The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1876-07-27
llOW.THES SIOUX FIGHT.
Their RccIirs. waste Of Ammuuiilon.


The Denver COL, News prints letter
which gives an interesting account of
Glen, Crooks recent battle with the
Indians, The writer says:
"Ihc Sioux were all splcndidly
mounted, and so long as pressed did
much Of their firing on horseback Some
ofthc most reckless icats of fcQucstriauiSm
imaginable were performed by them
within range of the broadsdcs of an
entire company. In numerous instances
one or two warriors dashed out from
behind their cover of rocks, Rugged close
TO the neck of the pony and alrboundcd,
half tumblCd down the nearly vertical
banks after n bold Crow, Snake, or white
SkirmiShcr, delivered Il shot or two, and
like flash diSappcard in spite of vollcys
sent after him. TIP hill or down, over
rocks, through canonS, and in every
conceivable dangerous condition Of
affairs their brcakncck riding was ac-
complishcd. One reckless brave got
badly pressed by the cavalry, alta certain
point in the field, and Jerking out his
bowie knife he slaShed apart his saddle
girt, slipped it with all its trappings
from under him while his pony was at
full speed, and thus unincumbcrcd
made his escape. So near did the
Indians approach our Skimishcrs at
times that they inflicted several wounds
with battle axes lanccs and arrows, and
in one or two instances they closed in
upon brave soldier and got his scalp
before comrades could rush forward to
his rescue. They repeatedly courtcd
death by cndcayoring to secure the
bodies of their own dead One instance
of this kind was plainly visible TO many
Of us. An Indian riding along the bIul
was, with his pony, made the target for
dozens OF rifles and rider, pony and all
finally tumblcd head over heels down the
hillside. Two braves Immediately saIIcd
forth for the body Of their dcflnct
brother, but one of these also felt before
it was reached The other seemed to
think one live Indian better than two
dead ones and hastily scrambled lack.
Another warrior met him, however, and
persuaded him to 90 along ON second
trial. About the time the bodies were
reached Il pony was shot, and both In
dams, then thoroughly dcmoralizcd,
made for cover and reached it in safety.
One thing is an absolute certainty, and
that is the fact that the Sioux had
stakcd u great deal on this battle, aud
that their fighting was, consequently,
little less than savage frenzy or the fight
ing of demons.
sour troops fired over ten Thousand
rounds Of ammunition, and it is bclivpd
the Sioux discharged from a third to n
baltimore. Behind a ledge Of rocks from
where band Of them fired for II little
over half an hour, about Il peek Of
cartridge shells were found, and other
places of ConccaImcnt were strcwn with
them almost as thickly. Many of these
were the long, hard shooting SharpS,
which show another decided advantage
they have over our troops. But the
marvel OF it is how 50 much ammunition
could be expended with so little loss Of
life to our force, Dodging, and skuIking, |
and scattering out, aS the savagCS always |
do, we could not expect TO hand them Il |
very long mortality list; but not possess
ing that Snakc-likc, weaScl-liKC faculty |
of being where we are not or not being |
Just where we are supposed to be, it is to
see why An average Indian markSmau |
could not kill but once in Il thousand
shots y