The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-18
RUTHLESS RED DEVILS.
Thrilling Account Of tho Battle Between the
Sioux and Pawnees on the Republican
Rivsr-Sickening Scenes on the Battle
Fisld-The Sioux splendidly Armed
at Uncle Sans Expense.
PAwNEE RESERVE,


PLATTE COUNTY, Neb., August IL, 1873 !
The following thrilling account OF the awful
battle between the Sioux and Pawnees near the
Republican River Is from HERALD correspondent
who took part In the fight
At daylight on the morning OF August the Paw
nees, numbering about four hundred, including
squaws and children, broke their camp on the Re-
publican, near Frenchmans Fork, twenty five
miles west Of Red Willow and started on the trail
due north in the direction OF herd of buffaoes
which the scouts had seen the day previous. After
travelling about three miles we were surprised by
seeing bufIalOes running directly towards the line
OF march, This unusual circumstance was disre-
garded by the Pawnees. and Immediately the best
hunters
STARTED IN EAGER PURSUIT.
and the plain for miles around was black with
Pawnees and bufraoes. No sooner. however had the
hunters been scattered to convenient distances
from the trail than the Sioux, who had been driv-
ing the bufalo ahead OF them for this very purpose
came galloping along the divide, lying upon the
necks or their ponies, with blankets drawn over
tner heads to resemble buffaloes
In moment the ruse was discovered and the
whole line broke out with the cry OF
"CHARARATl CHABARATi"
Sioux, and the warwhoops OF the men. Squaws,
children and pack horses were hurried into the
nearest ravine and the warriors, selling their best
horses, gaoped towards the approaching enemy,
chanting their wild death song.
On came the Sioux throwing their blankets,
yelling and shooting, and soon the fight began in
true Indian fashion, each party in turn dashing
forward, firing and retreatng. But sOou the
greatly superior numbers Of the Sioux began to be
sides, were forced over the bluffs into the ravlne
among their squaws and children.
1--WE CAN'T FIGHT THEM"
shouted the chief-.'toO many; throw Off the packs
put the squaws on the horses and rum" Overheard
went the seven hundred dried bunalOes which
the government had allowed them to hunt for their
starving families Oh the misunderstanding because
the government has allowed the Sioux for two sue
cessive seasons to hunt on the Pawnees' hunting
grounds. Meat. tents, blankets, everything thrown
aside, there began general rOut, all rushing in
confusion down the ravine to the river, and the
Sioux firing upon them from its abrupt sides with
terrible effect. SO densely packed were the Paw
nees that
warriors, squaws and horses falling In struggling
grooming heaps mothers dropping their children,
ana oa osss ma 0G While
and dead. Three miles to the Republican-and all
this way the Pawnees ran and were slaughtered
IN this horrible manner by the best OF the govern
ment arms. Bows and arrows are excellent Tor
buffalo hunting but for Sioux fighting should
even prefer a spencer rine despicably poor as
they are. But the Pawness had not even these in
any abundance, and although they fought bravely,
were able to make scarce any resistance. About
ONE HUNDRED PAwEEES WERE KILLED
or captured, mostly squaws. Seventy-hve horses
were ta6en or shot. Your correspondent was
buErOuuQeu anu CdpLuTcQ ny bl0uX, having InlB-
taken them for Pawnees. But the chief tearing to
kill white man, pointed me way to the river,
After giving the chase to another party OF sioux
I again rejOined band OF fifteen determined
Pawnees, who were covering the disastrous flight
Of their friends. About twelve miles from the
battle field we came upon squad OF white soldiers
under Captain MeinhOd, three days from McPher-
son, who kindly offered. to return to the field and
remove the wounded If any were yet alive On
our return the field presented most horrible sight,
The first squaw we found
LAY DEAD, WITH KNIFE
tightly clenched in her hand. Apparently she had
kept her pursuers at bay until overpowered, thrown
to the ground, her person violated, wnip-stalk
run through her body, and finally scalped. All the
young sQuaws have marks OF brutal Violence The
children, many OF them were scalped alive
without wound, and, rolling their CLASSY
eyes up to ours, died, staring in our faces,
while we bathed their heads with water. Into q
small pocket OF the ravine the bodies Of SIX men
had been dragged, piled together like SO many
logs and burned. No battle ground ever presented
q more
SHOCKING, DEvILISH SCENE.
The Pawnees conducted themselves in manner
worthy of the descendants OF the old monarchs OF
the Plains, and had they been provided with suit
able arms would have held their enemy in check
until they had sheltered themselves in the wood
along the river. where the Sioux dared not follow.
AS Il Is 1t can be no more than Just that the gov
eminent return their captves and horses to the
Pawnees who have performed such efflcient SER
vice heretofore government scouts, and are al
ways ready to take up the cause OF the white man
against his enemies.