The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1876-08-10

Indians charged our position three or
four times, coming up close enough to
hit our men with stones, which they
threw by hand. Capt. Benteen saw a
large mass Of Indians gathering on his
front to charge, and ordered his men to
charge on foot and scatter them. Ben
teen led the charge and vas upon the
Indians before they kenw what they
were about, and killed a great many.
they were evidently much surprised
at this offensive movement, and ]
think in desperate fighting Benteen is
one of the bravest men / ever saw in a
fight. All the time he was going about
through the bullets, encouraging the
soldiers to stand up to their work and
not let Indians whip them.
He went among the horses and pack
mules and drove out the men who were
skulking there, compelling them to go
into the line and do their duty. He
never sheltered his own person once
during the battle, and do not see how
he escaped being killed. The desperate
charging and fighting was at about one
o'clock, but firing was kept up on both
sides until late in the afternoon.
SUFFERING OF THE MEN.
I forgot to state that about ten O'Clock
in the forenoon, and soon after Benteen
made his charge, the men began to
clamor for water. Many of them had
not tasted water for thirty-six hours,
and the fighting and hot sun parched
their threats. Some had their tongues
swollen, and others could hardly speak.
The men tried to eat crackers and hard
tack, but could not raise enough saliva
to moisten them. Several tried grass,
but it stuck to their lips, and not one
could spit or speak plainly. The
wounded were reported dying for want
of water, and a good many soldiers vol
unteered to go to the river to get some
or perish in the attempt. We were
fighting on the bluffs, about seven hun
bred yards from the river, and a ravine
led down from the battlefield close to
the rivers edge. The men had to run
over an open space of about one hundred
yards to get into the head of the rayine,
and this open space was commanded by
the Indians on the bluffs. The soldiers,
about fifty strong, dashed over the open
plateau and entered the ravine. They
rushed down it to the mouth and found
it closely guarded by a party Of
Indians posted in the timber across
the river. The water could be ap.
preached to within about thirty
feet under cover; but then one had to
step out on the river bank and take the
Indians fire. The boys ran the gauntlet
bravely. Some would dash down to the
river with camp kettles, fill them and
then take shelter in the bend of the IA
vine, be hind the rocks, and whose can
teens were filled and carried up the hill
Before all the men and wounded vert
supplied, one man was killed and six Oh
seven wounded in this desperate attempt
One man had the bone of his leg shat
| tered by ball, and it has since been am
phtated.
About two o'clock the Indians began
drawing off, but kept skirmishing unit
late in the afternoon, and near dusk al
drew off. We now got water for the an
finals, many of them being almost dead
and they were put out to Craze on the
hillside.
CHANGE OF POSITION.
In the evening Col. Reno changed hi:
position and fortified the new one, il
being higher and stronger than the old
one. We expected the Indians would
renew the attack next day, but in the
morning not an Indian was to be found
Every one felt sure that Crook or Terry
was coming to our relief, and Col. RenC
sent cut runners. About ten O'CLOCK
the glad intelligence was received thai
Gen. Terry, with a large column O
troops, was moving up the valley si1
miles distant, and the head of his col
umn soon came in sight. In reply t.
questions, Mr.. Haynden said:
ct went in with the scouts on tbs
left of Reno's line. There were about
sixty of us, thirty-tive being Rec Indians