The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-09-24

More About Clocks Last Fight.
a correspondent accompanying Crook
writes as follows of the battle Of Slim
Buttes:
ave went into the valley under fire,
and bullets came whizziHg from every
activity, 4 low ridge hid the village
from view, and at its foot were herded
200 captured ponies. Gaining tile ridge
the fire upon US became nearer for a
time, but well restrained by our Skin
mishefs commanding the village. The
attack had been accidentally precipi-
tated. The troops had advanced in
double column for two miles, when
they came within sight of the herd of
Indian ponies; the animals were fright
ened and rushed like u hurricane toward
the village. The accident caused a
change in the method of attack to be
ordered Immediately. Lieut.. Schwatka,
with his % men dashed forward at a
laundering gallop, and, close upon the
heels of the ponies, swept through the
crowd of lodges. A strange sound was
heard, produced by the cutting of the
lodge-skins with knives, quickly follow
ed by reports of guns. and the Indians
were seen %serambling up the steep
banks and into the gullies, with yells
of dismay.
Hardly was Schwatka well out of their
range when Crawford and Won Luetth-
Wits men opened fire, and their balls
riddled the tepees before their occu-
pants were fully awakened. Owing to
the precipitate attack Won Luettwitz
had not time to secure his assigned pos
ition o the further side of the creek,
and the effect of a cross-fire, therefore,
was not gained, and the Indians who
escaped in that direction secreted them
selves and acted as sharpshooters.
Schwatka had captured the main por-
ton of the herd, but many ponies had
escaped. A few were caught by the
Sioux, who began to ride around on the
hills, firing at the troops where they
happened to be most exposed. Others
were seen to canter away I'VE the bluffs
in the west. 1t was surmised they were
going to raise the neighboring bands to
their assistance, and preparations were
strenuously made for a desperate de-
fence of the position commanding the
village until Gen. Crook, with the col
umn, should arrive.
GALLANT CONDUCT OF OFFICERS.
Lieutenants Crawford and Schwatka
made repeated charges which drove the
Sioux from those points from which
their fire was annoying. They both
made rapid explorations of the hills
to gather up stray ponies SO that they
could not be secured by the Indians.
In these they had many pistol
tiers with the Indians and forced them
to retire repeatedly. The gallantry dis
played by both of these officers was
splendid.
A battalion of infantry of four COM
panies, under Major Burt, calamity
carried several difficult points of the
Buttes, charging the mounted Indians
on foot and pouring from the crests
which they gained a terrible fire upon
them. About 20 Indians were killed
on this side of the camp. The cavalry
did equal execution. Our skirmish line
around the camp was about six miles
long, and as evening fell the flash of
guns was still continued. Major Burt,
in a final charge, drove the Sioux I've
the highest ridge occupied by them with
ringing cheers. The casualties on our
side in these afternoon fights were four.
SIOUX TIRED OF FIGHTING.
Lieut.. Crawford was sent with nine
cavalrymen to charge them, the braves
holding the hillsides, and while he was
making a circuit through a hollow to
escape observation they opened conver-
sation with u interpreter by shouting
overtures to Il truce. Stabber, a chief,
said, 81 am tired of fighting; have had
enough of it this summer; want go to
the agency again." He was inter-
rupted by the approach of Crawford's
party, who went up the mountain
cheering and received a volley. They
killed two Indians with their pistols.
The walls of the squaws who were hid.
den in the hill, were heard at inter-