The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-18
THEFIGHT WITH THE SIOUX.
A LARGE INDIAN VILLAGE SUR
PRIsED and DESTROYED.
Many Braves X HE'D and the Band Scattered
American Horee Diving of Hts Wounds
What IL Cost TO silence single Rifle.

the scouts which all turned toward the Black
Hills, and concentration Of the Indian forces
upon the detachment wac feared. The detail
for this service was not made larger, because
there were no more horses IN command whose
strength wis equal to the rapid marching II re-
CURED. Col. Miles was In command. and ! ac-
COMMANDED his little force, which was divided
into two 5attalions, under leuts. Crawford aud
Won Lenwitz. Although wearied with three
days' marches Of thirty-nve miles each, the de-
tachment left camp Ia the evening In thick
mist. which interfered seriously with Its pro-
gress. Frank Gruurd, the scout, guided It's
next day. About thirty miles from the main
column Gruard discovered indications OF an In
dian village, and we halted on the table land,
watched while thev were hiding their ponies, Of
which there were great numbers. Col. Miles de-
sired to attack them at once; but after consid-
GRAFTON, fearing the band might tie much
stronger than Vt apueared, lie determined to
wait until daybreak We marched back two
miles, AMI bivouacked In the deep mud In
pocket formed 10y two cahons and were drenohed
with rain.
The plan Of attack was fully dieested. Lleuts.
Crawford and Won Lenwtz were to get posi-
tlons on two sides Of the hollow In which was
the village before lite Inhabitants should awake.
Their men were TO be dsmounted a mile from
the village, the horses to be LETT there in charge
OF the packers, md the troops were to advance
cautiously on foot. Twenty i've mounted men
were leo by Lieut.. Schwatka. Lieut.. liubb was
TO remain In charge Of the mules and horses.
AT O'Clock all was in readiness. and the detsch-
ment formed ranks. In profound darkness,
fog and rain, II advanced slowly to the position
Of the previous evening aud there hating. the
guide went forward tu mud the way to the VII
laee. In nall az hour ne returned, snd we asain
moved forward. After "A second halt the mules
and horses. with about thirty men, OF whom l
was one, remained behind, while the main body
Before dawn n white soldier, patroliine a hiIl.
espied n hurseman coming ~ full gallon toward
US. IL at nr-t appeared to be an Indian. but
proved to lie Cant. Jack. the scout who said the
eight had begun. and We were TO advance a. rap
tdlN IA possible. We dashed forward through
the mist aud reached a round top OF bluffs, from
which we saw flashes Of gune a mile below,
white now and again dull detonations reached
l ~ Ia Inn kHA mat liFfN md
a private 'luier. who brought an order from
Cot He's to despatch courier TO Gen. Crook
immediately ash Inc rctnforccments. Two men
yuiun eered for this service ana fallOped on to
execute The order. Wo then advanced into the
valley under FIRE. The fu.illHde was continuous,
and bullets came whi2zinp from nearly every ac-
cliNitv. low ridge hid the village frou view.
and at its foot were herdcd 10 captured ponies.
The attack nad been accidentally preciritated.
The troops had advanced In double column for
two miles, anu when they came within signt Of
the herd OF lndi u PONIES the animals we're
frightened, and rushed like "a hurricane toward
the village. This accident made 1t necessary to
begin the attack Immediately. Accordingly
Lieut.. Schwatka. with his twenty-five
men dashed forward NJ numbering
eaiiop. and. close upon the heels OF the
ponies. swept through the crowd 81
lodges. strange sound WAS heard. produced
h, the cutting ~ the lodge skins with knives
quickly followed 10y the fe. orts Of guns. and tho
Indians were seen scfau bling up the steep
nanN. and into the eullie- with yells Of DISNEY.
Hardly was Lieut.. SchwutkA well out ~ their
range when Crawford and Won Lcnwltzs men
opened me, aud their ball riddlcu the terees
]
owing 10 the urecimth1e AT ck' Won Lrnwtz
had not time to secure III assigned position on
the lurtncr side OF the creek. ana the effect II
cross nre. therefore, Wa not gained, ana the In.
di ms who escaped Ia that direction srcfeted
themselves aud acted as sharpshooters.
Schwatka had captured the main portion OF the
nerd. hut u any ponies had escaped. A few We're
caught 10y the Sioux, who began to ride around
on the hills. firing at the trot i,s where they p
pened TO ne mos exposed. Others were seen to
canter away over the bluff to the west.
In tile action m the village the casualties
troops Private A. MiCIurry
alias " Weasel killed 10y bullet IN the head
wounded severely; sergeant Kirkwood, wnuno-
ed Augustus Dorm, severely wounded ; Lieut..
