Daily globe., 1879-01-24

| The Cheyenne Massacre CONFERENCE.-The
Savages Surrounded by the Troops and
! Brutally Shot Downtown Squaws and
| Two Papooses Among the Killed.
Fort ROBINSON, Jan. 23.-Couriers arrived
this morning confirming the news received late
last night of the battle between Capt. Vessels
command, consisting of four companies Of the
! Third cavalry, and the escaped Cheyennes yes
terday morning. Trails were discovered lead
| ing in the direction of the large range of hills
some eighteen miles northwest of Bluff station,
distance of forty-eight miles from this post
and were followed by Capt. Vessels until he
was within three miles of the hills, where he
halted and formed skirmish lines. All four
companies were deployed as skirmishers, Com
| pauy IF, Lieut.. Baxter, moving from the
| south to the northeast side; Company "H,"
Capt. Vessels, directly opposite; Com pany ':E, ~
Capt. Lawson, closed in at the mouth of q ru-
vine where the Indians had entrenched them
selves, and Company ''A' moved to their rear,
thus hemming them in on all sides, leaving no
possible avenue of escape. The Indians had
placed themselves in deep washout, keeping
under cover.
As soon as the skirmishers were within $50
yards Of the savages' stronghold the latter
opened a deadly fire. killing Sergeant Taggart
aud privates Brown and Nelson, of Company
"A, and dangerously, if not fatally wounding
private Deboisse, Company H. Despite the
dreadful tolley poured into the troops they
steadily advanced, and when within seventy
five yards of the savages' position fire was
opened on all sides with terrible effect. At this
moment Capt. Vessels, leading his company
and loudly cheering them forward received 4.
slight scal0 wound from pistol in the hands
OF one OF the bloodthirsty Cheyennes, render
ing him completely insensible. Lieut.. Chase,
commanding Company A, seeing the command
ing officer fall. rushed forward Instantly
seized Capt. Vessels and carried him beyond
range of the enemies fire, then dashing to the
head OF his own company CALAMITY led them to
the very eage of the washout where they
fought the enemy with unabated fury.
Meanwhile the intrepid Vessels having re-
gained consciousness, again came to the front
and seeing the ground s,rewn with the dead
bodies Of the savages imploced his men to cease
firing with view to getting the remaining
Cheyenncs to surrender, but the latter stub
bornly refused, and rushed at the troops with
formidable hunting knives, having expended
all their ammunition, determined to surrender
to death only. But ere they had advanced
many PAGES the troops poured in another volley
and all over.
Companies F and were in a bad position
to accomplish much, while Col. Evans with
and D companies remained on the opposite
bluff from where Capt. Vessels started and
not knowing tie position of Vessels com mand
arrived too late for action.
On the cessation OF firing the dead bodies
of twenty-three Indians were found in the rifle
pits occupied by them, including seventeen
bucks, fou. squaws and two papooses. Nine
remained of whom one buck and three squaws
were more or less wounded, and three squaws
unhurt. OF the troops but~the three heretofore
mentioned We're killed, and Capt. Vessels and
one private of his company wounded. The
latter cannot live.
Ambulances left here at an early hour this
morning to bring in the dead and wounded,
and are now moving back slowly. They are
expected here with the troops tomorrow
Official Report to Gen. Sheridan.