New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-07
THE INDIAN TERRITORY EXPEDITION.

A GALLANT DEFENSE by SIX MEN AGAINST LARGE
BAND OF NDIANs-THREE HUNDRED INDIANS DE-
sIEGING A WAGON TRAIN FOR FIVE DAYS.
(FRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
CAMP ON WAsHITA RIVER, Texas, Sept 2l.--
last wrote you the evening OF the 5th inst when
encamped on the Staked Plains OF Texas. Gen. Miles,
finding it would be impossible to proceed as he had been
doing the rough bed OF rocks which he now en-
counered and which the Indians had selected as their
stronghold adopted another method and set out upon
still hot trail Of the Indians whom be was pursuing
Crossing Red River not from its head. far TO thu
west OF the taken by Marcy and Mcclellan In 80
and SO, no entered immense canon some IL or IL
miles in length by from 80 to 800 yards In width, and
rising at sides from 800 feet Some three miles
from the mouth OF this canon the indian village,
beyond which they unwilling to go, as to reach
the top the Staked Plains involved the leaving or d.
stroying OF camp coinage which IL would be
impossible for them to transport up this rugged
and yawniDg decvity. Up 1t, however. they
went pell-nel, leaving lodge-poles, tanned buff
falo hides, ponies, dogs, &c. &C.. ia their flight.
and Gen Miles determined TO push after them
Equipped we were, We began the ascent leading our
and over rough sometimes on our hand ana kners
gaining foOthold from which situation we assisted Que
ne position Of props e@ Or DIR them
along by the brides. In this way we finally reached
a IN hs Sa Of and running
distance into New Mexico. After proceeding some IS or
abandoning for the time at any rate the hope effect
ing peace with these savage marauders by capture OF
morning OF the 9th found ourselves vending
way On ae and h n from
Major Compton started OF detachment OF Delaware
quarters and with the view OF obtaining some tidings
from the supply train, which was so far missing They
had proceeded far when. discovering fresh tran
made by hostile bands, they returned.
The enterprise OF following this trail fell 10
the lot of Amos Chapman, citizen scout between ?;
"a
Dixon; Sergeant woodhall OF Company l. 9th Cavalry
William Harrington, Company II. They started the
evening of the 10TH and had successfully passed Sweet
miles OF the Washita River. when there appeared in
sight the rising prairie the advance guard Of about
squad found to settle down
to the determination to give up their lives only after
most deperate struggle. In breath the Indians
were upon them. selecting one man-smth-to
Of each Other and throwing themselves upon the
ground just behind the summit OF an inclined plane
rear, began fire the advancing foe. Their assa
with their overwhelming force, soon found
vance was an Improbable investment, and commenced
swing round and re upon them from every direction
them simply their arms and ammunition;
abandoned them to their fate and they moved on
to minge with wild herd The firing began about
o'clock on the morning OF the i2th From point 10 point
| RISING ground behind which they might intrench them.
selves After several hours OF desperate hghng In TINS
0 buffalo walow about u mile from the tfas
upon which they -, had been travelling, ian, and
ucceeded in removing the earth to depth sufficient to
afford them some protection and so continued the nsh
until night closed the Before reaching the DuDao
wallow, however, every man had received wound,
but all these continued the gnt with desperate deter
minatiop. That night the Indians moved or and LETT
this gallant band still living and with scaps intact bus
with every prospect OF death before them from toe,
o'clock the day Major Price, with battalion from
the sth Cavalry from Fort unior Mexico VINO asa