St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1879-10-18

way there, his body being seen lying
face down. Payne, then in command,
set about having the wounded horses
shot. dismantling the wagons OF boxes,
bundles, etc., which we're piled up for
Notifications; picks and shOvclS were
used vigorously for digging entrcnch-
ments. In the meantime CALLING tire
from all the surrounding bluffs which
, commanded the scene. Not an Indian
could be seen, but the incessant cracks
of their Sharp and Winchester rifles
dealt fearful destruction among the
horses and men. The groanS of the
diving and agonizing cries Of the wound
ed told what fearful havoc was being
made among the determined and DIES
peratc command.
The Indians at the beginning of the
fight had set fire to the dry grass and
sage brush, and to the windWard OF our
position. It now came sweeping down
toward us, the flames leaping high into
! the air and immense, columns OF smoke
| rolling on to engulf us. 1t was Il sight
to make the stoutest heart quake and
| the tiends were waiting, ready to give
us a volley as soon AS We were driven
from our shelter. Now it reaches the
flank, and blankets, blonses and empty
!
! the flames. Some of the wagons were
set on fire, which required all the force
| possible to smother it. No water can
! he obtained, and the smoke is snllocat-
| ing, but the fire passes and VIC still hold
| our position. Meantime Il constant vol
lev is poured upon lis. Capt. Payne,
wounded for the second time, and First
Sergeant Dolan, OF company +, killed
instantly, Mckinstry and Mckee killed,
and many others wounded. The men
have now mostly covered themselves,
but the Door horses and mules are con
stantlv falling about lis. just about
shutdown charge was attempted, but
repulsed, the Indians trying TO drlvc
off some of our horses which had
broken loose.
The attack ceased at dark, and soon
ieyery man was at work charging the
trenches and hauling ont the dead nor
scs, caring for the wounded and bury
ing the dead At daylight the attack
was resumed and the firing OF sharp
since, and occasionally at night, send
ing us to our pits in scramble. This
is the tifsh day of our siege. hut We are
determined to hold out if it takes a
month for stlccnr to reach us: but we
are confident that Gen. Merritt, whose
name is upon the lips OF everyone, Is ON
, the road to rescue lis. As | write this
bullets are whistling over the top of our
trench; they often strike grain sacks IL
few inches above our heads, but we are
, deep enough to be comparatively safe.
EHied.-Major Thornbury, First Ser
geant John Dolan, privateS John
Burns, Michael feverton, Samuel Nc
kee, Thomas Mooney, Michael Lynch,
Charles Wright, Dominick Cuff and
Wagonmlster Mckenzie and Teamstel
, Mcclure.
, in arm and side; Lieut.. Paddock, flesh
= wound in hip DR.. Grimes, flesh wound
r in shoulder; Sergeant John Morr1lII
, Trumpeter Fred Sutliff, John Mcdonald
Privates James I. Gibbs, John Hoaxcy,
, Emil kaarsInan, Eugene Patterson
Frank Simmons, Eugene Schicllenoussc
. VIM. Esser, Geo. Stenger, Nicholas
Henry, Thos. Lynch, Fred Blankard, L,
.. Muller; Sergeants james Montgomery
and Allen Tupton; Corporals G. f
ElchfuIze and Frank Hunter; Privates
, Jas. Conway, John Crowley, W. II
= Clark, Orlando Durand, Thos. Ferguson
Thos. Lewis, Ed Lovclle, Willard Nit.
! chell, John Mahony, James Paterson
WIN. Schuber, Thomas Mcnamara
=, Budja, John Donova; Transfers Thos
! Cain and Nelson, and Guide l.oWery
! With the exception of the wound OF
= Guide Lowery the wounds OF the above
+ named men arc not serious.
PAYSE's COMMAND EEACHED-THE IN
nIANs ROCNDLI WHIPPED AND
E THIRTY-sEyEN KILLED.
:. CHEYENNE, Oct. e.-The following
a was received early this morning from
Major ellis:
RAwLINs, Oct. 6,-The lsawlins' mai
carrier, from Snake river, is just in
He reports that Merritt reached Payne:
command Monday afternoon. After {
severe fight, killing thirty seven In
: dams, he foslnd them Payne's com
y MANDY all right. The colored cavalr.
IL !. company joined Payne last Friday night
losing all their horses but two in doing
40. The mail carrier knows nothing
: about the condition OF the officers ant
= men. Tho companies of the Four
{ teenth Regiment we're at least twenty
:, four hours behind Mcrritt's command.
GlLLIs.
1 DETAILS OF THE FI0HT WITH THE IN
! pIANs-A row-WoW AND IT'S
e COSSEQENCES-TIIE COLOKED
TROOPS FIGHT NoBLY.
J, RAwLlss, Oct. s.-Thc courier iron
: Payne's camp brings the fof3wing &C
: count of the arrival Of the relief; -
e He reports that Gen. Merritt. on hi
: approach to Payne's camp and whel
t only u few miles from it, discovere,
e hostile Utes filling out from a neigh
2 boring canon. The Indians discovered
:, Merritt at the same moment, and TIN
3 General, perceiving this from their ac
I tons, ordered his men To TALL back i,
J. rapid retreat. The Indians we've en-
Q couraged by this manouyre to rusl
: from their hiding places. Merritt push
!, iEg his troops to a run from them on
on the open VlaiR. He then gave tn!
:. order to wheel, when the men did viii
Q admirable precision, showing in ;
e minutes space a bristling front where
2 before had been a seeming struggling
s rout. The General did not wait for the
!, foe to attack in less than two minute!
:, bis men poured into the Utes fire
9 which checked their advance anf
s forced them to seek every available
8 cover. The battle lasted but few
!. | :, mnrc slurinoy u,hfnh finn tho Indian