The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1879-02-14

[DAY, FEBRUARY IA,
THE CHEYENNEs' LAST FIGHT.
The position of the Indians was In an
oblong hole about thirty feet long, ten
or twelve feet wide and five feet deep,
with ridges in 1t hero and there, where
the invested Indians had dug out some
holes, SO as to get down low from the
range of our fro, and to alternately
step up on the ridges to deliver theirs
in return. This was within u few feet
of the edge Of q high bank, which broke
off abruptly from the dry bed of
branch of Indian creek, thirty feet be-
low, and about forty miles from Fort
Robinson and three miles from Bluff
station, on the Hat creek road. The
companies on tho ground were deployed
PAGES distance, making q seui-circle, 90
as to bring the right and left of the line
respectively toward the edge OF the
steep creek bank.
The movement was merely steady
advance and closing In ON the enemy
as 1t began. The men rapidly pressing
together grew thick about the pit, and
1t is q wonder more soldiers were not
killed by the Indians. 1t was certainly
prOvidentfal that the ammunition of the
reds gave out. The men would 60 up
to the edge of the hole and fire down
at an angle; and then fall back to re.
load. The smoke of the firing actually
grew so great that the soldiers had to
pause until 1t cleared away to see where
the pit was. At one time the Indians
Aefusp OF
It was thought that they We're either
all wounded or wanted to surrender.
All order was given to cease firing,
which had grown SO oppressive from an
apparent want of opposition and the
conviction that 1t was superfluous like
beating a dead carcass.
Just before the final resistance of the
Cheyennes, three of them, the last
alive, jumped out of the pit and faced
the troops undaunted. One had a pis-
tol and two had knives, which they
brandished like warriors while rushing
at the troops. One sprang to jump
down the embankment, but was speedi-
ly riddled with balls, as were the other
two. Lieut.. Chase led the men, gave
a cheer and inspired them. When Capt.
fafnting, Capt. Lawson kept on saying {:
F" Give it to them, boys; don't leave
one of them." Private Margetave,
Company e, Russian, was conspicu-
| ous for his coolness and bravery. He
kept up steady advance, firing right
| at the Indians.
! When the smoke cleared away the
pit presented q singular and horrible
appearance. Huddled together In piles
were the twenty-three bodies of the
slain. Among the nine still surviving
were two Indian girls, aged IA and Is,
covered with dust, and under the
dodles OF young bucks who had fallen
lifeless upon them and at first concealed
them. They were saved by digging in
! under the side of the hole. One is
named Blanche, and used to write her
name while imprisoned here with her
people. The appearance of the pit was
as though it had been filed with sand
bags. Lieut.. Chase Immediately or
dered a company to fall in, and sent a
detail into the deadly clasn to pass
out the bodies. Among them were
found three unhurt, and five wounded
females and one buck wounded.
The carcasses were taken out rapidly,
and found to be completely riddled
with bullets. They were laid down
side by side, and looked like horrld
phantoms or defaced mummies. A
10" "cEo SClAPpeuS OuC mOSC Oh tnem
had on clothing-in the language of
one of the soldiers handling them,
regular store clothes.' A number OF
blankets and a soldiers overcoat and
pantalOons, with some bed-covers,
were among the rubbish, while in the
centre was good stock Of half-dried
beef three feet high and two wide
Some cattle had been killed by them
near by belonging to the Whitcomb
ranch. Carpenters were detailed to
make Il travers to carry the wounded
to the wagons.
HOW A SPRINGFIELD GIRL CAUGHT
A HUSBAND.
Springfield, Mass, Letter to Bost IN Herald.
A sewing girl in this city has had
romantic experience, which is worth
the telling. Several months ago man
at Dubuque, Iowa, advertised In an
Eastern Massachusetts paper for wife.
Among a swarm of answers which he
received were two from two girls in