New-York tribune., 1874-07-24
THE INDIAN TROUBLES.
A BATTLE WITH OUTLAW SIOUX.

rRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF rTiE TRIBUsel
OMAHA, July 20.-Fort Brown stands at tho
head Of the Little Wind River Valley, 1B niles norm OF
Bryan, q station on the Union Pacihe Rairoad' e'
miles west OF Omaha. From this post al ehpedition
| started out to attack the Sioux. IL was com
posed OF Company b. Second United states cavalry
81 men and two officers, Capt Bates commahu'
ing the expedition. and Lieut. Robinson com
manding Company "B," Lieut.. Young, an infsntiy'
with 30 Indian scouts and four citizens; "ashahe'
Chief OF the Snake Indians. aud $50 OF his warriofs
total 1885, They left Camp Brown on the evening Oh
July and Travelled rapidly all night As soon as the
morning dawned the troops and friendly Indians hd IN
the bush, having made 40 miles between p m. ana
daylight. The nightot July the command made cis-
OF 80 miles, and again hid as soon as light began
10 appear. On the Sd, when IL was DARK the Whoio
force mounted and pushed rapidly forward Every
one was IN a Of excitement for IL was believed that
another day would usher q battle. At $3.50 m tho
Indian scouts who had the advance balted aud sent
word Capt Bates and the troops that they were
In sight OF the hostile camp. The shoshone warriors
at once began strip and put their war paint and
the troops load and fix their carbnes for action In
about 20 minutes all In readiness ana the rendY
Indians began to creep the bluffs and steal down
upon the sleeping camp The troops followed on foot 10
the brow OF the h aud there below them and within
rife shot lay the hostile camp 1t was as still as death,
and not even dog barked. The sleeping Indians eyi-
IDENTIFY thought themselves secure, and had taken no
precautions to guard against surprise.
pRaising their Fearful war-whoop the shoshones
rushed down upon the camp the troops at the same
time charging Capt. Bates led his troops to tho edge
OF the village, and the bewildered indians as they
rushed from their lodges shot down by scores
Had the shoshone Indians supported the troops with
any gree steadness all would soon have been over
and hardly hostile Indian would have escaped to tel
the tale OF the midnight attack. But the shoshones
hung back, would not enter the village and eontended
themselves with yelling and firing on their enemies
from distance Soon the ponies or the Sioux attracted
their attention and they seemed more desrous OF
stealing and ,plunderug than OF fighting. II was In
vain Capt Bates and Lieut. Young urged them TO close
up aud charge upon the Sioux they seemed satisfied 10
howl and steal.
The Sioux when FIRST attacked we're greatly confused,
but soon rallied and began to oner stout reslstence.
Just beyond the village and overlooking it was high
and rugged bluff and 10 this the hostile Indians re-
treated and opened rapid and destructive fire on tho
troops 10 the village below. The cavalrymen behaved
galanty and for time stood up against the shower OK
balls ralned down upon them but being unsupported
by his Indian allies and hoping TO take the position OK
the enemy 10 the ,nk aud drive hun from the bur,
Capt Bates fell back Of the village, aud put bs nen
under cover.
Lieut. Young with his scouts occupied part OF the
high bluffs, and made every effort to drive out 'ne
enemy While galantly fgbtng he received BAL
through the leg the knee and fell The night nero
was desperate Lieut. Young killing several OF the SIOUX
the enemy would capture Lieut. Young and hut for tho
determined bravery of the old shoshone chief Washa
ke Mr.. Frank Ecof,y and Mr.. Cossgrove Young wou'd
undoubtedly have fallen into the bands OF the SIOUX
After the fall Of Lieut.. Young the shoshobes "eHd
not light and Capt. Bates compelled TO allow them
to withdraw.
Ats O'clock the friendly Indians showing some dspo-
sition to attack Capt Bates again pushed forwarda
strong line shrmshers toward the bluff; but being
unsupported Indians, after sustaining torrhc hre
for some me they we're compelled TO retire. The sbo
shones having captured some 200 ponies, announced
their intention OF retreatug with their pundcr and
seeing smoke and signals from the hill occupied by tho
enemy Capt. Bates reluctantly ordered his troops 10
retire.
The population OF the hostile village was over 100
souls and OF this number fully 400 were WARRIORS so
that counting in washakle aud his band the Sioux out
numbered the attacking force nearly two TO one Thirty
Sioux Cneyennes, and Arapahoes were killed IN their
village, six the ridge, and as many more wefe
wounded. Their loss severe, and the punishment
of the band ample Tie loss the part OF The attack
ing party was follows:
Lieut. Young. shot through the leg dangerously.
Private Geo. Pierson, Company B, 1d cavalry
Private Wesley Gable, Company B. I'd Cavalry. shot
private Charles French Company b. % Cavalry shot
through the nose, and one eye shot away,
Private James VI. Walker. Company Is, I'd United
Private Peter Engelr. Company b. al United states
Cavalry shot through the heart
shoshone warrior shot through the head aud
killed instantly, and four others wounded. so-
der named reported killed in the first dis
patches but is those last received 40
Headquarters Department OF the Platte. the numher
OF ponies captured by the friendly indians hnd troops
was $50. -, -.
1he Indians attacked we're a mixed band OF
Cheyennes Arapahoes, and Sioux. They were known
as dog warriors and have long been outlaws, even
from their tribes For years they have depredated
the settlements in the Wind River vaeys. aud every
Spring and Fall would come down and murder meD,
women, and children They were at war Win tLo
aud whom they have stolen great deal OF stock
Sioux reservation, aud wait until another opportunity
occurred 10 steal and murder From long immunity
from punishment they had become bold, aud made thec
Summer and winter camps within 100 miles OF the settie>
and forts. They thought themselves safe tho
reservation, and believed that the troops would not
dare the line TO attack them During the pas1
four five years they have Killed no less Ean Al men.
women, aud children OF SSeetwatcr County, Wyoming
Territory Tne names OF these are matter OF Official
record
Two years ago the commanding officer OF the troops in
the Wind River ID. D.sIct made Application 'or ermslon
to attack these Indians in their winter CAMP ana De"
sroy them but the application disapproled Oh the
known white mems scaps many horses belonging
citizens sweetwster County were then in then camp.
About the ls OF Jdiy Lieut. Gen sheridan aud Cen ord
made q visit to posts IN Wind River and when Ord
heard OF the partial OF Capt. Bates he at
ordered more troops forward and Major Ddyd G0rdon.
81 United States Cavalry with Companies and b. 2d
United States Cavalry is In pursuit OF the hosi.o
band. Another battle is expected aud wl Ie dIAj re-
ported
SEVEN INDIAN CATTLE srEALERs KILLED
OMAHA, Neb., July 23.-A three days scout
on Box Elder Deer Creek Canons Fort Feter-
man. just returned, failed to find Indians Tue fol-
lowing has been received from Medicine Bow, Wyoming
Territory, to-day:
Eight Indians who had stolen i've head Of stock from
emigrant rain last SATURDAY, were pursued,
taken and whipped ON the MOUNTAINS between Dalton
and Cooper Crock and seven ol the Indians killed.