The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-29
THE CHEYENNE MASSACRE.
Graphic Account Of the Last Engage
ment-Indian DesperatiOn-The
Killed and Wounded.

FORT ROBINSON, Neb, Jan. 23.-Couriers
arrived this morning confirming the news
received late last night Of the battle be-
tween Capt. Vessels command. consisting Of
four companies OF the Third Cavalry, and the
escaped Cheyennes yesterday morning.
Trails were discovered leading In the d.
recsion OF the large range OF hills some eigh-
teen miles northwest Of Bluff Station, a
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,
Company +, Lieut., Baxter, moving from the
south to the northeast side; Company H,
Capt. Vessel, directly opposite; Company E,
Capt. Lawson, closed In at the mouth OF the
ravine where the Indians had entrenched
themselves, and Company A moved to their
rear, thus hemming them In on all four sides,
leaving no possible avenue OF escape.
The Indians had placed themselves In q
deep wash-out keeping under cover. As
soon as the skirmishers were within $50 yards
OF the savages stronghold the latter opened
deadly fire killing Sergeant Taggart and
and dangerously If not fatally wounding
Private Deboise Of company 81. Despite the
dreadful volley poured into the troops they
steadily advanced, and when within seventy
five yards of the savages' position fire was
opened on all sides with terrible effect. At
this moment Capt Vessels, leading his COM
pany and loudly cheering them forward, re-
ceived slight scalp wound from pistol In
the hands Of one Of the Cheyennes, render
ing him completely insensible. Lieut. Chase,
of Company A, seeing the commanding
officer fall, rushed forward, instantly seized
Capt. Vessels and carried him beyond the
range Of the enemy's fire; then dashing at
the head OF his own company, he gailantiy
led them to the very edge Of the wash-Out,
where they fought the enemy with unabated
fury. Meanwhile, Vessels having regained
consciousness, again came to the front, and
seeing the ground strewn with dead bodies
OF the savages implored his men to cease fir
ing, with view to get the remaining Chey-
ennes to surrender, but the latter stubbornly
refused and rushed at the troops with formid-
able hunting knives, having expended all
their ammunition. They seemed determined
to surrender to death only, but ere they had
advanced many PAGES vOlley was fired by
the troops and all was over. Companies F
and Z were In bad positions to accomplish
much, while Col. Evans, with B and D COM
panies, remained on the opposite bluff from
where Capt. Vessels started, and, not know
ing the position OF Vessels command, ar
rived too late for action.
At the cessation OF the firing the dead bodies
OF twenty-three Indians were found in rifle
pits occupied by them. This number included
seventeen bucks, four .squaws and two pa
pOoses. Nine remained OF whom one buck
and five squaws were mbre or less wounded,
and three squaws were u khurt. Of the troops
but the three heretofore mentioned were
killed and Capt Vessel and one private Of
bis company wounded. The latter cannot live.