The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-10-17
Heroic H,hti.e Of Six Ner.

The simple story Of the heroic defense OF
nix men Of his command near the Washita
River, Texss, as told by Gen. Miles in SUBJ
report to the War Department OF his recent
battle with the Kiowas and Comanches, is o
fine testimonial to the fortitude OF the trained
soldier. The recital is SO graphic as to con-
stituts vivid picture Of Spartan courage and
endorsement. Six men,. L. Woohall, Peter
Rath, John Harrington, George w. Smith,
Amos Chapman and VIM. Dixon - whose
names ought to live forever in the roll of
braves. bearing dispatches from Mcclellan
Greek, Texas, to Camp Supply, in the Indian
Territory, were surrounded by 125 Indians.
AL the first attack all the members of the
devoted party were struck, and Smith NOR
tally, and three others severely wounded.
With his knife and hands one of them sue
ceeded in throwing up small earthwofk,
while the others kept the Indians at bay. Be-
hind this intrenchment the little band placed
themselves, the wounced reaching the slight
protection with painful efforts, and Smith,
although MORALLY wounded, sitting upright
in the french to conceal the fact of the Grip
pied condition of the garrison. 1t is almost
incredible but fact nevertheless, that from
eariy morning until dark those five men, under
constant fire, without food, and with only such
rain water Gas collected in pool. mingled
With their own blood" held 125 Indians at
hay, defending their lives and the person OF
their dying comrade."
So desperate was the defense that the Indi-
ans abandoned the siege at the end OF twelve
hours, and withdrew with their dead and
wounded during the night The fighting was
ut such shoat range that the soldiers often
used their pistols with terrible effect. and it is
believed that they killed double their own
number, befides wounding many more of the
attacking party, The history Of the Indian
wars of the frontier abounds in deeds Of hero |
ism, but victory was never won over greater
odds than in the fight of the Washita, where
five men conquered 1875 savages. Gen. Miles
justly says
"The simple recital of their deeds and the
mention Of the odds against which they fought; |
how the wounded defended the dying, and
the dying aided the wounded by exposure to
fresh wounds after the power Of action was
gone these alone present a scene OF cool
courage, heroism and self-sacrifice which
duty, as well as inclination, prompts DIS to
recognize, but which we cannot fifty honor"
Among all the accounts of suicides, or at
tempted suicides, coming under the eye of
exchange readers, we have seen nothing re-
Gently so sad in fact and SO plaintive in sug
eestions as the Case of Miss De Forrest, of
Baltimore. She threw herself out OF the win
dow of her room, and, falling distance of
forty feet, was badly injured. In the room,
wrapped in tress Of her hair, and inscribed,
sJudge me not too haishly," was letter.
reading as follows:
Dear WI cannot live after that cruel
deed; but will not blame you. 1t was my
fault will ask but one favor from you, the
hast shall ever ask-see that am buried
have no one to seek this from
but you. Oh! if could only see you once
more would not murmur. Goodbye, dar-
ling. Sometime think of one who loved you
loved you too well. Oh! l cannot write
my more. my hand trcmbles SO. Again, good
bye, my own darling, and ask God to forgive
me. am ever yours, even in death.
BELLE.
Size was young and beautiful girl. At the
hospital, whittier she was conveyed, she said
that she was entirely alone and friendless in
The world and had no object in living; that
The could not die, no matter how hard she
lxied; that she had taken laudanum and
chloral, but without the fatal result that she
had hoped for She is VirEinian of French
attraction. A year ago she broke her arm and
became an inmate of q hospital, where she fell
n love with young student, the same to
vhom the letter was addressed; he had left
her, and she was without friend
"Near q whole city full,
Home she had none."
Her letter shows naturnal refinement inn
lroved by culture; it is generous and unselfsh
o fault. One must have for her the deepest
Just as he can not but feel loathing
or the man who ruined and left her.
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