New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-09
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
AN INDIAN BATTLE.

DIAN WAX.
SOUTH Pass, Wy. Ter, April So.-Last Sun
day morning the citizens OF Wind River Valley, in this
Territory, startled by the cry OF "Indansr
strong party OF hostile sayages supposed to be
sioux, had come into the valley, and under cover OF
dense fog, had attacked settlement old Snake
Indian belonging to washake's friendly tribe
MS way to the Agency, aud the hostile avages pounesd
down upon him. took his ponies, and carried OF
ono OF his wives. The squaw kicked and struggled
vigorously that she finally got away, and her hns
band coming to her assistance with revolver kept back
her captors until the woman escaped the brush and
hid The Indians then rode up TO the house OF James
Rogers and drove of his cattle. carrying away with them
all old Snake Indians and buffalo meat and
the two ponies they had captured Most the settlers
were inclined TO keep close TO their houses not being
able in the fog TO ascertain how many Indians there
were In the hostile party. As soon. however a. il was
known that the sayages falling back to the hills,
four friendly Snakes and white their
horses and went In pursuit. When the bluffs wer
reached above the fog the sayages were SEEM about
in number driving OF the stock the nOrthward. Tho
Snakes and white followed rapidly, and compelled
the marauders abandon the cattle. The sayages how
ever soon afterward showed fight, and council OF war
having been held by the Snakes and white men, II was
decided men, however brave should not az
tack % warriors brave themselves and far better
armed and mounted The chief OF the Snakes Washane,
was on way with the tribe to the Agency ana coud
not then be many miles distant. The four Indians ard
one white man went In search Of Washakies camp ain
the Others returned to L.. tie Wind River settlement
The rest Of the story shall let my informant relate in
his way.
at was nghtfal and heavy snow-storm had sec
in when, fortunately, just were about 10 ehcahp
we heard the tramp OF q multitude or horses and saw
the friends we searching for toilng slowly along
through the Storm To hail them, find Washable, and ac-
quaint him with the Of the morning. was the
work Of few minutes. Tue Chief, without saying
word, ordered the alarm to he sounded and the war
drum 10 beat The warriors wondering what the matter
could be- came rushing their swift ponies from all III
rections and swarmed in dense around their ven
cradle and beloved Chief lie ordered GO OF the pess
mounted TO fall out and prepare Tor war rms
preparation consisted simply In painting their faces ana
in IS minutes they mounted and ready for their
Chiefs further commands. Asking how far IL was 10 the
trail and turning over the OF the village To
subordinate Chief, washake put himself at the
head his warriors aud gaoped away to the west AS
it was most important that the trail should be struck
before dark the ride fast and furious IL was aeay
growing dark when shout announced the finding Of the
TRAIL and each warrior halted to rest his pony and
examine the signs. Forty track; IS soldiers, said
Washable in h. seaont0us way, after careful scruti-
nzng Of the tracks. Presently he added, -four OF nVe
hours old, plain, plenty, gooi we catch um 10 'hls
remark all the sO.emnly answered 'Umph.'
The snow which had ceased falling for q time com.
menced again, and the trail gradually began to DIS
appear; still the Indians pursued long after no
sign visiable 10 the eye or "hte
man. About midnight, however, halt announced that
the trail lost, and II took considerable examination
in the grass to fluid it agn AT length we were once
more on it; and Washable began 10 anxiously scar
the clouds Bad badv he mutered The night grew
blaeker colder and another halt told us we were
again of Dismountng, part Of the warrior,
started follow the tran, the main body keeping
close in the aud leading the ponies All night long
| we toiled on the guides at times following the tran
through a heavy storm on their hands and knees II
was near daylight when again the night became pitehy
dark and the trail completely lost Good sald thd
chief cheerful voice, rest now; 'um not far on,
and we get 'um in tho morning So we all lay down,
holding ponies by the larat and had an hours
| good sleep.
at was hardly light when we were aroused by the
guides and cold stiff, and we resumed our jour-
ney The trail was now plain, and We followed IL rap
idly. Shortly before sunrise the guides rode hurridy
| back the main column, and 1t was soon known thai
the Indians discovered that they were still
in camp, and, apparently, totally unconscious OF ouf
approach. The Joy which lighted up the countenances
Of Washable and his followers cannot be described; but
| they said not word nor even made sign Washakia
went to the top a knoll and reconnoered the hostile
camp The ponies quietly grazing at some distance
| from the warriors, who were hudded around nra
warming themselves. Hastily dividing his force into
two parties Washaue to sweep down upon tina
| ponies and stampede them, while with the other ne
charged the warriors. juttng blum covered the aP
prOach to the camp, movements we're entirely
|
upon the enemy at first turned to run for THEN
ponies, but, seeing that they were cut of by one OF
Washake's bands, they made for the bluffs by.
While crossing the little plain five OF them were killed.
under OF the rayines and rocks they made
good ght and back the Snakes, who dismounted
and renewed the battle foot For two hours the
contest ragged when Washable, seeing he could not dis
lodge the enemy drew off his warriors. He had killed
eight OF the hostile Indians and secured all the stock Of
the band. Not wishing to lose his warriors, he de-
termined to let the matter end where 1t wa One thing
necessary however, scalp TO dance over on their
return home. As all the dead Indians had fallen near
the rocks behind which their brethren lay concealed tho
scalpng of of them by means an easy matter
warrior volunteered TO crawl up and get scalp and
the Snakes his action advanced more AS TX
to battle The enemy, however, the lookout; and
when the warrior had nearly reached the dead body OK
his adversary vedirected shot from the hill killed
him. Washable, seeing the fate OF his warrior, rushed
amid OF bullets and, totally regardless
Of danger he in himself cut the scalp from the
head OF the Indian and, unframed returned WIN in
triumph to his warriors 1t is marvellous that the brave
old man was not killed Washable at once set out ON his
return the village at the agency, ana ehtereu MS
camp amid paudts Of the whole tribe the greatest
| OF soldiers I'm the estimation OF his people"
The following day party OF Snake warriors went out
10 the battlefield and brought In SIX more soaps Inc
defeated Indians had hastily decamped, leaving their
aead IN the ground This most unusual but az they
they OF course could not carry them on
and nrobaby thought they had no time TO spare TO bury
| them Washake lost in this affair one man killed. and
| hd ,hroo wounded Of whom will die. The Indians
% ,ougbt with who first supposed TO be Sioux,
turucS out TO be Northern Cheyennes They numbered
OF men and lost eight killed and all their stock. The
d,aed Indians retreated in the direction Big Beaver
hare there ia at present column of cavalry scoutns