The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-10-16

Mclaughlin must have been close on their heels,
but with another nights start the race would
have been hopeless, so he returned to
the camp OF the main command. Still march.
ing a'most due north, Mackenzie camped
In Boehm'ssCanyon manned after a captain Of
the Fourth cavalry. the hero OF many fight and
sSiTmish IN Northwestern Texasl on the 25tn,
sending part or the command Ave miles ahead to
camp III Tue Canyon and return next day for the
purpose OF deceivinp the spies who were known
to be watching the column.
THE BATTLE IN BoEBA's CANYON.
On the Goth a few Indians appeared and skir-
mished with the outposts at Tue Canyon after
which that detachment pulled up stakes ana
Joined the main camp at Boehm's Canyon. Inat
night every laid down 10 sleep with his clothes
on fully expecting an attack before morning and
it came. At fifteen minute past ten p. NJ. several
parties OF from ten TO thirty Indians dashed up
on different sides OF the camp, firing In
among the men and horses, and yelling
ike bloodthirsty demons as they are-Peace Com
mssioners and Indian agents to the contrary not
withstanding-n a vain attempt 10 stampede the
stock; for every horse and pack mule was 'staRed,
cross-sde-lined and hobbled," and could not run
# they would. These terms may need some ex-
PLANTATION Each horse was ''staked," or tied
with a tnirty.ioot one.inch rope, TO an iron stake
or s'picket pin,n fifteen inches long, driven hard
I and fast in the ground. "Cross-side-lined" means
that fore loot was tied TO the hind foot on the OPP
/ posite side, leaving them the same distance apart
as wnen the animal stands naturally. "HCbbled"-
hopped, more properly speaking. bur the
word is obsolete In the army-means that both
lore feet are tied together. Imagine an animal
running far under such dscouragirg conditions.
The Indians charged around the camp few
times until they found that the stock was not
likely to change ownership, after Which they Sc.
Grad q hal in bo frou n oh
they Kept up desultory fire until daylight, doing
no damage, except shooting Lieutenant Thomp-
sons horse through the neck and putting another
ball through his saddle pockets, while the return
fire killed and wounded several horses at least,
Tor they were found In the ravine next morning.
Before it was ialry light the Indians, who evi.
IDENTITY had no idea of the strength OF the column,
came boldly out on the hill for fight to the num-
Der OF about 150 Captain Boehm, with his
company, and Lieutenant Thompson. CON-
handing the scouts and Indians (who is
known to his messmates as "Hurricane BILL"
from the plan of his attacks) were ordered
to charge and drive them from the vicinity while
the rest OF the companies were saddhng and pack
ing. Peter and his men went at them in the good
old way.
CHARGING STRAIGHT THROUGH THEIR CENTRE
in the most gallant manner, losing no men, but
killing one Indian. while Hurricane Bill and his
scouts acted as hankers on each side, killing an
other Comanche without loss to themselves. This
Indian, one OF the finest looking Fellows your cor.
respondent ever saw, was going up the side OF an
arroyo when Seminole jumped down from his
saddle, and, taxing deliberate aim, killed the
Camanche's horse, who being thus suddenly dts
mounted, started OF at great rate across the
prairie on foot. One OF the Tonkawas then ran
his horse upon him and gave the coup de grace
al Y 10 "a nnQ a
head that the powder burned his skin.
The Comanches scattered In every direction,
making no more fight, but after little while
gathering together again IN plain sight, two or
three miles in front OF the prairie, and marched
of 20 the eastward in close column, like detach
ment OF civilized troopers But the cavalry did
not follow the trail, OF course. That device Is get
ting lite threadbare; every step taken on that
trail, which was made with intent to deceive,
would have carried the command away from their
villages. and villages were what the column was
4 after; Tor If their herds and homes are struck it
4 tells very seriously, but II you strike moving
party OF warriors, a possible dead Indian or two
represents the sum total OF the harm done them.
ON FOR CIrRo BLANEE.
The column remained quietly in camp until
| about two O'Clock p. NJ, when 1t marched out O
/ few miles in the direction the Comanches had
gone and went into camp as II for the night, at q
II
the command saddled up and started of almost
due north, at great pace, and, travelling all
night arrived on the brink OF the big canyon near
I .he head OF Red River just as day was breaking.
This canyon Is from 500 to 500 feet deep, and at
this point about halr mile wide. 1t was here
that General Mackenzie expected to find their
villages and he was not disappointed Look
ing far down into the valley beneath their feet the
troopers could see the lodges stringlng for
miles down the river, and the Indian herds graz
ing IN all directions, appearing to one looking
4 from such a height like chickens and turkeys.
Onicers and men saw their enemies before-or
rather below-them but how to get to them was
the question. At last a narrow, dizzy, winding
trail was found, such goat could hardly travel,
and the cavalry started down the SIDES Of the
precipice. The Comanches took the alarm at once
and began their retreat
CHARGING THE coMANcHE VILLAGE.
The descent took nearly an hour. but at last the
soldiers were down, and Thompson, with his
scouts, and the companies OF Colonel Beau
mont, with Captain Boehm. charged the
village with such impetuosity that the
Indians ran in every direction. After a
short but sharp fight the companies charged
on down the canyon through the village, which
proved to be scattered along for about three miles
to its end before hating. 1t was running fight
for the entire distances but the command was
very fortunate, but one man. Henry E. Hard,
bugler OF captain wints company, being shot, the
ball passing through the body, leaving an ugly
wound, but at this writing he is doing well, with
q fair prospect OF recovery. Fourteen horses were
also killed and wounded from all the companies
engaged.
After driving them through the whole village
the General ordered the hedges burned and the
captured stock to be driven up the sides Of the
canyon to the prairie above. While executing this
order some little sharp skirmishing occurred
with struggling Indians, who had secured places
among the rocks high up the sides OF the canyon,
which they mad reached by trails that could not
be found by our men, and from which they dev.
cred their fire with comparative impunity.