The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-02-11
scalped by Indians--vVhat Victim
.3ssu Says, About it " 5dN

| rIne DctrO1ti IIGC IJ'eSS says 1nat .
victim Of Indian vengeance in the pre-
sent struggle along the borders, and
one that will Forever have cause 10 res
member it, reached that city ON tho
18th inst. His name Is Delos G.. Sand
bertson, and he lost his scalp at tho
battle of Washita. Heallo~ed the Gu.
rious to examine his poll, and look at
the still red and tender spot from which
his scalp was jerked away was not cal
culated to prejudice any one in favor Of
h'ar lifting" AS but few persons
have ever lived to undergo the pro.
cess, perhaps the sensations experienced
by Mr.. Sandbertson will interest and
enlighten. Says he:
"I was in the infantry. Custer had
command of the troops. There was
quite force of cavalry with US, but
they were about mile in the rear when
we first discovered the reds. Some Of
the troops had been sent around 80 as
to attack on the other side. The reds
were within eighty rods of them for
half an hour before daybreak. Just In
the gray of morning, the firing COM
menced on both sides, aud we had 1t
all our own way for few minutes,
the cursed snakes being much confused.
and not knowing what was up. At
length they rallied, and we could hear
Black Kettle shouting and ordering.
The vermn got~nto holes and behind
rocks - anywhere they could find
place, and began to fight back with Q
will. We fired whenever we could see
a top-knot, and shot squaws-there were
lots of them-just as quick as Indians.
We first went in for wiping out the
whole gang. When ii was fully day.
light we all gave big yell and charged
right down into camp. The lodges
were all standing yet, and lois Of In
dians in them. AS we ran through the
alleys big red jumped out at me from
behind tent, and before / could shor-
ten up enough to run him through with
my bayonet, squaw grabbed me by
the legs and twisted me down The
camp was then full of men fighting,
and everybody seemed yelling as loud
as he could. W hen / fell went over
backwards, dropping my gun, and I
had just got part way up again, the
squaw yanking me by the hair, when
the Indian dubbed my gun and struck
me across the neck. He might just as
we'll have run me through, but he was
not used to the bayonet, or didn't think.
The blow stunned me; it didn't hurt
me in the least, but gave me numb
feeling all over. | couldn't have got to
my feet then if all alone, while the
squaw kept screeching and pulling my
hair out by handfuls.
81 heard some of our boys shouting
close by, and the squaw started and
ran--one of the boys killing her not
three yards off. The Indian stepped
one foot on my chest, and with his
hand gathered up the hair near the
crown of my head. He wasn't very
tender about it, but jerked my head
this way and that, and pinched like
Satan. My eyes were partially open,
and could see the bead work and trim
ming on his leggings. Suddenly felt
the awfullest biting, cutting flash go
round my head, and then it seemed to
me as though my whole head had been
jerked clean off. l never felt such a
pain in my life; why, it was like pull
lug your brains right out. 1 didn't
know any more for two or three days,
and then l came TO, 10 find that / had
the sorest head of any human that ever
lived. If the boys killed the viper,
they didn't get back my scalp; perhaps
it got lost in the snow. l was shipped
down to Laramie after bit, and all the
nursing / got hain't made the hair
grow out on this spot yet"