Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-01-31

ARE NOT UNARMED-FEARFUL SCENE
GUARDS.
&C., &C., &C.
CORRESPONDENCE of the Staunton vIND1cAToR.)
CAMP ROBINSON. NEB.,
Jan. 18th, 1879. :
Your community has ere this been star
tied by the news of what few papers are
pleased to term 'sthe barbarous killing of
unarmed Indian prisoners at Camp Robin
son. The st. Louis Republican" actu-
ally calls upon heaven to punish the per-
petrators of the deed. Now since such
vengeance can only be intended for thai
small portion of the popular escape goat
of this glorious Republic-the army OF
duty at this place; it will be my Object
simply to state the facts as they came un-
der my own personal observation.
So far from being unarmed, it will bt
seen that they were as well provided with
both rifles and revolvers as any Indians
who have yet gone on the war path, and
that they used them well the number of
soldiers killed and wounded will Ee sufiicl-
ent proof. Since many people in your fai
away city may be ignorant how these III
dams became prisoners, ] shall give brief
account of their capture, in doing which
the amount of hard service rendered by
these same troops will be plainly shown.
at about F. M. Oct. 3d., d battalion OF
the 3dcavalry, Major Carlton in command,
received orders to take up the march to
intercept band of Cheyenne's, variously
estimated at from three to four hundred,
who having dug up the Ratchet way down
in the Indian Territory, were rapidly max
ing their way North and despite the efforts
of the troops in their rear to overtake them,
found sufficient time to commit such out
RACES upon the people of Kansas as only
the devllish nature IF the redskln can de-
wise. This command promptly RESPONDED
to the order and in less han an hour .odt
out into the night.
The second days march brought US into
the great sand hills of Nebraska. barren
desert of many square miles. entirely des-
titute of both wood and water. For forty
eight hours men and animals were without
the latter, and for four days we were COM
PEELED to eat raw meat. Human nature
could hold out no longer and we were
compelled to turn North and find water,
| thereby giving the reds chance to slip
| through our fingers. Here new danger
faced US, danger which only those who
have once been exposed can fully realize
PRAIRIE FIRE.
The entire northern border OF Nebraska
| was in a blaze, causing, [ since heard.
great loss of life and property i'll the more
settled regions. However, our command
passed safely and being joined by The
troops who were supposed to be in the
rear of the. Indians, who reported TIT
reds to have separated into small bands.
| it W as determined to re- urn TO this post
| for supplies.
One of these bands, headed by Dull
Knife, Was afterwards captured by this
command, and placed in prison. at thi"
place. Until quite recently We have beer
engaged in vain attempt to find the re-
mainder of the tribe, during which time
the men have been exposed to the bitter
cold of most severe climate. Feet and
hands have been so
BADLY FROZEN
| in some instances that amput alton be
| came necessary. In the meantime Dull
knife's band was quartered IN good
| warm building, we'll fed and cared for,
with nothing TO complain of save the loss
| of liberty. Indars and guards were OF.
| tie best of terms, and all went we'll, until
the order came to move them back to tht
Indian Territory. Then the chiefs de
clared they would die before they would
return-A very common oath. indeed, fol
civilized people to make use of, and mean
nothing, but those acquainted with TIL
desperate temper of the Cheyenne Irdian,
| who has long maintained the reputation
of being the brave t redskin Oh the plains,
felt great uneasinesS fo- the result. As
all the weapons that could be found were
taken from them WHEN captured, they
we're, of course, believed to lie unarmed-
a mistake which has been dearly paid for.
On the morning Of Jan. 9th a strong
guard went in to
| HANDCUFF THE CHIEFS,
preparatory to The r.mcvaf. Wild Hog.
the first seized, made a desperate resis-
lance, and when overpowered stabbed one
| of the guard Two others were next
ironed. By this time the other Indians,
having recovered from the first surprise,
became SO Infatuated that the uard was
compelled to retire to prevent bloodshed'
The Indians, finding themselves the sole
occupants Of the room, gave full rein to
| their fury. and while what followed fully
demonstrated the savage temper Of this
tribe it entirely defes description. though
venture to say those who saw it willnever
forget the day.
THE PRISON FLOOR
was torn up, an enormous fire made in the
room, they put on their W ar paint and feath-
ers, danced the war dance and sung the WAL
song in the very teeth of the guards. Be-
lieving them unarmed it was thought best
to allow them to expend their fury, be-
fore taking further steps towards their re-
removal. Consequently the remainder
the day they kept up their thly yells
and sometimes showing themselves at the
windows, to defy and shake clubs at the
sentinels ON the outside. BY shutdown all
was quiet. But ere midnight the proverb:
"a calm before a storm" was fully verii-
ed, About 10 P. NJ. there came fearful
crash of glass and doors, followed by a
| hoauu uoiIau from The so called ssunacmed