The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-09-22
The Indian Depredations Near Camp
SuDDlY.

CHICAGO, Sept. 21.-Special dispatches
were sent out from Quincy last night con.
cerning the Indian depredations near
Camp Supply, Indian Territory, saying
that Col. MilGs has been compelled to fall
back TO meet his supplies; that he had tele.
graphed Gen. Pope for reintOrcements;
that one large supply train Of 80 wagons
has been captured, the assistant wagon
master killed, and the men compelled to
abandon the train after desperate resist
snce, bringing 81 wounded into camp; that
800 stand OF arms, togther with a large
amount OF ammunition and commissary
stores, had fallen into the hands Of the
savsges, and that the Slh Cavalry had
come in from Arizona entirely destitute,
having lost all their supply and baggage
trains and Joined Col. Miles command.
These reports are said not to be
true, or with so little foundation
as to be virtually canard. From official
dispatches received by Lieutenant Gen.
eral Sheridan this morning the real facts
are obtained Tor the Associated Press.
Colonel Miles, in dispatch dated the 9th
inst, seventy.fvo miles sOnth Of Red
river, advised General Pope that he
should fall back for supplies. His dis.
patch received by General Sheridan to.
day is dated from Camp on the Wachita
river, September 14th, and came via Fort
Dodge, leaving there on the 18th inst. He
says. 81 find that alter leaving tho Cana
dian river, Major lyman, commanding
the escort 10 the supply train, was at
tackled by from 300 TO 600 Indians on the
morning OF the 9th inst. The Indians
charged the train several times and made
every effort 10 capture it, fighting so de-
terminedIy as to detsin it for three
days. The fight was very close and
the train was completely surrounded.
On the third day the Indians abandoned
the attack and retreated southwest.
From all the information l can get here
since my arrival l believe they were no
part OF the body VIC drove of the staked
plains and they were believed 10 have
been led by SantantS and Big Tree. Du.
ring the flight Lieut.. Lewis, OF the fifth
infantry, was severely wounded in the
knee; Sergt, Dearmand, Of Co. l, filth
infantry was killed. Sergt Single, sixth
calvary, private Buck, fifth infantry and
wagon master Sanford were wounded,
latter mortally. The officers estimate the
number Of Indians killed at fifteen and
wounded many more. Private Pettijohn
Of sixth cavalry was killed near camp on
McClelland's creek, on the 1lth.
Lieut.. Baldwin will have informed
you OF his successful encounter with
the Indians while coming in as bearer Of
dispatches. Part oi the force that attack
ed Maj. Lyman, attacked a party OF six,
bearing dispatches, who entrenched them.
selves in the sand and after O desperate
fight all day, in which one courier was
killed and four wounded, they compelled
the Indians to retire, having killed twelve.
Whenever we have fought them, they
have been severely punished with compa.
ratively slight loss on our side. The riv-
ers TO the south are now so swollen as 10
be impossible for wagons l am building
bridge across the Wachita. The
cavalry were Obliged to swim their
horses on returning. The march
back was even more eXausting than
the advance, even with the Indians in
our front, owing TO the terrible and con.
tinuOus rains which flooded the streams
and made the roads almost impossible;
from which facts, as well as because but
half forage was furnished and the Indians
have destroyed much Of the grass, the
animals have come in exhausted and al
most worn down. This command now
occupies the valleys Of Mcclellan Creek,
| the SEeelWRler and tho Wachita Major
Prices command is encamped near US,
acting independently, General Pope, in
communication, enclosing Colonel
Miles report, says Miles has force enough
/ TO beat any Indians that can be met.