Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1869-01-05
Telsgratas.
Cuxsar,s Fight with the Indians.

CussaT's Fight with the Indians.
The particulars of the fight between
Clusters troops and the Indians under
Black Kettle command rs related by
- correspondent of the Chicago Repub-
iican, participant, are thrilling. Gus
ser's guides were Usage trailers The
latter struck on Il fresh trail of the In
dams they were seeking in the morn
ing. and Immediately appraised the
commander Several officers took the
trail at once. keeping it up at a trot.
Custer left his train in charge of
single officer, took few wagons and
three days rations, and started across
che country to intercept Major Elliot's
column. Fortunately he met it i'll Il
few hours, and the entire forces hast
ened forward at their utmost speed.
Reaching the crest OF Il hill, the pur-
suers beheld the Indians in the valley
Below them. Custer at first argued
they were buffalos, deeming it impossi-
Die to approach so near them without
detection. The tinkling bells betray-
ed the ponies and stolen horses. Gus
ser was satisfied.
His. men were ordered to stand by
their horses, and not allowed to build
fires or even to stamp their feet for
4oo G Ice i,a Of In Ot-
tack. A small detachment of dis
amounted men were left to watch the
village, with instructions to attack i'm
mediately should the savages show any
sign of suspicion by issuing from their
lodges.
Gen Custer now took his principal
officers with him to point giving an
idea of the village. He then explained
to each officer what he proposed as
plan of attack. The village lay upon
the South bank of the Washita. The
Cheyenne lodges were in the centre,
she Arapahoes above and Sioux below.
all ranging along the banks OF the
stream. The nature of the ground, as
it could be indistinctly traced by moon
light, seemed to indicate that the VIII
age was accessible from all points.
The General and his officers now re-
tired to ravine near the column and
determined upon the following plan of
attack. Four columns we've to attack
the village from different directions TX
'tThe signal was to be the firing of a
shot, or the gray of dawn if beyond
hearing. The columns took position,
and at the preconcerted time every
command began its appointed Office.
As the cavalry came dashing toward
the village Black Kettle broke from
his bed of robes and in an instant APP
peared without his lodge. He had
heard the tramping of the horses on
the snow. He looked around him, and
witnessing the approaching columns,
fired his rifle and gave one wild whoor.
Each warrior, springing up rs if by
magic, seized his rifle and responded
Go the yell of despair which broke
from the lips of tine chief. Some of
che warriors fled to the river and be-
gun fighting at the same time, stand
ing waist deep in the others took to
ravine close by. The squaws fled to
the high hills south of the village"
The Osages doubling the sincerity OF
she whites, conceived the idea that ten
Usage braves would be given up to the
Cbeyennes, and instead Of battle,
peace would be indicated to the latter.
The Osages refused to take promi-
aent position in the fight, following
the whites until the battle began to
rage, when they contributed their
share of the victory. Captain Hamil-
ION was killed while crossing the river.
s'When struck he gave one convul-
save start, stifened in his stirrups and
carried corpse for a distance of sew
eral yards which he fell from his horse,
striking upon his face, which was from
this cause terribly lacerated and disfig-
uxed- Col. Barnitz fell, seriously
wounded, while charging with Elliots
column up the river. As the fight be-
oanae general each man picked his an
sagonist and started for him." M
As the Indians gave way in every di-
r.ection, some of the victors were so
rash as to pursue them. A detach-
saent of twenty seven men and three
Officers, nnder the lead of Major Elliot,