Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-04-01
Miseetlam
CHARGING AN INDIAN CAMP.

A correspondent of the Philadelphia
iress, out ION the plains'' with the troops
hunting Indians, says:
About. four o'clock in the afternoon
Lieutenant Hamilton, who had been sent
out with an advanced guard to scout the
country, discovered small herd of buffalo
bulls, and to his surprise, saw some men
hunting them. As it was showing at the
time, he was able to approach quite close
unobserved, and seeing the hunters were
Indians. charged them. They ran direct
ly north. and Lieutenant Hamilton sent
courier back to inform Straddle, who, as
he heard what was up, despatched Cap
tam Ball with his company to the support
OF Hamilton. 1t was a lively race, the ad-
vance guard pressing the Indians close for
four miles, when Lieutenant Hamilton saw
their village. and at once charged it with
five men. He dashed among the lodges,
the women and children having barely time
to leave them and run into the hills The
Indians halted on the bluffs above the vii
lage and showed fight, but before they
could drive the lieutenant and his men
from their town, Captain Ball came thun-
dering up, and the savages once more
sought safety in flight. The surprise was
complete, and so hasty had been the de-
parture of the Indians that not a blanket
or mouthiul of food could be taken from
lodges. The camp-fres were burning
brightly. with large quantities of buffalo
meat cooking over them in camp kettles,
which the soldiers finished boiling and ate
heartily for their suppers. Old Straddle
declared that these were the most accom-
modating Indians he had ever met on the
plains, and it was seldom that they had
the politeness to prepare supper for his
troops after a hard days march. The
camp was full of articles, and noticed
piles of wild arti, ,kes and jerked buffaloa
which the Indians had gathered for their
winters supply In one lodge was look
ing-glass, combs and brushes, and on
stool lay superb dress of antelope skin,
nearly finished. The waist was beauti-
iully small, and cap of mink fur, and
two little slippers, highly ornamentcd, lay
beside 1t. There was an air Of neatness
about the lodge, and all the appointments
indicated that it was the home Of some In
dian girl. Poor creature, how rudely had
she been thrust forth on the bleak prairie
that cold December night, and even old
Straddle as he looked at the gew-gaws,
said with sigh 4 wish Miss LO had
stopped long enough to get her fixens and
take some bedding with her,
Lieutenant Hamilton said as he dashed in.
to the village several little children ran out
almost under his horses feet and he could
have captured one woman, but he gave
her time to get her child ON pony and
make off. One little girl as she ran cry
ing up the hill was picked up by a warrior,
who flung her to woman on a pony, and
the woman rode off at gallop, holding
the little creature by the leg, her head al
most dragging on the prairie.
There were many buffalo robes in the
camp, tin pans, buckets, kettles. bottles.
and even buckwheat flour and baking
powders. Beads, bells, red cloth, fine
leather and colored feathers, were also
abundant, and in one lodge we found
keg OF powder and forty pounds of lead.
After loading six mule wagon with the
most useful articles, Straddle ordered the
camp to be burned. By its light we en-
camped on the banks of the Whiteman,
for it was now long after dark and the
night bitter cold. The soldiers kindled
huge log fires on the prairies, and details
kept the Sibley stoves in the officers tents
red-hot all night. AS the wind whistled
and roared without could not help think
ing Of the poor Indians wandering home
less and shelterless on the prairie, and
somehow the Indian girl was uppermost
in my mind"