The Red Cloud chief., 1880-03-04
MOrrOw's Chase After Victoria.

Inc lineage itHds gives the iotloNinS
synopsis Of the report Of Maj. Morrow,
giving a detailed account Of the opera
tons Of his command against Nictoria's
band of Indians, covering a period If
several months, and a pursuit extending
from Fort Bayard To the mountainous
region of Old Mexico, which has been
received at Sheridan's Headquarters.
The command consisted of II enlisted
men and IL Indian scouts. The Major
describes how his command came very
near capturing a camp that contained no
Indians. The camp was sighted at noon
The cavalrymen were dismounted and
the horses secured. The purpose was
to strike the camp simultaneously on
both sides. The movement, the report
states, was satisfactorily executed; but
the command discovered that the camp
had been abandoned by the hostiles
three days before. A couple of DAYS
later another abandoned campwastaken.
1t was situated on a high mountain.
The Major says his command was over
an hour ascending To the camp, which,
had it been defended at all, must have
proved impregnable. On another occa-
sion a detachment, commanded by
Lieut.. Blacksom, moved out on foot at l
o'clock at night, with the intention Of
attacking an Indian camp at daybreak.
When dawn came the discovery dawned
upon them that the hostiles had quietly
departed, under cover Of the darkness.
In the hurry and confusion Of their
flight they had abandoned some 50 or 40
stolen animals. Later in the campaign
the Indian scouts were dispatched To
take possession of the camp of Victoria
and his band. This movement was
successful. The troops followed the
scouts under a CALLING fire from the sur
rounding hills. The fighting continued
until 10 O'Clock at night, when the
troops were ordered into camp. The
Major states that none of his command
were hurt, but that three Indians were
killed, and Is saddle-horses and a lot OF
loose stock were abandoned by Victoria.
The next morning, while the troops
were eating breakfast, they were fired up
on by the hostiles. A vidette on guard on
a neighboring bluff was killed. The
troops charged the hills, and dislodgedthe
Indians. Then ensued a running fight,
which was kept up until 2 O'Clock in the
afternoon. The report doesn't state
whether any body was killed or not.
The next day the scoutscaptured asquaw
and her papOose. She told them that
she had taken refuge in the mountains
during the fight of the day before, and
had lost her way. The commander re-
ceived information that Victoria was
carrying a number of wounded Indians,
among them being his son Washington.
A scout come in and reported Nictoria's
camp four miles distant. The command
was separated and the detachmcnts sur
rounded the camp. The attack vas to
be made at daybreak. The report states
the fires were burning brightly and
the "scurbby pines were festoOned with
beef" At daybreak the discovery
was made that Victoria and his people
were not there. They had cleared out
hours before. The next word
received was that the hostiles had sacked
Santa Barbara and killed a large
number of people. Victoria was heard
of as heading for the Mongallen Noun
tains. As the command was approach
ing the CorribItas River many Of the
fell down from thirst. In the
edge of the Mopgallen Mountains the
Indians were discovered ambushed in q
canyon. awaiting the troops. The hos
lilies, after n little brush, were dislodged.
This fight took place by moonlight. In
pursuing the enemy up a steep hill they
and delivered q rafting volley.
Three Of the scouts were struck by bull
lets, and one was killed. The command
tried in vain to advance. Lieut.. Gate
wood was sent around to flank the en-
trenched enemy. and succeeded in get
I'D to within ten feet of the breast
works, but soon exhausted his ammuni-
The Indians employed themselves
. part of the night in rolling huge
rocks down the steep upon Gatewood's
squad Of men. The troops were COM
PEELED to withdraw to the hills from
which the enemy had been dislodged IN
he outset Of the fight. The men and
had then been three days and
without water, and their suffering
vas intense. The men and horses BE-
No worn and broken down, and the
Of ammunition nearly exhausted, ;
he troops withdrew from in front of
Victoria and BY slow marches returned
Fort Bayard.