The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-07-23
A Lively Brush with the Red skins

/ A correspondent of the Chicago Inter
| Ocean writes from Dodge City, Kansas
| On the morning of June 20, Major c.
/ L. Compton, Sixth Cavalry, accompanied
| by Surgeon Perm. Medical Director of the
/ Department of the Missouri, with an CS-
cOrt of fifteen soldiers in three fOur-mulr
wagons, left for Camp Supply, post
about eighty-five miles south of this. Thr
precautiOn of a strong escort was taken.
as on the previous day the mail party
coming from Supply was attacked by In
dians and the corporal in charge shot.
The party proceeded on their way with
out unusual incident, until near Buffalo
Greek, a small stream about twenty miles
north of Camp Supply. While passing
through a ravine they were suddenly at
tackled by the Indians, who commenced
firing rapidly, wounding soldier and
one of the animals. Major Compton i'm
mediately formed a skirmish line and re-
turEed the fire. Not knowing how many
there were, and probably, remembering
the strict orders for nOn-interference with
the "natiOn'S wards" except in Selt-de-
fense, the Major very wisely concluded to
act only on the defensive. The Indians
were driven off BY the fire of his men. and
bv takingunusual precautions against sur
prise ne reached Camp Supply in safety.
On the return of the same on the morn
lug of June "a. while about thirty miles
south of this place, they were suddenly
startled by vOlley, one shot passing into
the leading ambulance, in which rode Ma
jOr Compton and DR.. Perrin, cutting the
jacket of the driver, another wOunding a
male. A glance at the hill about fifty
yards off on the right showed the paint
streaked faces of those red devils, Los In
hn to
rifle in hand, ordered his men
to form skirmish line and
keep up a steady fire at that hill whenever
they saw head. This had the effect of
Keeping Mr.. Lo pretty well under cover.
as he did not fancy the music of the
Springfields." Seeing that the only
chance to keep on his journey and get the
wagons past that hill with its fringe of
painted warriors lay in assuming the
offensive and driving them out from their
advant, geOus position, Major Compton
gave the order to charge the hill. Up
went our men, to the astOnishment and
dsmay of the redskins. twenty-five or
thirty of whom sprang from their holes
and dashed off down deep decline. max
ing for a ravine, where they had concealed
their ponies. The soldiers now had the
drop on 'em, and poured in perfect hail |
storm OF outlets. SuCn running WIS utNtT |
seen; the savages could grand discount
even those fleet Congressman at Bull Run. |
The boys kept up steady fire, and the
reds ran faster. Every now and then one
of them was hit. until they gained the !
friendly shelter of bank and their ponies |
The fire was now concentrated on that |
pocket" where they tried to conceal |
themselves until four of them were killed |
outright and many wounded. 1t was too |
hot for them to stay there, so they COM |
menced dashing off on their ponies in |
parties of one and two, taking different |
directions and availing themselves of the /
shelter afforded by the numerous ravines, |
till out of range of our rifles. As they |
fled they threw away spears, bows and |
arrows, trinkets, and the paraphernalia of .
a war party. Five of their ponies were /
killed-in short, they got a thrashing that /
they will remember for long time to
come.
l send you this as a perfectly true ac-
count of an Indian fight, something that |
you seldom get. Every word of this is .
true, and it will serve to give your readers
some idea of what the officers and men of |
the army have to encounter in doing their
duty, while the Indians are still reported
- peaceful " by the well meaning, but
Quaker Indian Agents.