Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-08-02
Tales aud Sketthss.
How Ii Feels to be Scalped.

Marvin Holly Of Dearborn county, Ind,
has tender pink spot three inches wide
on the top of his head where he was
scalped in 1869. He has recently been in
New York and thus tells his adventure :
1--WE heard that Black Kettle was en-
camped somewhere in the Big Horn val
ley, and was almost daily sending out
predatory bands of warriors to plumber
settlers and emigrant trains, and Gen.
Custer decided to hunt him up and punish
him. The infantry was some two miles
in advance of the cavalry. when one day
Just at daylight we came in sight of the
enemy's camp. We were on high hill
overlooking the valley, and the Indians
were below. 1t was in the depth of win
ter and the snow was very deep. Their
camp was in rocky spot, and as the wo-
men and children were there it was evil
dent that it was the headquarters of the
band. 1t was determined to surprise the
village, and portion of our command
was sent though the woods to the right to
get in the rear of the camp, while the re-
mainder advanced quietly down the
mountain, from the top of which a good
trail led 10 the valley through the thick
woods The maneuverlng was so sue
cessful that before our presence was dis
covered by the Indians we were within
400 yards of the camp, and the detach-
ment sent to open fire in the rear had ar
rived in position. We knew by the yells
OF the Indians and the great commotion
among them that we were discovered.
and we at once began our attack. Firing
began on both sides of them at once, and
thus caused what at first promised to be a
panic among the Indians that would make
our victory an easy one, but suddenly an
indian of unusual size, and his lace
streaked with bright yellow and vermilion
paint, ncross bars, came dashng from some
place among the rocks on a black pony.
His yell could be heard above anything
else. as he tore to and fro among his war
riors, and the effect of his presence at
once became apparent. In less than two
minutes after our first fire every Indian
was in position behind some rock or tree,
and we knew that the fight would be a
desperate one. We were in a secure posi-
ton, but the Indians were Just as secure
as we were, and the only way we could
hope to defeat them was to charge upon
their strongholds, dislodge them, and set
tie the fight hand to hand. We were or
dered to charge down the hill upon the
enemy, and, every man OF us yelling as
hdeously as the red devils themselves.
we rushed right into the enemy's camp.
As soon as we emerged from the woods
we were met with rifle balls from every
side. and good many poor fellows never
reached the camp. The detachment in
the rear of the camp came into the conflict
| frA hot SiI fDraph a n 10 :
out from their hiding-places to the open
ground, and the battle waged right among
their tents. Black Kettle seemed to be
everywhere, and hideous presence alone
caused the fight. He held his warriors
to the ground, and the fight became
| free and general. The Indian women
and even the children took part in it, and
among the dead that soon strewed the
snow. squaws and papooses were min
gled In few minutes the snow was as
red tor rods around us as the paint on
| Black Kettles face from the blood of dead
and wounded In hand-to-hand fight
| like this, of course, it was every one tor
himself and soon found myself in one
edge of the camp, firing and bayoneting
and clubbing my gun, just as the situation
required.
| A soldier named Wilson, who had
messed with me, was killed right by my
side by an Indian who fired from behind q
tent. The next instant a ball shattered my
arm at the elbow, and 1t fell helpless at my
side. Immediately following that shot big
Indian. no doubt the one who killed vii.
son and wounded me. sprang from behind
the tent and rdshed at me with his toma
| hawk raised Nv gun was empty and my
left hand being useless could not load.
think could have run my bayonet through
the Indian, though. but an Indian woman
stole up behind me and throwing one arm
around my neck. jerked me backward in
the snow. The thickest part of the fight
was in another part of the camp, and none
OF our men were near me except poor
dead Wilson. The Indian seemed to be
the only one, too. that was not in the gen.
eral engagement. except a lot of squaws
and papooses that swarmed in tents from
all directions to the spot where lay, the
souaw who had thrown me holding me
down by the hair, while other women and
papooses spit in my face, jumped on my
body, kicked me. pinched me and tortured
me in every way they could. My arm was
very painful and was bleeding profusely
Fortunately the Indian who had jumped
from behind his tent with his tomahawk
drawn, gave the women and papooses too
much time to have their fun with me.