The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-04-06
THE INDIAN WAR.


End. q
ST.. LOUIS, April IA long report
was received at military headquarters
this morning from General Custer, de.
failing his operations in the field.
After breaking camp at Medicine
Bluff Creek, fresh signs of Indians
were discovered on the 18th Of March,
and the whole command. numbering fif-
teen hundred men, moved forward rap.
idly, making daily marches two or three
times as long rs those OF the Indians.
Tents were burned and all blankets, ex-
cept one per man. and all surplus cloth
ing, shared the same fate. On the 18th
they reached 8 camp ground which had
been abandoned only two days before.
About the same time . herd of ponies in
charge of two Indians was discovered.
Custer determined to capture the herd,
and after proceeding some two miles
saw Indians partially concealed behind
the sand hills. After good deal of
signaling eight Of them came out. from
whom Custer learned tha, 26O Cheyenne
lodges were encamped within ten or
twelve miles, 200 Of which were directly
i'm front. on q smali stream. @ @
Medicine Arrow. the Chief of the
Cheyennes, and several other noted
chiefs then rode up Among the two
hundred lodges were those of the Dog
Soldiers. the most mischievous. blood
thirsty and barbarous band Of Indians
hat infest the Plains. General Caster
first intended to attack this village, but
when he discovered that the Cheyennes
had two white female captlves-Mrs.
Morgan and Miss White-he conclndea
not to do SO, at least until be had those
women out of the hands OF the savages.
Hc, therefore, went with Medicine Arrow
to his lodge in the center of the village,
wheie tue principal chiefs assembled.
Before entering the village he perceived
tue greatest excitement, and noticed
that every thing was prepared for flight.
Custer thinks that had he then attacked
them with his fatigued troops. he could
not have effected more than \ capture of
their lodges. Custer ordered the arrest,
of two chiefs-Bly Head and Duh Knife
intending to hold them under guard
As hostages for the white women cap:
tiyes. Alter considerable parleying, and
only when the rope and tree were cho-
ser, did the lndians deliver up the cap
tives. The story of their treatment.
told by the captives, is a recital of such
barbarous cruelties and enormous indig-
niti s, that it is surprising that civilized
telngs could have endured it, and sur
vive:. The Indians would have killed
them had the village been attacked.
The Indians express themselves heartily
sick of the war, and are willing to go
10. that part Of the country which has
been designated for them, and are ready 4
to submit to the decision OF the Govern
ment authority.
Custer says: 1--WE have taught the
Indians that they are safe t, ON US in 70
place and at no season and also, what
some of our own people may doubt, that
the white man can endure the inclemen-
cies of winter better than Indians" He
says that the country and the hiding
places of the Indians are now better
known, and that he has many officers in
his command who could conduct an ex-
pedition there without guides. The
General speaks highly o: his officers and
men, and he especially compliments the
Nineteenth Kansas Cavalry. The Gen
eral did not lose = single man of his
command He concludes his report
with the following words i now hold
the captive Cheyenne chiefs as hostages
for the good behavior OF their tribe. and
for the fulfflment Of the pr.amise Of the .
latter to come in and conform TO the de-
mands of the Government This, I con >
slider, is tho end of the Indian war