Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-07-21
The MuscIesheIl River Fight Addition.
al Particulars.

| The following additional particulars OF
the tight on the Muscleshell River, in Mon
tana, between an Indian war party and the
settlers, we CLEAN from the columns OF the
Sioux City Journal The Indians were
1so strong. whilethe whites numbered but
| Al: ftE M NE H ts
some Of tho bravest of the lighters on
the side Of the whites was James A. Wells,
an intimate friend of the unfortunate Nc
Grepor. Wells saw Standing Bull, the saw
age murderer of his friend, stationed on o
rise OF ground some distance away, 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 TO his braves jim turned to the
captain and said he was 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 war-bonnet The
captain reminded him that he had neglect
ed 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 fight began. There was
terrible uncertainty as to 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 warding 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 spirit of revenge, held his victim
while he deliberately took off his scalp, and
told him, in his bitterest words, the tale of
McGregor's death.
"There were IS Indians killed outright
during the fight, the scalp and skull of
each Of whom was preserved. 1t was re-
ported at Fort Buford, by Indians who
were in the fight, that 55 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 pre-
served ears, tongues, &C., three war bon
nets, besides bows, quivers, tobacco pouch
es, knife sheaths, whips, DC. The captain
had the scalp, shirt and war bonnet Of
Standing Bull, The skull bore the inscrip-
ton: sg
"T wouldn't have done it. but the North
west Fur Company gave me 80 much am
munition that / couldn't help it.
1.-THE shirt was made of the full skin of
mountain sheep, and was richly worked
with various colored porcupine quills and
peads It was inscribed as follows: Taken
in q hand-to-hand conflict from a Sioux
chief at the battle Of Muscleshell, by James
A. Wells, May s, 1869. Presented to Prof.
Andrews in appreciation Of medical services
rendered the wounded, and skill displayed
in preserving skulls and other redslSin rel
ics.' The war-bonnet taken from Standing
Bull is q very valuable piece of ingenuity.
It would readily command among the In
dams one Of their best horses, aside from
any value that might be.attsched to it on
account of its having h1ehthe property of
O brave chief. 1t was made of ermine and
eagle feathers. Each of the skulls was in
scribed with some sentiment better under
stood by frontersmen than others. The
following are those appearing on the Cap
tain's collection:
"T am on reservation at last
"'Horace Greeley knows I'm out.
"The skull on which this latter inscrip.
ton appears, was taken from negro and
Indian half-breed.
"In search of hats for Farwell. 3.s'
'I travel for Peck and Durfee.'
"Killed at the battle of Muscleshell,
Mays, 1869; Cheyenne half-breed, the
son of very distinguished peace commits
sioner.' ..a
Supposed to be a distant relative o.
Major - sgl .Iar-pa Y-g
g 4 come under the patronage of Major
-.' "-y
(" Died yelling Cullen, Cullen.
Let Harper tell of my virtues and my
wrongs.
'It may be stated as matter of interes
that among the picked specimens, were 4
be observed the rings still remaining il
some of their ears. and the different arti
ces we're SO well preserved as to be quit,
as natural as life"