing the Major start tollo we'd an
| joined him. 1t is very probable the party plr-
| sued several miles when thoy struck the AraDa.
| boes coming up to the support OF the Csey-
ennes. The party being vigorously pressed
| commenced retiring, and descending the second
| divide on the return found themselves cut off
| by party OF warriors who had moved up under
| cover of the timber on the bankG OF the
| Wasbita, and took position iu the ravlne, which
cut them off entirely from the rest of the com
mand. Not being missed in the command until
too late, this little band was compelled to defend
| itself against the whole force of the
Arrapahoe and doubtless number OF the
| KioWa warriors. The party abandoned
to force their way down TO the river and
take protection behind the trees where they
| could fight to greater advantage. 1t Is likely
when all hope OF rescue and escape was given
dearly as possible. The grass where they lay
was trodden down, and a number of cartridge
shells testify to the vaor Of their defonse, until
| some friendly, fatal bullet gave them the only
| alternative OF escape from the terrible torture
to which they would unquestonably have been
subjected II taken alive. 1t Is not likely that
the entire party was killed before taken. but
| whether any and who were taken alive and the
| trying aud terrible moments which folio we'd
will always remain mystery. All the missing
bodies were now found. Not one had been left
| to narrate the horrible story. The last offices
of humanity-a proper burlal-was all that re-