The Republican journal., 1872-06-06

motioned to keep quiet, and every man
sank out Of sight like the men of Roderick
| Dhu, on old Benledi.
But though we sank low every man
was alert, and in moment. more than
one was aware that one of the savages,
with his culver of arrows over his shoulder
and his well strung bow in his hand, was
leaving the encampment. He was not
approaching my direction, and while |
was wondering whether we were then to
be discovered, "A sharp report and a savage
yell rang out upon the morning air and
| he turned, wounded, to seek the shelter
of his lodge. Other reports followed in
succession, and he fell, with bullet in
his brain. Cries and groans and bowls
| now came from the midst of every lodge,
and occasionally sqnaw or papoose
would dart, with a handful Of arrows,
from one lodge to another.
| should here remark that the Indians
of the extreme West strip themselves ell
tirely naked when gong into battle.
Soon the arrows began to fly through
the air pretty thick, and occasionally the
naked body of an Indian was visible,
lodging OF creeping here or there. When
| ever this occurred, the sharp report of a
rifle or revolver was heard, and Il howl OF
rage would sometimes announce that the
swift messenger of death had found its
| mark.
Suddenly the whole force Of warriors in
the rancheria sprang out and made a dash
with tie evident intention of breaking
through our lines We poured in upon
them so deadly a fire that half their num-
! Der fell /; four or five retreated to theil
| oS n N n
rapidly from side to side, to confuse oul
aim, kept on, passing through our lines
at various points. One passed very neal
an antelope for IA thcket about Il hundred
yards distant, Somers drew his dragoor
revolver, and with Il quick but deliberate
aim, fired; a red spot was Immediately
visible on the naked back of the Indian
again he fired, and another red spot ap,
peared not five inches from the first. Yet
again, and still another spot told of the
unerring aim, but still the Indian kept his
feet and ran with unabated speed. Once
more Somers raised his weapon, and will
a little more deliberate aim fired, and as
! the naked savage fell headlong, the marks
man quietly remarked NOW let's SEE
you run" But the Indians running us
well as Scalping days were over; thai
| last shot had sent him to the happy hunt
| ing grounds of his fathers Only one Oh
| two of those who had made the dash tc
escape through our lines got away tn
| harmed.
We now closed in upon the lodges and
set them on fire. one brave but rash Young
man losing his life by tn arrow through
his heart in 50 doing. The fire drove the
skulkers from their dens to share the fate
of their Drawer but more guilty fellows
The women and children were spared
In the midst of our attack on this ran
cheria we heard loud war-whoops from
the other, soon followed by rapid re
port OF rifles. The Indians at the lower
rancho had rushed down to the river a:
soon as they heard us firing upon thei
friends, and crowded into their canoes il
| order to cross and assist Them
Our other party of seventeen men were
| descending point of the mountain a short
| halt mile above the rancho. when they,
| too, heard the lrin@, and dashed forWart
| 1T Il rapid run and reached the band uS
as the Indian, We're padding in the mls
/ OF the rapid stream. Pouring in Il vollcy
several We're killed in each of the canoes
and those not killed were thrown int,
such confusion that the canoes wer,
swamped and borne over the rapids be
low one Indian only having the presenc,
of mind to spring out and swim to the op
poste shore. But a long, lank IIoosier
with Il long Kentucky rifle, had mark
ed him for his own, and as he emerg-
ed upon the bank, the rifle claimed it,
rights, and 'Lo the poor Indian crosse,
that other river where Charon is the ferry
man.
The casualties in our ranks were very
few. AS already stated, one man was
killed. Two or three were wounded, bu
not seriously, none being disabled.
We returned to our homes, confiden
that we had put an end to Indian depre
dations on the river, and our expectation
We're fully realized; no traveller III thes
regions has since fallen a victim to tn
red mans love for the white mans scalp
and the white mans blood