The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-01-24
BY TELEGRAPH.
A DAYS EVENTS.
Details Of the Fight With the
t Cheyennes.
The Potterites Begin De-
ciphering.
Progress Of the War in the
Democratic Camp.
Full Congressional Re-
port.
-.--
Piracy on the High Seas.
NEBRASKA.
Details of the Cheyenne Battle.

@~~taiAo VI Tic Sucyc1lllC RAlklC.
Fort Robinson, Jan. 23.-Couriers
arrived this morning confirming the
news received last night of the battle
between Capt. Vessels command, con-
sisting Of four companies of the Third
cavalry, and the escaped Cheyennes.
On yesterday morning the trails were
discovered lf aiding in the direction of a
large range of hills some 1S miles
northwest of Bluff station, a distance
of 46 miles from this post and were fol-
lowed by Capt. Vessels until he was
within three miles Of the hills when he
halted and formed skirmish lines, all
tour companies being disposed as skirm-
ishers. Company F, Lieut.. Baxter,
moving from the south to the north
east side. Company H, Capt. Vessels,
directly opposite. Company E, Capt.
Lawson, closed in at the north of the
ravine where the Indians had entrench-
ed themselves, and Company A moved
to the rear, thushemming them in ON all
four sides leaving no possible avenue of
escape. The Indians had placed them
selves in deep washout, keeping under
cover. As soon as:the- skirmishers were
within $50 yards of the savages' strong
hold, the latter opened a deadly fire,
killing Sergeant Taggert, Privates
Brown and Nelson of company A, and
dangerously, if not fatally, wounding
Private DeBoise, company II. Despite
the dreadful volley fired into the troops
they steadily advanced, and when with
in 75 yards of the savages' position,
fire was opened on all sides with ter
rible effect. At this moment Capt.
Vessels, leading his company and
loudly cheering them forward, received
a slight scalp wound from a pistol in
the hands of one of the blood-thirsty
wretches, rendering him completely in
sensible. Lieut.. Chase, commanding
company A, seeing the commanding
officer fall, rushed forward and instant
ly seized Capt. Vessels and carried him
beyond the range of the enemy's fire,
then dashing to the head Of his own
company, gallantly led them to the
very edge of the washout, where they
fought the savages with unabated fury.
Meanwhile the intrepid Vessels having
regained consciousness, again came to
the front, and seeing the ground strewn
with the dead bodies of the savages,
implored his men to cease firing, with a
view to getting the remaining Chey-
ennes to surrender, but the latter stub
bornly refused, rushing at the troops
with formidable hunting knives, hav-
ing expended all their ammunition, and
determined to surrender to death only,
and ere the savages had advanced many
PAGES volley from the troops, and all
was over. Companies F and E were
in bad position to accomplish much,
while Col. Evans with B and d COM
panies remained on the opposite bluff
from where Capt. Vessels started, and
not knowing the position Of Vessels
troops, arrived too late for action.
On cessation of firing, the dead
bodies Of twenty-three Indians were
found in the rifle pits occupied by them,
including seventeen bucks, four squawi
and two papooses. Nine remained, o,
whom one buck and five 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, and are now moving
back slowly. They are expected here
with the troops tomorrow afternoon.