Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-07-26
SURVIVED SCALPlhG.
EXPERIENCE or TWO SOLDIERS
IN THE FAR WEST.


81 read in New York paper the
other day old Indian.hghter Car
roll BronsOn's story Of how he was
once scalped by Indians" said a
former resident of Lamamie, "and
il reminded me that have met two
men in my time, both at Fort Lar
annie, who were scalped ana got
well. The story of one of these, a
soldier named DelOs G.. Sanbert-
son, of Monroe county, Mich, was
the first actual description, | be-
/ lieve. that any one has ever heard
of now il feels to be scalped.
While he was IN the hospital at
Laramie heard him tell the story
many times, and every time it made
me shudder, as it does still when
ever | think oft.
"Sanbertson belonged to the
United States infantry, which was
part of General Custer's command
in his campaign against the In
dams in 1869. He participated in
many of the engagements of that
campaign, the most important of
which was the fight with the cele.
brated Black Kettles band on the
Ouachta. IL was in this fight that
Sanbertson was wounded and
scalped by the Indians, and | re.
member that nearly all of the old
frontiersmen said that he was the
only person they eyer knew up to
that time who had been thoroughly
aud Enthusiastically scalped and
lived to tell OF it.
"For some days before the meet
ing with Black Kettle, Custer's
scouts had been bringing IN reports
that the willy chief was camped
with large following somewhere
on the Ouachita, and that he was
sending out predatory bands Of
his warriors 10 plunder settlers and
immigrant trains. Custer decided
to hunt him up and punish him.
The infantry was two miles in ad-
vance OF the calvery, when one day,
jHst at daylight, it cane in sight OF
the enemy's camp.
"'We we're on high hill over
looking the valley Sanberton said,
in giving the account of the affair,
land the Indians were below. 1t
was in the middle of winter, and
the snow was very deep. The In
dian camp was IN rocky spot, and
as the women and children we're
there, it was evidently the head
quarters Of the band. 1t was de-
termined to surprise the village,
and portion of our command was
sent through the woods to the
right to get in the rear of the
camp, while the remainder ad-
vanced quietly down the mountain,
from the top of which a good trail
led TO the valley through the thick
woods. This mangnvring was 30
successful that before our presence
was discovered by the Indians we
we're within four hundred yards oil
the camp and the detachment that
was sent TO open fire in the rear
had arrived in position. We knew
by the yells of the Indians and the
great commOtiOn among them thai
we were discovered, and We began
the attack. Firing began on both
sides of them at once, and TINS
caused what at first promised to be
a panic among the Indians thai
would make our victory an easy
one, bat suddenly an Indian OF
enormous statute and build, his
face hideously streaked in cross
bars with bright yellow and yer
million paint, came dashlng into
the midst Of the surprised and
panic.stricken band from some
place among the rocks riding a
black pony. His yell could be heard
above everything else as he dashed
to and fro among his warriors, and
the effect of his presence immedi
ately changed the whole situation
In less than two minutes every In
dian was in position behind some
rock or tree, and we knew that the
fight would be desperate one.
"sWe were in a secure position
but toe Indians we're just as secur'
as we were. The only way W.
could hope to defeat them was tC
charge upon their stronghold, dis
lodge them, and settle the affair by
a desperate hand.tO.hand fight
We we're ordered to charge dOwr
the hill upon the enemy, and VIZ
rushed headlong right into the In
dian camp, every man Of us yelling
as hideOusly as the red devils them
selves. AS soon az we had emerged
from the woods we were met Will
rihe.bals from every side, and
good many poor fellows never
reached the camp. The detachment
in the rear of the camp came into
the conflict from that side, and We
forced the Indians out from theiI
hiding. places into the open ground
and the battle waged right among
their tents. Black Kettle seemed
to be every where. His hldeOu
presence alone prolonged the fight
lie held his warriors TO theil
ground, and the fight became free
and general. The Indian women
and even the children took part In