The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-10-16
THE CITRo BLANC0 FIGHT.
Charging an Indian Village
Down a Eavine.
Eight or Ten Indians Killed and
Several Wounded.
Capture 0! Fourteen Hundr: d Horses and Mules,
Seven Camps Robes, Rifles and Provisions
CAMP OF MAcKExzIE's EXPEDITION.

NEAR PALo DlRO, ieAl-, sept. ~ 1911
The Llano Estacado, or Staked Plain, Is an
elevated plateau or table land lying partly IN
Texas, New Mexico and the Indian Territory.
Not many years ago It was designated as the
Great American Desert upon the maps, and sup
posed to be q vast sandy waste like the Sahara OF
Africa. Now, the geographers inform US, 1t Is IAN
elevated table land without wood or water, across
which a wagon route was formerly marked by
stakesn The plain rises abruptly four or
i've hundred feet above the surrounding
country and stretches for hundreds OF miles
an almost level prairie, covered with
a heavy growth OF buffalo grass, which
remains green during the entire year, and which,
as may wen be imagined, is the winter home OF
countless herds OF bison, who come down from
above the Canadian, and Of well mounted bands
OF Comanches and Kiowas who alter drawing
their annuities and supplies upon their reserva-
tions, make this base from which to go ON their
raids after Texan herds and scalps. The eastern
and southern sides OF this great table land Is
gashed and scanned by succession OF canyons and
arrogors the ruggedness and grandeur Of which
is beyond description. The edge OF the Staked
Plain is chaos ITSELF In these canyons rise all the
important rivers OF Texas-tne Red, Wasnita,
Pease, Brazos Colorado and Concho are fed
by the drainage of the plateau, while
their valleys furnish wood, water, grass
anu shelter lTOu Wluu-luc Ouly
that q red man asks from Nature; with their help
he can eed clothe, house and mount himself and
have at all times plenty OF Texan horses. womea
and children to barter with friendly tribes and
traders for red flannel and whisKey.
INVADING THE TABLE LAND.
From the close OF the civil war until 1869 this
pion was an unknown land to the troops serving
upon the Texas frontier, and 1t was f0ndly De-
lieved that TWENTY-FIVE or thirty cavalrymen could
ride the country at pleasure, and whip all the
hostile tribes one alter the other. In September,
five years ago. Captains Carroll and Heyl, OF the
Ninth cavalry, with another officer, came
around by the heads OF the Colorado and
Brazos, with a command OF ninety odd, and
on the fresh water fork OF the Brazos were
attacked by strong force OF Kiowas and Com IN.
ches. who were repused after severe Tight The
next month Colonel Bacon of General Snerman's
stan. went back to the same locality with seven
officers and 200 men; he was attacked in broad
daylight by very heavy force Of Indians, whom,
after tight OF four hours, he completely
stampeded. Next day he found the lodges, whip
ped the warriors and captured their stock, camp
equipage and squaws.
MACKENzrEs RAIDS.
In 1871 General Mackenzie, who commanded a
division OF Sherdan's troopers at Five Forks having
been assigned to command the Fourth regiment
OF cavalry upon the reorganization CT the army,
took out an expedition from Fort Richardson
across the Red River through the Washita Noun
tains and up the North Fork to McCleiian's Creek,
swinging around TO the northeast and south, ford
ing the sweeGwater near Antelope Hills, and
thence back to Fort Griffin, having met with no
large body OF hostile Indians. Reftting and filling
up with supplies he came out to the scene OF the
Bacon and Carroll fight via Flat Top
and Double Mountains. On the Fresh
Fork he bad q skrmlsh with the Comanches, in
which he was himself wounded in the eye by an
arrow, obliging him to renquish the command
and return 10 Fort Griffin.
In 1872 Mackenzie came out again and estab-
lished a supply camp on the Fresh Fork, deter.
mined TO stay the Plains until he could overrun
the whole OF the Indian stronghold. First he sent
General Mclaughlin with a column ninety miles
southwest to Mucno Que, the head OF the Brazos,
developing the previously unknown fact that II
was well watered region and favorlte camping
place for Indians, where they would stop to rest
and recruit their stolen stock, while en- route
IRON the san saba, Blanc and Nueees ranches,
to their markets in the Indian Territory and New
Mexico. On receiving McLaughlin's report that
no Indians were below him General Mackenzie
struck out again, crossing the StaKed Plain at its
widest part through region entirely unknown
except to the red men and the New Mexican
traders who supply them with wnIskey and such
otner groceries as are not provided tor them by
the government, coming out at Fort sumner, in
New Mexico, thence north to Fort Bascom, then
across tne Plains again to Paio Duro. the head OF
Red River, down the Red River to Co1onctto
Bldnco Qitte white canyon, thence across the
neaJs OF washta and Pease to his supply camp on
the Fresh Fork.
AS soon as the stock could be rested he started
north again across the Red River to Its North Fork
where we found large village OF hostile Conan
ches, which was at once charged. About fifty were
killed, large number wounded, 200 squaws an.
200 horses were captured and the village burned
THE PRBsENT EXPEDITION.
Last year the Indians were comparatively quiet
but, as they seem to have had a general "dgginl
up OF little hatchets,r another expedition became
necessary in 1874. To make up decent escort II
the present economically depleted condition OF tn,
army, which reduction the HERALD deprecated
from the start, t is necessary to draw on all avail
able rom o thousand miles OF frontier
This command comprises men drawn from ever.
post on the line, from Richardson the mos
northerly, to Duncan, on the RIO Grande; and ye
the available hghtng force, exclusive OF team
sters, tram guard and packers, is about 400 men
The gathering Of the clans took place at the OLE
supply camp on Fresh Water Fork, and was com
peted by the arrival OF the Seminoles from the
Rio Grande, twentyone strong, and seven
Tonkawa braves from Fort Grimm, on the 18th o.
this month. These friendly Indians are used Of
advance scouts and trailers, and are quite neces.
sary TO an expedition of this kind.
The command moved north along the edge o;
the Staked Plain, on the morning OF the 10Th. ON
the 20tn party OF four SPIES who were one davis
march in advance, were discovered and attacked
BY about twenty-five Comanohes, and after short.
sharp fight were obliged to run for their
lives. One OF them had bis horse shot
under him. but he succeeded IN get.
ting safely upon another old animal and
the whole four reached the Seminole Tonkawa
camp in safety. Their pursuers took the alarm
and run on their herd OF about 100 animals in
soutnerly direction with all haste. General
Mclaughlin was at once detached with part OF the
In ha fnIl0 we'd The trail