The New York herald., 1876-09-17
COMPLETE INDIAN DEFEAT.
tany Braves and Some Squuws Killed and
Captured Balance Of the Band Scattered
SMALL LOSS OF TROOPS.
Lieutenant Won Lentwitz Shot in the Knee
Suffers Amputation of the Leg
The Hungry and Wayworn Troops To Be Sup
piled with Food from Che Black Hills.
CAMP on OWL CREEK.

CAMP on OWL CREEK.
DAKOTA, Sept 10, 1915, !
Via Hor CREK, Wy. T., Sept 10, 1870
Two lights with tho hostile Sioux occurred yesterday
band Of about $50 braves surprised at dawn,
their village destroyed aud their ponies captured by
detachmens OF tho Third cavalry under Colonel Anson
Mills Tho main column, under General Crook, over
took the troops advance about noon and about three
O'Clock it was attacked by Indians belonging to the
neighboring villages, numbering about 500
LOSSES ON SIDES.
One soldier and ono scout were killed In that engage
ment and eight soldiers wounded, ono of
were killed and twenty-one were made captives
A HUNGRY AND WEARING xARcu.
The column marched three days sou.hwards from
Heart River, through constant storm Of cold RAIN,
with moagre' ratlons meted out to hungry paiatea
Several hundred worn-out horses were abandoned ON
the march, and on this day the famishing soldiers
broke from their ranks kill them IN order to secure
the meat
A HAZARDOUS ENTERPRISE.
General Crook despatched $50 Of the Third
cavalry to guard the pack train to Deadwood city and
load with supplies 10 relieve the troops The service
was extremely hazardous because Of the multitude Of
smsl trails discovered by the scouts which all turned
toward the Black Hills and concentration Of the In
dian forces upon tho detachment was feared The do
tall for this service made larger there
~ hop~o
equal to the rapid marching required Colonel Mills
was in command, and accompanied his little force,
which was divided into two battalions under Leuten-
ants Crawford and Won Lenwitz
Although wearied with three days. marches of
thirtyave miles each the detachment left camp in the
evening in thick mist, which interiered seriously
with its progress Frank Gruard, the scout, guided
its course storm was raging, and several hats
were necessary in order to consult tho compass but
she clouds suddenly broke and the north star appeared
We camped at one o'clock. Tho storm continued the
next day. About thirty miles from the main column
Gruard discovered indications Of the proximity of an
Indian village, as we wcro approaching slim buttes
and we halted the table land, concealed behind
, Wotcne0
were herding their ponies, of which there were
great numbers; bot 1t was doubtful how many
traves werc In the party. Colonel Mills do
Bired TO attack them at once; but after
consideration. fearing the band might be much
stronger than it appeared he determined wait until
daybroak. Every precauton taken to prevent the
enemy from discovering u.s. We marched back two
miles, and bivouacked in pocket formed by two
canyons in tho deep mud and drcnched with batterine
rain.
PLAN ATTACK
was fully digested. Lieutenants Crawford and Won
Lcnwitz wsro to get positions on two sides OF tho
hollow in which tho village before Its inhabitants
should awake Their werc 10 be dismountcd
miles distance from the village the horses 70 be left
there in charge Of the packers and the troops were to
advance cautiously on foot Twenty-Five mounted men
were led by Lieutenant schwalka Lieutenant Bubb
was to remain in charge Of the mules and horses
During the night several alarms occurred At two
o'clock all was In residence and the detachment
advanced slowly tho position Of the previous even
ing, there hating the guido forward nnd
the way TO the village After waiting half hour he
smergod out OF the obscurity again, and again
moved After . second halt the mules land horses.
With about thirty men, Of whom one, remained
behind, while the main body advanced At the first
round Of firing We were to advance rapidly, but
cautiously, and the enemy proved too strong
4
able point uptn relieved. There was in those
arrangements anticipation OF another disaster ko
that which befe Custer and his gallant Seventh. The
waiting in she chill wet darkness, sraining the In
vain for tho sound Of tho fray. full of
DREAD ANXIOUS SUSPENSE
The dawn had not begun when white soldier, pa
trolling hill, espsd horscman coming at full galIop
howard ua II at first appeared 10 be An Indian, but
proved to bo Captain Jack. tho scout who said the
asht had begun, and to advance as rapidly
possible We dashed forward through the mist and
reached q round top OF bluffs from whence
flashes Of guns mile below, while and again dull
istonatons reached against the breeze. Here We
net Gruard and private, who brought order from
Colonel Mills 10 despatch courier to General Crook
Immediately, asking reniorcsmenls Two men volun-
ssered for this and saloped on to execute
order We then advanced
INTO THE uxDxR vmx
TIE iusadc vas continuous, and bullets came whiz-
sing from nearly every acclvIy low ridge hid the
village from view and we're horded 200 CAP
ured ponies Gaining Tho ridge the fire upon us be-
samo nearer for time, but woli restrained by our
skrmshers commanding the village The attack had
bscn accidentally Srecipssasod. The troops had ad
,ascod In double column for two miles, when they
cane wssAin sshs OF the herd Of indian ponies; shs