Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1879-01-29


SESSION of the Legislature.
Harrisburg, Jan. 22.-The cleo
ton of J. Donald Cameron to the
United States Senate was proclaim
ed to-day in joint convention of
both houses.
Springfield, H., Jan. 22.-The
General Assembly in joint session
this afternoon declared Gen. John
A. Logan elected United States
Senator.
The thermometer registered 20
degrees below zero, at Bangor,
Maine, few days ago.
Washington, Jan. 24.-The sub
scriptions to the four per cent loan,
for the six days ending Jan. 23rd,
amounts to slO,S22, 456.
Fort Robinson, Neb., Jan. o.
Couriers arrived this morning with
news Of the battle between Capt.
Vessels command, consisting of
four companies of the Third Caval-
ry and the escaped Cheyennes.-
Yesterday morning trails were dis
covered leading in the direction of
large range of hills, some eight
cen miles northwest of Bluffs Sta
ton, a distance of 46 miles from
the post, and were followed by
Capt. Vessel until he was within
three miles of the hills, where he
halted and formed skirmish lines.
All four companies were deployed
as skirmishers, hemming the In
dams in on all four sides, and leav-
ing no possible avenue of escape.
The Indians had placed themselves
in a deep wash-out, keeping under
cover. AS soon as the sl1irmishers
were within $50 yards of the saw
ages stronghold the latter opened
a deadly fire, killing Sergeant Tag
CART, privates Brown and Nelson,
of Company A, and dangerously If
not fatally wounding private De-
boisse, of Company II. Despite the
volley poured into the troops, they
steadily advanced, and when within
seventy-five yards Of the savages'
position, ire was opened on all sides
with terrible effect. At this mo-
ment Capt. Vessel, leading his
company and loudly cheering them
forward. received light scalp
wound from a pistol 10 the hands of
one of the Cheyennes, rendering
him completely insensible. Lieut..
Chase, commanding company A,
seeing the commanding officer fall,
rushed forward instantly, seized
Capt. Vessel and carried him be-
yond the range of the enemy's fire,
and then, dashing to the head of
his company, CALAMITY led them to
the very edge of the wash-out,
where they fought the enemy with
undated fury. Meanwhile the in
trepid Vessel, having regained
consciousness, again came to the
front, and, seeing the ground strewn
with the dead bodies of the savag-
es, implored his men to cease firing,
with a view to getting the remain
ing Cheyennes to surrender. But
the latter stubbornly refused, rush
ing 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
a volley from the troops and all was
over. Companies F and f were in
a bad position to accomplish much,
while Col. Evans with d and ID
companies remained on the oppos-
lite bluff from where Capt. Vessel
started, and not knowing the posi-
ton of Vessels command, arrived
too late for action. On the cessa-
ton of the firing the dead bodies
of twenty-three Indians were
found in the r'ha pits occupied by
them, including seventeen bucks,
four squaws and two papooses.
Nine remained, of whom one buck
and FIVE squaws were more or less
wounded, and three squaws I'M
hurt. OF the troops but the three
heretofore mentioned were killed,
and Capt. Vessel and one private
of his company wounded. Tie
latter cannot live. Ambulances
left here at an early hour this morn
ing to bring in the dead and
wounded, aud are now moving
back slowly. They are expected
here with the troops tomorrow af-