Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-01-29
The Last Fight With The ohSyennes.

GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF TIE ENGAGE
NIENT-INDIAN DESPERATioN-TliE
KILLED AND WOUNDED.
Fort ROBINSON, NEB.. Jan. %
Cour;ers arrived this morning confirm
inc the news received late last night Of
the battle between Capt. Vessels com.
mand. consisting of four companies OF
tbe third cavalry. and the escaped
Cheyeunes Yesterday morning. Trails
were discovered leading in the direction
of the large range Of hills some eighteen
miles northwest OF Bluff Station. dis
lance of forty-siX miles from this post,
ard were followed by Capt. Vessel I'M
N he was within three miles OF the
hills. where he halted and formed Skin
mlsh lines. All four companies were
dcploved as sEirmishers, company +.
Lieut.. Baxter, moving from the south
TO the northwest side; company IL.
Can't. Vessels. directly opposite ; COM
panv f. Capt. Lawson, closed in at the
mouth of the rayine where the Indians
had entrenched themselves, and COM
many A moved to their rear. thus hem
minr them in on all four sides, leaving
10 possible avenue OF escape.
Il he Indians had placed themselves
in deep wash.o out, keeping under coy
or. As soon as the skirmishers were
within l5o yards the sayases S strong
hold the latter opened a deadly fire
killing Sergeant Taggart and priyates
Brown and Nelson, of company a. and
dangerously. if not fatally wouudns
ryitate Deboisse, Of company II, De
spite the dreadful volley poured into
the troops they steadily advanced. and
when within IS yards Of the savagcs's
position fire was opened on all sides
with terrible effect. At this moment
Can't. Vessels, leading his company
and loudly cheering them forward, re-
ceived a Slight scalp wound from a pis-
tol in the hands Of one of the Chey-
ennes. rendering him completely IN
sensible. Lieut.. Chase, Of company a ,
seeing tie commanding officer fall,
mshed forward, instantly seized Capt.
Vessels and carried him beyond the
range Of the enemy's fire then dashlnG
at the head Of his own company. he
CALAMITY led them to the very edge OF
wash-out. where they fought the enemy
with undated fury. Meanwhile. Wes-
sells having regained consciousness,
again came to the front, and seeing the
ground strewn with dead bodies Of the
savages implOred his men to cease Fir
ling, with view to getting the remain
ling Cheyennes to surrender, but the
latter stubbOnly refused and rushed at
the troops with formidable hunting
knives, having expended all their am
muntion. They seemed determined to
surrender to death only, but ere they
had advanced many PAGES yolley was
fred by the troops and all was over
Companies Fand + were IN bad posi-
lions to accomplish much, while Col.
Evans. with b and ID companies, re-
NAMED on the opposite blunf from where
Capt. Vessels started, and, not know
ing the position Of Vessels command,
arrived too late for action.
At the cessation of the firing the dead
bodies of % Indians were found in rifle
pits occupied by them. This number
Included II bucks, 4 squaws and 8
papooses. Nine remained, Of whom
buck and squaws were more or less
wounded, and 3 squaws were unhurt
Of the troops but the three heretofore
mentioned were killed and Capt. Yves
sells and one private Of his company
wounded. The latter cannot live.