Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-01-29
SHOOTING CHEYENNES.

SHOOTING CHEYENNES,
Horrible Slaughter of the Cheyenne
Gang of Murderers and Rebels.
A Fl. Robinson, Neb., dispatch OF
January 23rd says: Couriers ar.
rived this morning, confirming
the news, received late last night, of the
battle between Capt. Vessels COM
mand, consisting of four companies Of
the I'd cavalry, and the escaped Chey-
ennes, yesterday morning. Trails were
discovered leading in the direction of
the large range of hills some IS miles
northwest of Bluff Station, AID dis
lance Of 46 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 line, all four COM
panies being deployed as skirmishers.
Co. E, Lieut. Baxter moving from the
south to the northeast side; Go. II,
Capt. Vessels, directly opposite; Go.
E, Capt. Lawson, closed in at the mouth
Of the ravine, where the Indians had
entrenched themselves, and Go. A NOV
ed to their rear, thus heming them In
on all four sides, leaving no possible
avenue Of escape Tho Indians had
placed themselves in q deep wash-out,
keeping under cover. AS soon as the
skirmishers were within $50 yards OF
the sayages stronghold, the latter
opened a deadly fire, killing Sergeant
Taggart, privates Brown and Nelson. OF
Go. A, and dangerously if not fatally
wounding private Duboise, Of Co. III.
Despite the dreadful volley poured into
the troops they steadily advanced, and
when within seventy-fre yards Of the
savages 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 scalp wound from a pistol in
the hands of one Of the blood-thirsty
Cheyenne, which rendered him
completely insensible. Lieutenant
Chase, commanding Co. A, seeing the
commanding officer fall, rushed forward
instantly, seized Capt. Vessels and car
ried him beyond range Of the enemies
fire, then dashing to the head of his
own company, gallantly led them to the
very edge Of the washout, where they
fought the enemy 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 che latter stub
bornly refused, and rushed at the troops
with formidable hunting knives. having
Id oil
mined to surrender to death only,
but ere they had advanced many PAGES
a volley from the troops, and all was
over. Co.'S F and E were in bad pos
ition to accomplish much, while Col.
Evans with Co.'s B and D remained on
the opposite bluff, from where Capt.
Vessels started, and not knowing the
position of Capt. Vessels command,
arrived too late for action. On cessa-
ton Of the firing, the dead bodies of %
Indians were found in the rifle pits oc-
cupied by them, including II bucks,
four squaws and two pappooses. Nine
remained, of whom one buck and five
squaWs were more Or less wounded.
and three 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. An
ambulance left here early this morn
ing to bring in the dead and wounded,
who are now moving back slowly and
are expected here with the troops to-
morrow morning.
A dispatch from General Crook, al
Omaha, to Lieut. General Phil Sneri-
dan, says the. following is just received:
CAMP MILES NORTHEAST
OF BLUFF STATION, NEAR FIT. robinson.
January %, 1879. !
General Crook, Omaha:
The affair with the Cheyennes took
place yesterday about 2:3O P. NJ,
at point ten miles east Of
the telegraph line from Fort Robin
son to Hat Creek, and 5 miles north Of
the stage road. The Cheyennes
fought with extraordinary cour-
age and ferceness, and refused
all terms, but death. The officers and
troops behaved with great spirit. Those
engaged we're Capts. Vessels and L.w-
son, Lieuts. Chase and Hardee, 6. W.
Baxter, and Sd cavalry, Lieut.. J. Bax-
ter, 4th cavalry, and DR.. Pettys. Among
the wounded are Sergt. Reed and Pri-
vate Debois, of Co. II. The Sd savalry
troops return to stations at once. The
Indians killed were II warriors, 4 wo-
men and 2 children. There were cap
tured, of whom were wounded. One
man Of the wounded will probably die.
TSigned GEO. CROOK.
Brigadier.Genera! s