Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1869-06-26
HOW 1t Feels to he ScaIped-What a
Xictin says about it.

A victim of Indian vengeance, says the
Detroit Free Press, of June 10, arrived
in this city Saturday night, departing
yesterday for his home in Monroe coun-
ty, New YORK. His name is Delos G.
Sandbertson, and he lost his scalp at the
battle of Washita. Perhaps the sensa-
tions experienced by Mr.. Sandbertson
will interest and enlighten. Says he:
1 was in the infantry. Custer had
command of the troops. There was
quite a force of cavalry with us, but
they were about a mile in the rear when
we first discovered the reds. Some OF
the troops had been sent around so as to
attack from the other side. The reds
were camped i'll a sort of valley, and we
within eighty rods Of them for half an
hour before daybreak. Just in the gray
of morning, the firing commenced on
both sides, and we had it all our own
way for few minutes, the cursed snakes
being much confused, and not knowing
what was up. AT length they rallied,
and we could hear Black Kettle shout
| ing and ordering. The vermin got into
holes and behind rocks-anywhere they
could find place, and began to tight
back with will. We fired whenever
We could see II top knot, and shot
squaws-there was lots of them-just as
quick as Indians. We just went in for
wiping out the whole gang. When it
was fully daylight, we all gave big yell
and charged right down into camp. The
lodges were all standing yet, and lots
of Indians in them. AS we run through
the alleys, big red jumped out at me
from behind a tent, and before l could
shorten up enough to run him through
with my bayonet, q Squaw grabbed me
around the legs and twisted me down.
The camp was then full of men fighting,
and every body seemed yelling as loud as
he could, When 1 fell, / went over back.
ward, dropping my gun, and had just
I got part way up again, the squaw yank-
ing me by the hair, when the Indian
dubbed my gun and struck me across
the neck. He might just as well have
run me through, but he wasn't used to
the bayonet, or didn't think. The blow
stunned me; it didn't hurt in the least,
but gave me numb feeling all over. !
couldn't have got to my feet then If all
alone, while the squaw kept screeching
and pulling my hair out by handsful.-
heard some of our boys shouting close
by, and the squaw started and ran--one
OF the boys killing her not three yards
/ off. The Indian stepped one foot OH my
chest, and with his hand gathered up
the hair near the crown of my heed. lie
wasn't very tender about it, but jcrlSed
my head this way and that, and pinched
! like Satan. My eyes were partially
: open, and could see the bead-w0rk and
trimming ON his leggings. Suddenly
! felt the awfulest biting, cutting flash &c
I round my head, and then it seemed to me
as if mywhole head had beenjerked clean
e off. never felt such pain in all my life
q why, it was like pulling your brains
r right out. 1 didn't know any moro fol
+ two or three days, and then 1 came t.
find that l had The sorest head of any
!, human that ever lived If the boys kill
l.
u !. scalp; perhaps it got lost in the snow.
: was shipped down to Laramie after {
d bit, and all the nursing i got hadn'
9 made the hair grow out ON this spot yet