The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-07-16
The MuscIeshell River Fight-AdditlOn-
nj Particulars.

~ LNANAiuthIh
The following additional particulars of
the fight on the Muscleshell River, in Mon
tam, between an Indian war party and the
settlers, we CLEAN from the columns of the
Sioux City journal. The Indians were
$50 strong, while the whites numbered but
Al:
zone of tie bravest of the fighters on
the side of the whites was James A. Wells,
an intimate friend Of the unfortunate Nc
Gregor. Wells saw Standing BulLthe sav-
age murderer Of his friend, stationed on a
rise Of ground some distance W arrayed
in the gay toggery of war, the long eagle
feathers of his war bonnet floating in the
wind, and his arms ~gisticulating the COM
mands 10 his braves. Jim turned to the
captain and said he wa going for him.
The next the captain saw of him was when
he brought to the stockade the chiefs scalp,
his war-shirt and his w~ar-bonnet The
captain reminded him that he had neglect
cd TO bring the DEVILS head, and Jim went
back and brought that. The fight between
Wells and the chief was desperate in the
extreme. They met face TO face, and drew
their knives. The fghtbegan. There was
a terrible uncertainty rs 10 the issue, which
was sureto be death to one or both. All at
once the guard Of the Indian was broken
through, and the knife of the white man
entered the Indians bowels. But the saw
age fought with renewed desperation.
Wells received on ugly wound in the wrist
in Wording OF the chiefs blows. But the
white mans blade passed the Indians
guard, and the savage was disemboweled
and helpless on the ground. Wells, crazed
with n spirit Of revenge, held his victim
while he deliberately took of his scalp, and
told him, in his bitterest words, the tale Of
McGrogor's death.
There we're 10 Indians killed outright
during the fight, the scalp and skull of
each Of whom was preserved. IL was re-
ported at Fort Buford, by Indians who
were in the fight, that So wounded died in
getting away from the scene of their terri
BILE defeat.
'Of the trophies of the victory Capt.
Andrews had here ten skulls, automatically
prepared, five scalps, three bottles of pres
served ears, tongues, &c, three war bon
nets, besides bows, quiyers, tobacco pouch
CO, knife sheaths, whips, &c. The captain
had the scalp, shirt and wal bonnet of
Standing Bull. The skull bore the inscrip-
ton:
"I wouldn't have done IL, but the North.
west Fur Company gave me so much am
munition that / couldn't help it.
"The shirt wal made of the full skin of o
mountain sheep, and was richly worked
with various colored porcupine quilts and
beads. II was inscribed as follows: Taken
in n hand-to-hand conflict from n Sioux
chief at the battle of Muscleshell, by James
A. Wells, May s., 1869. Presented TO Prof.
Andrews in appreciation of medical services
rendered thu wounded, and skill displayed
in preserving skulls and other redskin rel
les The war-bonnot taken from Standing
BOIL is n very valuable piece of ingenuity.
IL would readily command among the In
dams one OF their best horses, aside from
any value that might be attached to il on
account Of it's having been the property Of
n brave chief. IL was made Of ermine and
eagle feathers. Each of the skulls was in
scribed with some sentiment better under
stood by frontiersmen than others. The
following are those appearing on the Cap
tain's collection; b.
81 am on q reservation at last
"Horace Greeley knows I'm out
"Tho skull on which this latter inscrip-
ton appears, was taken from n negro and
Indian half-breed.
" In search of hats for Farwell.
"I travel for Peck and Durfee.'
"'Killed Mt the battle of Muscleshell,
Mays 1869; q Cheyenne half-breed, the
sou Of ayery distinguished peace commits
%sioner.'
"supposed to DO a distant relative of
Major -.
~ come under the patronage of Major
-
"'Died yelling Cullen, Cullen
"Let Harpertell Of my virtues and my
wrongs
at may be stated as a matter of interest
that among the picked specimens, were to
be observed the rings still remaining in
somo of their ears, and the different arti-
Giles were so well preserved as to be quite
as natural as life"