Daily globe., 1879-01-24
THE LAST DITCH.
Ihe Cheyenne Massacre Confirmed-The
savaEes Surrounded by the Troops and
brutally Shot Down-Four Squaws and
Two Papooses Among the Killed.

The Cheyenne Massacre Confirmed-The
| savaEes Surrounded by the Troops and
! brutally Shot DoWn-Four 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 tho
| 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 be
halted and formed skrmish lines. All four
companies were deployed as skirmishers Com
pany IF, Lieut.. Baxter, moving from the
south to tho northeast side; Company III"
Capt. Vessels, directly opposite; Company &C."
capt. Lawson, closed in at the mouth Of ra-
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
and privates Brown and Nelson, of Company
A., and dangerously, if not fatally wounding
private Deboisse, Company II. 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 a
slight scalD 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 gallantly led them to
the very e,!ge of the washout, where they
fought the enemy with unahated fury.
Meanwhile the intrepid Vessels having re-
gained CONSCIOUSNESS, again came to the front
and seeing the ground slrewn with the dead
bodies OF the savages implored his men to cease
Cheyennes 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 was over.
Companies F and were in bad position
to accomplish much, while Col. Evans with B
and d companies remained on the opposite
bluff from where Capt Vessels started, and
not knowing tie position Of Vessels command
arrived too late for action.
On the cessation OF hrlng the dead bodies
of twenty-three Indians were found in the rifle
pits occupied by them, including seventeen
bucks, four 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 were 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.
md are now moving back slowly. They are
expected here with the troops Tomorrow