The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-04-11

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some ten or fifteen miles lower down.
Included in the two hundred lodges were nearly
all the lodges belonging TO the Dog Soldiers, thf
most mischievous, blood-thirsty and barbarouS
band of Indians that infest the plains.
Here, then, was the opportunity We had beek
seeking, to administer we-merited punishment
TO the worst Of all Indians. Ny attentions verb
formed accordingly, and as rode with Medicine
Arrow In the direction OF the village, made my
plans for surrounding the village and attacking as
soon as the troops came up. did not pursue this
course, however, for the following Ieasons: On
my way to the village learned that the two white
women captured In Kansas Last summer-ono
Mrs. Morgan, on the Solomon; the other. Miss
White, on the Republican, were then held captive
In the Cheyenne village. IL was then out Of ths
question 10 hostile attitude, at least until
the csptives were in possession or until every
peaceable means for their recovery had been ex.
hausted. The opening OF our attack would have
been the signal for their murder by their captors,
as We very well knew. therefore determined TO
the village. In the meantime, accompanied
Medicine Arrow to his lodge In the center Of his
village, where ell the principal chiefs and the me-
dicine man of the tribe soon assembled.
Before entering the village observed the great
est excitement prevailed; the entire herd was
collected; the squaws had everything except their
lodges pscked, and their posie: were saddlsd
tsnton TO asisck bsaB e SsS1 s hya gaR f
ceived, and considering the jsded condition OF my
animals, We could at that time have inflicted any
very serions injury beyond the capture Of thefrt
lodges. TIE recovery Of the captive white women
was now my first object The sQuaHs sod chill.
dren remained seated upon their ponies until the
troops approached the village. when Their fears.
coupled with the remembrance Of the crimes Of
the tribe and their deserved punishment, got the
better OF them, and like herd OF frightened
sheep, old and young squsws, pspooses, ponies
and mules. started in the direction OF Little Robes
village, abandoning to Us their lodges and poles,t
and immense numbers OF camp kettles, robes,
nr1o n, Hrf.'
upon the fugitiyes. but caused four OF their prin-
cipal men, two of them noted chiefs OF the Dog
SodierE-"Big Head" and dull Knife'-to De
seized and held under guard, intending through
them to compel the release Of the two white
men. At the same time, 20 prevent the Cheyennes
from breaking up into small parties and rene wing
hostlities, sent word to them to return aud tako
their lodges with them, adding that II they would
all agree 10 encamp near Little Robe and his baud,
would not permit their abandoned village to be
disturbed until the lodges had been removed.
This proposition was generally accepted. then
sent runner to Little Robe, who sas wei known
to me, and whose influence with his tribe was
great, to come and see me. promising him safe
passport back to his village. He accepted my
invitation, came to my camp. and after a long
talk promised TO use his influence for tue best. No
promise to deliver Up the captiVes into our hands
without the payment OF q large ransom could be
obtained. l was determined to secure their re-
lease, and that Internationally, and thereby dis
courage the custom of ransoming captiyes from
Indians, which isresly nothing more nor less Than
Offering the latter premium upon every captive
To obtain better camp, and 81 the same time
accomplish my purpose, | told Little R06e would
change my camp the following day, moving in the
Erection OF his village, but that had 40 desire 70
approach its immediate vicinity aud that. after
my arrival In camp, II he and the other chiefs
would visit me would talk With them.
on the evening of the second day, chief who
bad accom- panied Little Robe the trst day came
10 my camp TO learn what had 70 Say and 10 pro-
cure, If possible, the release Of the chiefs and
warriors held by me. No satisfactory statement
could he gotten from him regarding the return OF
the white women or the Intentions OF the chiefs.
therefore determined not 10 be put OF any
longer, and told him we had then waited three
days for them TO give us the white women and had
obtained no satisfactory response that should
wait one day longer but II by sunset the following
day the white women were not delivered up
would hang to Tree. which was there designated.
three of the men held captive BY me (the fourth
one having been sent as q runner TO Little RooeA
and that the following day would follow and A.
tack the village. WIN thfs message tho chief def
parted. The next day was one of no little anxiet;
TO all. and to none more than the three csptiyn
Cheyennes, whom certainly intended TO hang II
their people failed to accede 10 their demands.
The ropes were ready and the limb selected when.
about O'Clock p. NJ, small party of Indian war
riors were seen approaching camp. They hsted
on q knoll about one mile distant. while one OF
their number came forward with the well
come intelligence that the women were with
them and would be given up but this was coupled
with the proposition that should exchange the
| three men, or two of them, for the women.
This was refused, and the return Of the women
demanded at once and Internationally. A reluct-
| ant assent to this was given. The Indians, how
| ever, feared to come inside Of our lines. Lieut..
| Col. Moore and Majors Jones and jenkins we're,
therefore, detailed to go out and receive them.
Officers and men assembled near the ontposts to
welcome two Of their own people to freedom
1 from bondage more horrible than death. More
| than one voice fsltered with emotion, and many
| eyes dimned with tears. as ell crowded around
the released captives and rendered heartfelt con-
| gratnstions upon their release. Both the latter
| belonged TO highly respectable families both
| are young, Miss White being about Is and Mrs.
| Morgan about "a. The story OF their captivity
and of their treatment by their captors Ia a re-
| cital OF such barbarous crueties and enormous
iudigntes that II Is surprising that civilized be-
| ipgs could endure them and still survive. After
| conversing with the released captves, Vas con-
| frmed il. my opinion regarding the. propriety OF
| not attacking the village. The Indians had ex-
| pressed their determination to Kill them had the
/ attack been made.
| Many interesting facts were elected from Mrs.
| Morgan and Mss White. IL seems that prior to
| TIE battle Of the Washita. where we captured so
| many Of their women and children the Indians
| subjected their two capves 70 the most cruel
treatment, frequently beating them IN the most
/ savage manner. Since that battle they have never
given q blow.
In passing through their deserted camps we, on
several occasions. discovered the remains Of seve-
| rel carcasses Cf ponies and mules cut In such
| manner as 10 indicate that they had been eaten by
the Indians. This belief was strengthened by the
fact that buffalo or recent signs Of buffalo were
observed anywhere along the route pursued by
| the Indians our operations forced them beyond
| the buffalo range. Such we know TO be the fact
Both the released captiyes state the entire tribe
is in ttate OF actual starvation, and for weeks
Ishave subssted entirely on the flesh of their mules
| and ponies which have died from exhaustion that
| often the allowance TO each person for one week
| was not sufficient for one meal. The supply of
| meat provided for their winter vents having been
| exhausted long ago. and having eaten nearly all
| their dogs, their ponies are more than ordinarily
| poor, a., fearing surprise or attack by
US, they hsve kept them tied close to their lodges
instead Of grazing them as usual. These are some
| Of the results OF our winter campaign.
After obtaining the release Of the two white
women, moved my command mp the stream
twelve miles to the vicinity OF the deserted Indian
village, the lodge poles furnishing fuel for our
night encampment. My command in this way
burned up the poles Of upwards Of two hundred
lodges. Besides these the Indians lost much OF
their carnn furnffure and manv hufflinr rOhea An