Knee Sergeant Edwards Glass. severely wound
ed IN the night arm; Corporal Edward hacke-
man, ,hshtly wounded Private William Du-
Col. Mites took aud occupied every point used
by the enemy to annoy our troops. aud caused
mad been brouEui. Most OF the lighting had
ceased when the sun WIS 40;
Al four o'clock a second courier was sent
back, mounted ON strong Indian pony, to
hasten Gen. Crook. Tue village WAS occupied
| by the soldiers. but not until the Indians were
driven from steep hill commanding its az.
pruaCh. me booty was safely iusueCted and
| removed Lieut.. Crawford was sent with nine
| cav Try men u charge them, tie braves holding
| the hilsides. ana wnile he " as making circuit
through hollow To escape observation they
"rened condensation with our Interpreter BY
shouting overtures To n truce. Stabhor, chief,
SAID, " l AIN tired of hShtlne have had enough
| II II tins sumner; want TO 10 To agency gain
| lie was INTERRUPTED by the approach Of Ciaw-
! for1s party. VINO went up the mountain cheer
| ing aud r-Ceiyed "a volley. they killed Two In
| dians with their pistols. The pack train was
led mo the village aud loaded with 600 BOUNDS
| OF dried meats and fruits found there. HE
lodges were full Of splendid robes, bead work,
| deer and elk skins. gum. ammunition, sadd os,
Sc. But TROPHIES Of far more Significance we're
] there. Col. Miles took from a lodge the euiuOn
OF Custer'- cavalry. The overcOat u a slaugh-
tered ohicer OF the seventh cavalry WAS found,
nno sever | saddles Of troopers killed on the
Ii tie III urn. Inc horses IN the herd also boro
the mark OF the devoted regiment.
The couiirrH sent to Crook met him on his
march. lie hhstened forwa ara a. fast a. ! is Jadeu
ana hunprN troops could cone. For Two days
tie hesu II horses ha- been issued 70 them for
] food. Al noon the column auretred and glad
deHed the eyes OF CoLN,iles and his detachment.
wuu were uonrnlarliy expecting an attack by
the Indians IN force. firiug had ceased. except
occasiu nal suots IRON 1he ravine On the west
side ~ the village. where 4 was supposed siu-
gle woun,sad lnlinu lay. determined o. sell his
NE dearly. During the morning soldiers had
been killed 10y Shots from the rayine. Gen.
GRO. determined t. eaten the Indian tily. and
caused tue ttrrirctcr to uiake Promise of life
to him. Bullct- were the only reply. soldiers
[ pu-ted behind nm on tie Opposite iank had
poured their lire into the rnyine Tor hours. tut
sun the IN iah'S gun We not sticnced Passing
! from tue ridge 10 the Niiingc soldiers we're
low the mouth OF the rnviue to makc the az
troach ntiously. lnrV crawled. win loaded
he d. from the depth Of the r.,iuc, and they re-
turned bat old not silence the IRE. The excite
meut spread through the camt. and tho mouth
81 the VINE n"cA me the focus Of a crowd. sew
er.l officers Joined ia the Siege, and the strong
hllu " ~ approached 10y hundreds OF eager rO-
dler- under the Il fusion that they were TO see
all Indian n ldr prisoner.
Iuthtr,o only SINGLE shots had come from
wituIn; but suddenly there WIS a vulley sent
through the approaching troops, which caused
an lndohc'lthln iush away from the spot, and
me widest confession reigued. he riViue was
iuI ol INDIANS, who, after the first charge M tie
morning, mad fled there 10 hide. The Vulley
wuunucd Private Kennedy of tue lifth Cavalry.
TIE siege tcoan,e more tragic and earnest.
Cas- I. Muusun, while pccring oNnT the steep bank
INTO the ravinc, slipped ia through "a dense
trambie and found hlmteli among tuc indians.
Tue dry water bed WAS n frOw aud deep md
hidden by brush. Several warriors lay f4co
downward lu TINS trench. and mad butt small
breast works across II with mud and roots. Re
nina these were a score Of squaws and children.
Some OF these were wounded, and the mui WAS
drrnched ana the bushes spaltertd with Their
blood. Nunson seized squaw. and, putting
her papoose on his back, showed her out. ono
buck was lying on "a dead infant. Munson had
barely glimpse of the interior OF this
strange stronghold, and then lodged back to
his head. Bullets Missed both ways. the soldiers
pressing forward TO ire. lhoy several times
swayed backward before the IRE # the Indians,
aud the roar OF uusketrY WAS like that al An
tietam. Bdptlste, the Pawnee scout, dashed in
ana caught two other sQuaws aud a young
brave. Iney SAID the rest would surrender but
when quarter was again proposed they answered
with bullets. John White, known AZ buffalo
White, trend aud follower OF Buffalo liill, was
shot through the heart. baptiste Just ESCAPED