The New York herald., 1874-08-26
SIX HOURS FIGHTING.
Four United States Troops Reported
Killed and Three Wounded.
The War To BE Vigor-
ously Prosecuted.
HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD,
WICHITA AGENCY, via CADpo, l. T., 7
August rs, 1874.

-. W. DuVlupOu, COululuuuluH Nv GOTL OIL,
received information last evening from Colonel
Gains Lawson, commanding q company at
this agency, that the Oconees, hostile band
numbering between sixty and seventy lodges,
had come into the Wichita Agency and as the
instructions are that any Indians found outside
of their reservations should be arrested, dis
armed and held for punishment, General David
son determined Immediately, in obedience to
higher orders, to proceed to this point with
companies G, E, H and l. of the Tenth cavalry,
and, starting at nine o'clock last evening,
made forced march of thirty miles, Arriv-
ing at about eleven o'clock this morning, the
troops, to the number of about $50, were
drawn up in line Of battle on the skirt of the
reservation along the river bank of the
Wichita, and the Oconee chiefs were at once
cited through the old and favorite inter-
prefer, Mr.. Horace P. JONES' of Fort Sill But
in response to the requisition for the appear
ance Of the Oconee Chiefs no one but Big Red
Fox answered for his tribe
BIG TALK.
General Davidson Immediately proceeded
to hold ''big' talk with the ''big' chief and
bad man, as follows:-
The President of the United States has
found that his people were killing and plum
dering other people on the plains, notwith-
standing that they had said they would be
good and would not kill the white people.
But they had lied about it, and the President
had got tired and mad and instructed his
officers to punish these bad people The Cad
dos, Perretetpka and some of the Comanches
were good Indians. The Sd of August
had been fixed for the enrolling
of all good Indians who were on reservation,
and those Who had done wrong and not come
in had to be arrested, and the good separated
from the bad. Accordingly General Davidson
said that now he wanted him to surrender
all his arms and horses and to go with him as
o prisoner, with his women back to Fort Sill,
where the property belonged. All he had to
say to him now was to ask him what his de-
termination would be, and it must be given at
once. II he acquiesced in this, well and good;
if not why, then, he would have to fight, and
he must prepare for it forthwith.
BIG Fox's REPLY
The dark, sullen, dangerous chief, as he
folded his blanket slowly around his well
knit form, paused moment and after bit
tsrly COMPRISING his lips said:-'Well, will
do what you want This was supposed to
end everything amicably and satisfactorily,
and every one felt happy and congratulatory
and each one scattered himself about leisurely
awaiting the arrival of the reds, as arranged.
Your correspondent, tired and worn out with
heat and travel, laid down to rest o while when
all of a sudden there was an excitement which
boded no good
AN ATTACK ON THE TROOPS.
Almost instantly it was found that the In
dians, far from keeping their promise, had in
augurated war and bloodshed. The troops
wheeled into line, the company in Big Red
Fox's tents returning the fire of the Indians
with rapidity from their Springfield breech-
leaders
KIowAs AND CoMANcHEs JOIN IN.
Meanwhile receiving heavy fire in the
rear, opened on them by lot of sympathiz-
ing Kiowas and Comanches, which was very
hot and rapid, your correspondent, who
with the doctor and Horace z. Jones brought
up the left wing, was under perfect shower
of bullets, which wounded three men and
| three horses badly.
-FOUR MEN KILLED.
| Outside of this runner just here at the
! tent reports four men killed by the Indians.
The engagement commenced about twelve
o'clock and lasted all day. At intervals as
write, rapid picket firing continues, and our
men are attacked at many points simnlta-
ncously, but the colored troops behaved very
| fairly in the contest With the Indians. Gen.