The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-02-28
Another Indian Fight.


other severe fight with the Indians, and
has gained another signal victory over
them. The Indians consisted of bands
of the Cheyennes and OgaIalas, under
the leadership of Crazy Horse, and num-
bered between 600 and 800 lodges.
General Miles command left his post
on the twenty-seventh day Of December,
and proceeded up Tongue river, deter
mined to find the village CT Crazy Horse,
which he knew to be located in the Vi
cinity of Wolf mountains. His COM
mand consisted of five companies of the
Fifth United States infantry and two
companies Of the Twenty-second infan-
try, and numbered about 800 fighting
men. Through lack Of transportation
General Miles was compelled to employ
a Montana OK train that happened to be
at the post to transport his supplies.
This train he sent out three days in ad-
vance of the departure of the main COM
mand, under charge of Major Charles
Dickey, with two companies of the
Twenty-second infantry and one of the
Fifth infantry. After overtaking the
train, with the balance of the command
General Miles abandoned the wagons
and drove his oxen, in order to. have
them Mt hand to assist in pulling his
train up the steep hills and through the
deep canyons.
At the time of leaving the post there
was heavy snow on the ground, and
severe storms, with intensely cold
weather, obtained during the whole
period OF the expedition. The move
ment of the troops was necessarily
tedious, and the hardships endured were,
of course, very great. Still there were
no obstacles that could for moment
daunt or deter General Miles. He had
fully determined to hunt Crazy Horse In
his retreat among the Businesses of Wolf
mountains, and after finding him to whip
him. He has succeeded in both.
After proceeding some sixty miles up
Tongue river he discovered signs of re-
cent Indian encampments, and pushing
on he struck their full force on the
seventh of January. On the evening OF
that day quite heavy skirlnish took
place, and on the eighth the Indians, to
the number of ], 900 warriors, well armed
and plentifrlly supplied with ammuni-
ton, appeared on his front; they gave
every Indication of being confident Of
their ability to annihilate the troops.
General Miles attacked them, however,
with his gallant little command, and by
MI admirable disposition of his force
succeeded in gaining decisive victory.
The loss of the Indians is hard to esti-
mate, rs they always carry their dead and
wounded from the field but it is known
to have been great. The battlefield was
covered with traces of blood. Tho In
dams fought with great desperation.
The battle was contested on very rough
and broken ground, where it would have
been impossible for cavalry to ride. The
Indians were entirely on foot, and charg
ed the troops repeatedly.
Officers and men displayed the creates
coolness and courage, and poured deadly
volleys into the ranks of the " hostlles:" :"
Though outnumbered at least three to
one they never once contemplated defeat.
For more than five hours the battle ragged
as terrible as ever was witnessed Oh
battlefield. A heavy snow storm pre-
vailed during portion Of the fight. ,
The following is List of the killed and
wounded: Killed: Corporal Augustus
Rathbone, Of Company A, Fifth infantry;
Private Batta, of Company G, Fifth infan-
try; Private Bernard, of Twenty-second
infantry Private McCann, of Twenty
second infantry. Wounded: Private
Rodenburg, of Company A, Fifth infan-
try; Private Danha, Of Company q,
Fifth infantry; Private Daily, OF Com
pany D, Fifth infantry Private Dla-
mond, of Company D, Fifth infantry /;
Corporal Thomas Rehm, Of Company +,
Fifth infantry; Sergeant Hiram spanger,
of the Twenty-second infantry.
General Miles pursued the Indians
into the Wolf mountains rs for rs his
limited supplies would permit. -,
The command returned to post in good
condition, considering the terrible hard
ships it has endured.