The Republican journal., 1876-11-09
Fight With tho Indians.

truitleSs attempts to meet the Indians, and
arrange terms for their coming in and
keeping peace, Gen. Miles concluded that
there was nothing left but to fight. The
account states
On this morning, (2lst,) white flag
appeared. and it was stated some 500 IN
dams were i'll front. Position was taken
10y The whites on commanding l1nols, with
the kodman gun trained, while the lndi-
ans occupied knobs about opposite On
reaching the ridge, a scene OF wild and
savage pageantry burst upon the vision
such rs seldom falls to the lot OF men to
behold, and which made every heart Of
the fifth lniantry thrill with the feeling eX
pressed in Clusters cry, ''CusterS luck
Here was one OF the largest Indian vii
lagos ever seen From the ridge on which
the line was placed the prairie is dotted
by a series OF swellS down to a creek sew
eral miles in front, In the rear of the
creek was high ground. 1t was on this
lield the fifth infantry gazed. but it was
not the field that astonished them, for on
every knoll dispersed through the whole
held and in solid masses in the far distance,
appeared the savage forms OF the Sioux.
llither and thilher, to and fro, We're riding
perGurhed horsemen, like Il nest OF ants,
when routed
One company and most of the officers
went forward between the forces. Indians
soon swarmed to that point, but no meet
jDg could he arranged there, so Gen.
Miles directed that il should take place on
"a small hill Immediately in front Of his
line, and that Sitting Bull draw up his
al. |, -. 4
To ana the parties met with the two lines
duly formed. A long, earnest and eager
conference began, this time with a little
anxiety on both sides After Il long con
>ltaton many chiefs We're found willing
Ia agree to terms. one Offering to 60 him
seit a. hostage if his tribe would be al
owed to hunt buffalo. At this point, how
ever, sitting Bull eagerly broke up the
conference. preterrin@ to fight to yielding
Zach party retired to its own side. Gen.
Niles sent final word to Sitting Bull TO let
aim have his answer promptly. OF he
'souiI open fire on him No answer was
returned As Miles and his party moved
>'0wly back to his lines the indians on the
plain withdrew To the heights and crown
ri these and the highroad beyond, with
rocks IN front. rs from the prudent pre-
CAUTIONS taken by Miles against surprise
pr reachery, the Indians had an idea he
would rather await than make an attack
$50 they watched with extreme eagerne> s
his first movement
Maj Casey with Go. A was directed to
move along and clear the ridge on the
eft Capt Carter with Co. X to clear a
Algh knoll on the right, Capt Snyder with
Co. f to guard the Rodman gun, while the
line advanced direct to the front After
advancing a few hundred yards line was
deployed as skirmshers.
Capt. Carter'S company, without firing,
moved steadily forward, closing up on the
Sioux on the right. The latter gave way
before the little line without venturing Il
shot. Meanwhile the main line was rapid
" advancing Company A swept aside
The few Indians on the left ridge The line
had now reached the creek beyond which
was the battle field. On the precipitous
rlse, running before us, We're the main
body OF Sioux. The ravine of the stream
divided to right one portion. the other eX-
tending north and left knobs and ravines
and ridges and pressing around our tian1s
and rear Even beyond the heavy mass
on the divide appeared another mass
doubly massive aud heavy. which even a
glass could only make out an immense
throng. On the knoll Immediately in front
ut the first were assembled the bearers of
The white flag.
Along the line OF advance on the left Of
this branch was a very high ridge com
manding the whole field which was COW
cred by Indians. Sitting Bull expected
the white force to become cntangled in
line to the rayInes, where he could repeat
Cdstar's massacre, but the whites were
too wary, and pursued Il different plan.
The line moved directly up the heights
where the main body of advance Sioux
Svoro located. 40 the limo apr,roa ol. tsd tho
summit the Sioux began a war dance
lhis was the first hostile demonstration.
Many might have been killed now by
the Roiman gun but dislike to be the
first Ia break the armstice prevailed with
ten. Miles. The gun was pushed forward
on the right and all was moving, forming
iu good order when shot from the rear
pa-aed through Lieut.. Pope'a company
aud was at once returned by the men,
who were tired OF waiting. This company
was ordered at once to clear the raVines
and knobs hen the shot came
Lieut.. Rasseor. with Co. 4, was ordered
to take the left aud Carter the right raw
ine. At the same time the main line ad-
vanced rapidly when the Sioux dashed
along the front delivering a rapid fire.
and then disappearing behind the swells
Their riding was magnificent, but fire
quite Ineffective. The right was taking
place in flank movements advanced a
pace Co L soon cleared the ravines.
Carter and Lyman doing the same on the
right where they encountered heavy firing
in passing through what had been the
camp of Sitting Bulls band
Meanwhile ROsseau moved straight up
Tie height under rapid fire until he reach
I'd the summit and secured the key of the
held. 1t was handsomely done and with
out loss ot lite. The Sioux were now
driven from every important point nanked
aud toiled. They made wide circles and
many came around to the rear, or flank and
rear Of Co. f. which remained with train
until it was out of danger These Indians
in the rear took possession of each height
and did some close firing. Sergt Me
Phelan Co. + was severely wounded The
Indians next fred the prairies in front |
Mid lurid flames the fight continued until
no SiouN remained to oppose the advance |
60. | was then divided to clear the ravines |
on the left, near where water was to be
found, while the three commands moved |
back and camped on the high ridge In
thls action only two men We're wounded, !
tins being due to the fact that the fire of
the Indians was well kept down by the
new arms, and good marksmen. Sergt |
McPhelan was shot by a sharpshooter in
the rear, and one private Of Co. ], was the |
total loss Of the fifth regiment OF the
number Of Indians engaged or loss in |
rurred by them. it is impossible to speak |
with any certainty.
The fifth had 39S all told and the In
'iians certainly greatly outnumbered these
Sitting Bulls forces are estimated at 600 |
gu the field, but many did not take part in |
The fight 1t has since been heard there
were three bands. in all l 300 warriors, Of |
which only few took part. Six dead In
dams seen on the field, but it is reasonable !
10 believe great number was killed |
What their loss in killed and wounded |
may have been, more severe was the loss |