Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-03-26

had gained at the onset of tn
battle, tho Indians were soon dis
lodged. They then attempted t
gain a small skirt Of wood on ou
right flank, bnt were prevented
from doing so by the vigilance anC
bravery of Maj. Leet, who com
manded the right wing Of the army
at that time. The firing was in
cessant and heavy until dark
when it ceased. Both armies lay
on their arms during the night
Both adopted the policy of kind
ling large fires along the line oI
battle, and then retiring some dis
tance in the rear of them, to pre-
vent beng surprised by a night
attack. During the conflict of the
afternoon three of our men were
killed and several wounded.
In the morning our army Occu-
pied the battle ground Of the pre-
ceding day. The Indians made no
attack during the day, until late in
the evening. but were seen in large
bodies traversing the plains in
various directions. Some Of them
appeared to be employed in carry
ing off their dead and wounded.
Iu the morning OF this day a
council of the officers was held, in
which a retreat was resolved on,
as the only means OF saving their
army, the Indians appearing to
increase in numbers every hour
During the sitting of this council,
Col. Williamson proposed taking
one hundred and nifty volunteers,
and marching directly TO Upper
Sandusky. This opposition the
commanGer.in.chief prudently re.
jected, saying, 81 have no doubt
but that you would reach the town,
but YOU would find nothing
there but empty wigwams; and
having taken off so many Of our
best men, you would leave the rest
to be destroyed by the host Of In
dians with which we are now sur
rounded, and on your return they
would attack and destroy yOu.-
They care nothing about defending
their towns-tbey are worth moth
ing. Their squaws, children and
property, have been removed from
them long since. Our lives and
baggage are what they want, and
if they can get us divided they
will soon have them. We must
stay together and do the best We
can
During this day preparations
were made for a retreat by burying
the dead and burning fires over
their graves to prevent discovery,
and preparing means for carrying
of the wounded. The retreat was
to commence in the course Of the
night. The Indians, however, be-
came apprised Of the intended re-
treat, about sundown attacked the
army with great force and fury, in
every direction excepting that of
Sandusky.
When the line Of march was
formed by the COMMANDMENTS chief,
and the retreat commenced, our
guides prudently took the dlrec-
tion of Sandusky, which afforded
tue only opening in the Indian lines
and the only chance of conceal
ment. After marching about "A
mile in this direction, the array
wheeled about to the left, aud a
circultous route gained the trail by
which they came, before day. They
continued their march the whole oI
the next day, with "A trilling annoy
auce from the Indians, who fired a
few distant shots at the rear guard ,
which slightly wounded two OF
three men. At night they built
fires, took their suppers, secured
the horses and resigned themselves
to repose, without placing single
sentinel or vidstte for safety. In
this careless situation, they nigh
have been surprised and cut of by
the Indians, who, however, gave
them no disturbance during thu
night, nor afterwards during thu
whole of their retreat. The mum
Der of those composing the mail
body in the retreat was supposed
to be about three hundred.
Most unfortunately, when re
treat was resolved on, a difference
of opinion prevailed concerning
the best mode Of effecting it. The
greater number thought it best tC
keep in a body and retreat as fast
as possible, whilo considerable
mum ber thought it safest to break
off IN small parties, and make
their way home IN dlnerenl
directions, avoiding the route by
which they came. Accordingly
many attempted to do 80, calculat.
ing that that the whole body OF the
Indians would follow the main
army. In this they were entirely
mistaken. The Indians paid but
little attention to the main body OF
the army, but pursed the small
parties with such activity, that but
very few Of those who composed
them made their escape.
The only successful party who
were detached from the main army
was that Of about forty men under
the command of Capt. Williamson,