Orangeburg news and times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1875-1877, 1876-08-26
An Indian Fight.

The Story ofm AHuch; npon an Indian
1Wayc as told ly General Caster.
One Of the most interesting chap.
tcrs i'll Clusters "f.ile on The Plains"
is TINT which deals with his attack
OH the 1ndinn village. on the Wnchitn.
lie says
Immediately in rear of my horse
came the band, all mounted, and each
with his instrument ready to begin
playing the moment their leader, who
rode at their head, md who kept his
cornct TO his lips, should receive The
signal. | Ind previously told him to
play "Garry Owen" rs Tic opening
piece. We had approached licar
enough TO The village now to plainly
catch Il view here and here OF The
tall, white lodges rs they stood in
irregular order among The trees.
From the openings at the Top Of sop,c
OF them we could perceive faint
columns OF smoke ascending, the
occupants 10 doubt having kept up
their feeble fires during the entire
night. We had approached ) near
the village that from the dead silence
which, lrigucd ! feared the lodges
we're deserted, the In,lians having
fed before wcadtanced. I vas about
to turn i'll myssad.llc aud direct the
signal for attaek TO he given still
auxi, lis whcre'tl.e 9TH T. dct:,cl,,nents
wcne--wtcu Il singlc rifle shot rung
sharp and clear Mi the f;r side of the
village from where We were. Quickly
turli7ngr tn the lan,t l,aicrI | directed
hint l., give Us Garry Owen" at
once the r"llicking Notes oi That f;,mi-
'TIi s'F4sAsAf sssid IL 4. aI7 s0,!fh
cel iur,h throv"!, the valley, aui in Il
momcnt were II ccllac,i lack 'tom Tie
"plseitc sides iy the loud and con
tinucd cheers of the men ni' the al her
sdetaclin,cmts, who. true t,,tl,eir orders,
were there AMI in rcadi"css 10 pnuncc
UPON tile Indians the nlnmcnt The
attack hcy,ln. In his nianncr the
battle Of The Wncllita commence |.
The huwlcS .nun,lcl The charge, and
The entire command dashed rapidly
into the village. The Indians we're
caught ,arping; but, realizing ut once
the '.angcrS Of ,l;rir situations, they
"vcrcaIne their surprise, aud in
an instant seized their rifles, hnws and
arrows and sprung behind ll,c nearest
trees, while some lcapc,l into Tic
stream, nearly waist deep, and, using
the bank rs = rifle pit, hc.ul, {, yi"pr.
Gus and determined defense
Minglc'! with the cxultant cheers
OF my men could be heard The defiant
war whoup nf the warriors, who from
the first fought with a desperation
and courage which no race Of men
could surpass. Major Bcntccn, in
leading the attack oil his squadron
through tic timber below The village.
encountered al Indian boy scarcely
fourteen years Of age; he was well
mounted, and was cndc,yoring 10
make his way through the lines. This
boy rode boldly toward the major,
seeming to invite contest. Ills
youthful bearing, and not being
looked upon as Il combatant, induced
Major Bcntccn TO cndcavor 10 save
him by making "pcacc signs to him
and obtaining his surrender, when he
could be placed in y position Of safety
until the baltic was terminated; but
the young savage desired and would
accept no such friendly concessions.
Hc regarded himself rs Il warrior and
the son of q warrior, and as such pro-
posed to do warriors part. With
revolver in had he dashed ut the
major, who still could not regard him
rs anything but a harmless lad.
1.cveling his weapon as he rode, lie
fired, but either from excitement or
the changing positions ofboth parties,
his aim was defective ant! the shot