The New York herald., 1874-09-26

Raldwln detachment OF scouts entered the hills.
instantly a. band OF about $50 Indians charged
upon them from the bluffs on either side. and
THE FIGHT OPENED
At that moment swarms OF redskins sprans
from concealed places and lined the piuns' ."e
scouts stood their ground. and poured 'n'o . ~.
advancing foe deadly hre, emptyine at ,ne ,s'
vonev two saddles IL was evident that the
lnd ans meant to surround ana nass"eto '.
ture the marty They attempted the ola gaino VI
circhng turning the nanks, out tuis was p'o
vented by the energetic ana raPiu inan"''
| In which the column was brought up oPo" noa''
| ing the first voley the column iairn nc" W '"e
! sno, led by the gallant commander VINO uepioyeu
| ,nto line on the galop ani charseu tne oiun'
wthout halting cavalry on the risht ana iei'' 'u-
f,ntr, centre. Lieutenant Pope's battery was
! nosted on elevated ground in rear OF the Nne. AS
soon as the scouts could do so hey formed on the
axtreme left IL was q brilliant sight TO witness
the rapidlty and precision with which the column
was thrown into line and the charge, fully Illus
tratiny the extreme coolness and capaclty oi tue
commander under the most executing circu"-
stances and the good effect OF years oi disclphhe
and drill on the part OF the troops Coonel comp
ton led the right wing and Coonel Blddle tue ieit.
The ridges occupied by about 500 Indians were
line of steep, ragged bluffs almost unapproacha-
able still the troops sprang unninchngly to the
h,
fire and drove the enemy pell nell into the
CANYONS beyond. The great difficulties expe-
rienced in making this charge can hardly be con-
ccived and much praise is due the troops ior the
determined effective manner with which 1t was
accomplished. The hills are so steep ana ragged
that tue troopers were compelled 10 ad-
vance picking their way IN ZlgZa2
course to the top, yet at the moment Oh
the onslaught every man was in his place,
enthusiastically bent on driving or exterminatng
the savages concealed at the top. The indians
stood their ground until the line had nearly gained
the brow of the bluf but the charge was SO deter
mined and the volleys poured into them SO eHect-
i've that atter some little snow of bravery they
turned completely routed, dying in all directions
This
SCATTERING OF THE REDSKINS
caused an extension OF the lines, which were
somewhat over three miles in length, the
cavalry galloping in pursuit OF the retreat
ing enemy through ceep canyons scahng
bluffs almost inaccessible, now and then
charging and carrying some stronghold occu-
pied by a force of Indians, on and on through
an apparently impassable country, until the saw
ages pressed closely that they could not reform,
were demorahzed and in full flight They were
driven thirteen miles to the south bank of Red
River, the hght and pursuit lasting until two
O'Clock In the afternoon. 1t was evident that the
Indians had some object in attacking the column,
and it was rightly conjectured that IN doing so
being followed SO closely they sought to Decay
the command until their families could be got out
of the way. During the pursuit and about eight
miles from the battlefield their burning camps
were passed. AT least three hundred lodges were
in flames fired by the Indians In their hurry to get
away. Quantities OF dried buffalo meat, camp
utensils and all sorts of indian implements fell
&ha dnd rnVa
The trail to the river was strewn with abandoned
property, and many dead and WOUNDED ponies
were found aloug the route.
During the fight General Miles, mounted on his
fayorte mare VIrginia-whicn many OF his old
command Will remember as the beautiful animal
he rode during the last year of the war-galloped
along the lines, attending personally to the
mnutest details OF the attack and subsequen mt
movement OF the troops, ably assisted by his
Adju.ant, Lieutenant Baird, and Aid, Lieutenant
wetmore, who carried his orders to the right and
left wings respectively. Many
INCIDENTS OF THE DAYS WORK
are deserving OF mention, and reflect great credit
upon the officers and men engaged. Much gal
lantry was displayed by the entire command.
Lieutenant Pope Fifth infantry, performed spien-
did service with mis- battery during the charge,
throwing percussion shells from his PARROTS and
balls from the Gatllngs at knots Of Indians gath
cred mere and there on the bluffs, scattering them
at every shot, 1t was, probably, the first instance
In when the Gatling had ever been efectualy used
in an Indian campaign. To illustrate the accu-
racy OF his practice one gun was trained and
sighted at an Indian, mounted, on b.un, at long
range When fred the shell entered the pony, and
exploded aud blew both animal and rider into frag
ments. The charge OF the right wing under Colo
mel Compton was magnificent spectacle. The mer
/ hanI n
tearing and shrieking over their heads, carrying
the biuf. Major Chanee, OF Colonel Biddle's wing
made a very pretty and effective assault. In tht
lace OF deadly fire the men flew TO the charge
and, with heads bowed, galioped TO the top, driv
i lug ali before them. Captain Ewers, Fifth infan
try, OF the centre, with infantry, charged the ridg
in his 'front.', Gislodgng an exceedingly trouble
/ some force concealed there.
THE SCOUTS,
under the direction of Lieutenant Baldwin, acte
more or less indep ependently during the day, Away
at the front and in positions OF great danger.
the Indian scouts, Failing Leaf, the old Chief nov
past seventy years Of age, was particularly con
splcuous. At one time he was encirced by &c
manches who poured at him heavy shower c
balls. Tue old man sat erect and defiant upon hi
horse, occasionally bringing his rife to the shou
DER and emptying saddle, but never 1lnchng O
relaxing Tor a moment his frmness and mani
bearing. OF the white scouts Lem. wilson, Ir
wing and W. F. Scnmalser, particularly distlr
gusned themselves.
Thus ended the first battle Of the campaign. Or
loss was one cavalry sergeant and two men wount
ed, while that infected upon The Indians was q
least thirty. 1t had up to this fight. been regarde
an imposslbity to operate successfully agalns
Indians at this season OF the year. Wnen gras
can be had for their ponies and bulaloes al
mia ptv mn a
III you want to find Indians go Tor them 1
wintern is an old expression in the army. Tn
has been the experience OF troops heretofore.
On the 31st General Miles with the cavalry crosse
the Red River and following the trail penetrated
, distance OF thirty miles into the Staked Plains.
the route the bodies of seventeen dead Indian
q together with abandoned property of all sort
! were passed, which fact not only proved the
great loss and severe punishment the day prevtou