The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-01-28

lieving in his heart that he las cheated
his fellow.
A nnrkabto Indian Fight.
A member Of Troop D, 7th United
States Cavalry, writing to the editor Of
his home newspaper. gives the following
amusing account of the manner in which
Gen. Custcr entertained some Chicago
visitors. who went out to his domains for
Il little o.shooting:
One almost euualling it we
witnessed when the festive Chicagoese
were with us seeking that little reIaxa-
ii,n from business' cares which they
found. After dny's successful chase,
the party found itself about thirty miles
fiom Hayes, tired and hungry. Select
ing camping-ground for the night. fires
were soon blazing choerfully, buffalo
and venison steaks roasting and frying
nicely, and oh, what appetites to do
them justicei Next came wine and
cigars, with which the Chicagoese were
we'll uppliel-luxuries for the trooper
on the plains generally out of reach, but
this one time we had them plenty. and
enjoyed them accordingly. The Gene
raj, wishing to afford his visitors little
amusement during the evening, enter
tained them with stories of surprise and
atrocities committed by Lo, until he had
them excited to the proper pitch for
pleasant dreams, which he kindly per-
mitted them to enjoy until midnight,
when he gave the innocent dreamers
finishing touch. The night proving fa-
vorable, tho troopers were divided, al
lowing about forty rs an attacking party
and to represent Indians, the remainder
to defend the camp. Everything in
readiness, the party on post loudly chal
lenged, "Who comes there?" A regular
war. whoop from the attacking party was
the answer received, then q volley from
the carbines. rnttling fire from revolv-
ers, shouting. yelling and screaming
the attacking purity making use of oil the
Indian imaginable, and great deni
more. The sleerers were by this time
certainly wide-awake and made to under
stand whnt was the matter-that they
| we're expected to fight, if they expected
ever again to see Chicago. Tho brave
defenders fought nobly, shooting high
the air. @ ntreating the Chicagoese to
stand firm, fight for their homes and
| 6resides, and to fight, bleed and die for
their country-never let the stars and
stripes be disgraced by allowing O few
hundred bloody Indians to whip us; not
more than ten to ono at most, probably
less; what's the country good for, if not
worth fighting for? Some of them did
fight, and from them the most danger
was apprehended, as they fired at in
stead of over their antagonists. OF
course, they were quickly placed under
the wagons to keep them from shooting
somebody. During the lull. ono festive
old chap was heard hewuiling his 1ate
bitterly: "Oh. why did leave my home
and fnmily. friends and business, every
comfort in tho world, to come out here
aud be scalped by the bloody Indians =?
Oh, deur! oh, dear! what shall do to
be saved?" At this, some one told him
to grab root; but he said he couldn t
find the root. Fifty dollars to any one
that will take me out of this," but there
was no taker. Tho fight lasted one hour.
Occasionally, some one would drop, and
either crawl away or be carried by few
comrades, when he would, of course, be
all right aud ngain pitch in. Finally,
victory was declared for the defenders;
and then it was the few remaining on
the list of wounded received all the care
possible, which meant plenty of wine
Quite number wished they had re-
mained wounded, but it was too late for
that La the morning, tho wounded
wore reported sent to camp, but some of
the inQuisitive wished to know what be-
came Of the killed and wounded Indians.
"Oh, they are always carried off the
field rs soon as they fall" That settled
the matter. Whether the visitors were
informed of the true state of affairs be.
fore their return home, I never learned.
One of them said lie would have an ac-
count of the fight published. never
had the pleasure of reading the account.
Chicago Tribune.