The New York herald., 1869-01-04
THE INDIAN WAR.
visit to the Scene Of the Re-
cent Battle.
Discovery of the Bodies Of Major
Elliott and Fifteen Soldiers.
a Horrible Scene of Mu-
tilatiOn.

a Horrible Scene of Mu-
tilatiOn.
visit 70 the Field OF tho Battle OF the wa
shfa-Thc Completeness of Custer's Vic
tory-Successful Search After the Bodies of
Major Elliott and His Party-A Horrible
sight - SpecuIations Concerning Elliotf's
Parsy-Omcial Statement Of the NIueilAtion
or the Bodies-RecOvery Of the Bodies Of
Mira. Blynn and Child.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI,
CAMP ON wAsurrA RIVER, l. r., Dec. II, isos.)
Having reached this point in the chosen valley Of
the hostile Indians the Commanding General deter
mined to spend an entire day in camp, IN order to
give the animals rest and an opportunity to avail
themselves Of the luxuriant pasturage In this
vicinity. We were now, 1t was known, Dut eight
miles from the scene OF General Custer's decisive
victory over the Cheyenne band Of Black Kettles but
two weeks ago General Custer still feeling consd.
cradle anxiety to know the fate Of Major Elliott and
the missing men OF the Seventh cavalry who disap-
peared In the battle Of the Washita, and hopeful Of
at least finding traces whereby certainty might
be arrived at relative to their death or captivity he
determined to organize small expedition to the
battle field.
At eight O'Clock this morning the horses OF the
party were saddled and mounted and the bugle had
sounded the escorting squadron to horse and for
ward. The party consisted Of Major General p. II.
Sheridan, commanding the department.; Brevet
Major General George A. Custer, commanding the
expedition; Brevet Bri0ader General j. w. Forsyth,
Brevet Lieutenant Colonels Schuyler Crosby, A. j.
McGonnigle aud w. w. Cook; DIR. Morris J. Asch
Brevet Captain Charles Brewster; Lieutenants
Owen Hale M. Moylan and Samuel Robbins, and
your correspondent. The escortng squadron con-
sisted Of detachments from each Of the companies
Of the Seventh cavalry, commanded by Brevet
Lieutenant Colonel T. w. Custer, Captain G. W.
Yates and Lieutenant J. F. Weston. Several OF the
Usage and Kaw Indian traiers were sent in advance
d scouts. The morning clear but cold. The
hard frozen ground and the biting air made both
men and animals move quickly. ride OF an hour
and half brought the party In the immediate ap-
proach to the battle field. At distance, looking
down from the divide which the column was cross
ing the scene was OF the most intense solitude.
The sun ght glistening upon the hoar frost settled
upon the grass aud trees lent tranquil charm to
the landscape the leaess and inert vegetation and
painful silence was the picture Of desolation. We
had now followed for several miles the trail
of General Custer's pursuing column, after
the battle, endeavoring to overtake the
fugitive Kiowas and Arapahoes and treat them to a
dose OF martial solution OF Indian hostilites. At
length our column crossed the line Of formation
taken by the len centre column under the unfortu-
nate Elliott. The horses tracks were quite visible
1t was here with their Comrades OF the other col
umns, that Elliott and his men stood for several
hours awaiting the first finger OF dawn upon the
eastern horizon to launch forth ut the charge con-
vergng upon the fated village. Crossing this line
the party trod the ground rendered historical
by decisive ana demollshing blow at the heart
OF Indian hostility. As the party entered
within the area OF the fight the alarm
OF the approach was the signal for the
night OF lnnumerable beasts aud birds Of prey.
Thousands OF ravens and crows, DISTURBED in their
carrion FEAST rose in one dense, black mass filing
the surrounding air with their mournful notes, and.
soaring over the neld, seemed to shower down i'm
precautions In return for their moestation. The sly,
cowardy wolL started from his abundant repast, at
intervals casting savage look behind, retired to the
summit OF the surrounding hommocks and ridges
out Of range OF danger, and here seating himself
upon his launches boldly watched the results OF the
Intrusion
A few yards In advance OF the first position
taken in the opening Of the battle by
Major Elliott an object having the appearance
OF bundle OF blankets was discovered In the bushes.
Upon opening the blankets an Indian warrior
was found scalped At intervals these evidences Of
the just retributlon given the savage Cheyenne in
the baIrle OF the Washita were seen. About thirty
bodies OF warriors were counted also several squaws
accidentally shotin the melee.
Entering the space occupied by the Indian lodges;
on all sides lay the ruins OF the village of Black
Kettles band. The connagratlon started by the
troops was so complete that scarcely anything Of
combustible character escaped, and to-day the de-
bris Of the village consisted In broken and burned
lodge poles, small pieces Of untanned and tanned
hides. Prom The immediate site Of the village the
mai ri EaEn nm nf
hundred 'Ny yards distant, from which 'ss point {
General Custer repeated to General sheridan
the details OF the battle and the positions taken
by the diferent columns. The former site OF
the lodges Cud be distinctly by the pins rang
ing In circle and the fireplace In the centre. ON
the right OF the village, at 4 distance OF 100 yards,
lay the carcasses OF the ponies Of the Cheycnnes.
These covered about iour acres, and numbered not
less than 700. Alter the battle was perfectly under
stood and the ground well surveyed Generals Sheri-
dan and Custer. accompanied by Lieutenant tale,
troops, moved down the south bank OF the washita
over the route taken by MAJOR Elliott ana the missing
msinder Of The party spent some time longer IN the
village and moved down the bed OF the valley OF the
The Generals party moving down the south bank,
assembled q high divide, from which an extensiye
view could be mad OF tue surrounding country. be
but hundred yards wnen the body Of white man
was found perfectly naKed and covered with arrow
OF having been beaten with war cluS fne TOP Of
the skull was broken Into number OF pieces and
tRe brain was lying partly In the skull and partly on
the ground. At hrst d was supposed that the body
was that Of Elliott but upon minute examination
this was found not TO De the case.
Marking the spot w1ere this body was found, the
pai ty continued moving down stream. Crossing
wi some dIiiculty small ravine, about the centre
Of an expansive swell al distance of two hundred
yards further on objects were seen lying IN the
grass and supposed u be bodies. Their attention
attracted In tins direction, the party moved on for
the spot at a ual op. few minutes after scene
was Witnessed suncent to call forth the rebuke OF
every benevolent and enlightened mind against the
darkcned neilects OF the s0-caed philanthropisls.
Within an area OF not more tnan fifteen yards lay
Iiou and his party. The winter air swept
across the plain and with ITS cold blasts
had added TO the ghsstness Of death the additional
spectacle OF sixteen naked corpses frozen rs soldly
a stone. The part here dlsinounted aud an exam
inatlon OF the bodies was made. There was not a
mntilation. The bodies were all lying with their
faces uown and IN close proximity 10 each other.
Bullet aud arrow wounds covered the backs Of each