The daily gazette., 1879-12-18

es been In good condition and fresh, they
could not have been prevented from
staiupeding In the midst of this forimid-
able, and savage demonstration! But so
worn and spilitless were they that they
stood quietly and received the blows
across their heads from the shields, not
awithstanding the internal uproar. -
The men thus perforce compelled to
receive the charge fought with GOODNESS
and courage. They emptied their one
hundred and eigh,y-eight charges into
the breasts Of the foe with terrific effect.
The Indians fought desp rately, but just
as the gallant squad had fired their last
shot mOurnfui howl was heard along
their line, which was 4 signal for retreat.
They left, caIrJ ing along their dead and
wounded, squaws and papooses. The
command OF Hood was In no condition
TO pursue. All but five Of the little band
were killed and wounded. Had the In
dians stood their ground but moment
longer all must have b. Ell massacred, as
1t would been impossible to reload in the
face Of the foe, the breach load .rs not
being In use at that day. The fate Of
Hood would have been tie same as that
Of Custer, with no Reno to tell the tale.
One of the stangest and n nost n mantle
casualties Of this combat, or of which
l have ever heard, was that which occur
red 10 the gallant Hood himself The
little finger of his bride hand was PIN
ned to the rein by poisoned arrow. At
the close of the fight he drew the arrow
hastily and impulsively toward the
feather tip, and was compelled after
ward to draw it back to the arrow
head, after breaking 1t of. 1t was a
painful wound, and caused the whole
arm to swell from Inflammation, pro-
duced by the poison. The arrow is said
to be poisoned by tempting ratLlesnake
to bite the heart Of an OK just killed, and
then applying the poisoned blood to the
arrow. After giving this narrative, sub
stantially as here related, the general
remarked:
You see how my little command m ght
have been massacred, as was Clusters. II
our horses had not been too leg weary
to be stampeded. not man of US would
have escapfd.
Among the old papers of the general,
was the communication of General
Twiggs, commanding the department
making honorable mention of this pic
dian warfare, a copy of which he was
kind enough to furnish at nv request
and which Is here appended:
HEADQUATER' DEPARTMENT. ,TExAsl
SAN ANTONIO, Aug. o, 1857.
SIR.-Lieutenant Hoods report was
transmitted IL { mail. From su bsequen
information. not official' think Lieu
tenant Hoods estimate of the Indiar
party too small. The same party, it ap'
pears attacked the California mail guarC
tive days after and near the place where
Lieute ensnt Hood had the fight, ant
they estimated The Indians to be ovel
one hundred. These affairs were In tbt
vicinity of Camp Hudson. where Lieu.
tenant Fink, of the Eighth Iufantry, II
stationed with a company of infantry
If that company had been furnishe,
with fifteen or twenty hor, es, the secont
attack would rot probably have beef
made. Lieutenant Hoods affair was /,
gallant one, and much credit is due rt
both the officer and men. am, sir,verI
respectfully, your obedient servant,
d. E. TwIGGs.
Brevet Major General United State
Army, commanding Department.
Lieutenant q olonel l.. Thomas, Assis
tant Adjutant General.
Headqua' gers of the Army, Yves
Point, New York.
Official copy for the Information o
Lieutenant Hood respectively furnish
ed.
john Wlthers, Assistant Adjutan
General.
Headquarters department of Texas
San Antonio, August o. 1s57.