New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-13
How the Sioux Fight.

The Denver, Colorado, Meas prints let
ter dated June 20, at Camp Cloud Peak,
Wyoming, which gives an interesting &C.
count of General Crooks recent battl,
with the Indians. The writer says:
The Sioux were all splendidly mounted
and so long as pressed did all their firing on
horseback. Some of the most reckless feats
of equestrianism imaginable were performt d
by them within range of the broadsides 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 half bounded, half tum bled
down the nearly vertical banks after a bold
Crow, Snake. or white skirmisher, delivered
a shot or two, and like flash disappeared
in spite of vOleys sent after them. Up hill
or down, over rocks, through canOns, and
in every conceivable dangerous condi-
ton Of affairs their breakneck riding
was accomplished. One reckless brave
got badly pressed by the cavalry, at
certain point in the field, and
jerking. out his bowie knife he slashed
apart his saddle girth, slipped it with
all of its trappings from under him
while dis pony was at full speed, and thus
unincumbered made his escape. SO closely
did the Indians approach our skirmish.
ers at times that they Inflicted several
wounds with battle-axes, lances and ar
rows, and in one or two instances
they closed in upon a brave soldier
and got his scalp before comrades could
rush forward to the rescue. They repeat
eddy cOurted death by endeavOring 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 bluff
was, with his pony, made the target
for dozens of rifles. and rider, pony
and all finally tumbled head over
heels down the hillside. Two braves i'm
mediately sailed forth for the body OF
their detunct brother, but one of these also
fell before it was reached. The other seemed
to think one live Indian better than two
dead ones, and hastily scrambled back.
Another warrior met him, however,
and persuaded him to 20 along on a
second trial. About the time the
bodies were reached pony was
shot, and both Indians, then thoroughly de-
moralzed, made for cover and reached it in
safety. One thing is an absolute certainty,
and that is the fact that the Sioux had
staked great deal on this battle, and their
fighting was consequently little less than
savage frenzy or the fighting of demons.
Our troops fred over 10000 rounds of
ammunition, and it is believed the Sioux
discharged from a third to halt more.
Behind ledge of rocks from where oand
about q peck of cartridge shells were
found, and other places of conceal
ment were strewn 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 so
much ammunition could be expended with
go little loss of lite to our force
Dodging and skulking and scatter
ing out, as the savages always
do, we could not expect to hand
them q very long mortality list, but not
possessing that snake-like, weasei-like fac
ulty of being where We are not, or not be-
ing just where We are supposed to be, it is
hard to see why an average Indian marks
man could not kill but once in thousand
Shots"