Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-02-21


pistol. He then took Buchanan on his
shoulder and started back to the en-
campmsnt. They then opened heavy
fire upon them which wounded Buchan-
an In two more places slightly, and
pierced Bowie's hnnting shirt in several
places without doing him any injury.
When they found their shots failed to
bring Bowie down, eight Indians started
| after him with their tomahawks, and
when close upon him were discovered by
his party who rushed out with their
rifles and brought down four of them,
the other four retreating to the main
boiy. We then returned TO our posi-
ton and all was still for about five min
utes.
1--WE then discovered that hill about
sixty yards northeast of us was red with
Indians, who opened heavy fire upon
us with loud yells--the chief on horse
back, urging them in a loud, audible
voice to charge. walking his horse, per
fectly composed. When we first dis
covered it our guns were all empty with
the exception of that of Mr.. Hamm.
James Bowie cried out, who is loaded =
Mr.. Hamm answered, i am He was
then told to shoot that Indian on horse
back. He did so, and broke his leg and
killed his horse. We now discovered
him hopping round his horse on one leg,
with his shield on his arm to keep Off
the balls. BY this time four of our
party being reloaded, fired at the same
instant, and all of the balls took effect
through the shield. He fell, and was
Immediately surrounded by six or eight
of his tribe, who picked him up and
bore him away. Several of these were
shot by our party. The whole body
then retreated back of the hill out of
sight, with the exception of few In
dams who were running about from tree
to tree, out of gunshot.
'They now covered the hill for the
second time, bringing up their bowman,
who had not been in action before, and
commenced heavy fire with balls and
arrows, which we returned with q well
directed aim with our rifles. At this in
slant another chief appeared on horse
back near the spot where the last one
fell. The same question, Who is load
ed.' was asked. The answer was, NO
body when little Charles, the mulatto
servant, came running up with Buchan
ans rifle, which had not been discharged
since he was wounded, and handed it to
James Bowie, who instantly fired and
brought him down from his horse. He
was surrounded by six or eight of his
tribe aud borne of under our fire.
"During the time we were engaged in
defending ourselves from the Indians on
the hill some fifteen or twenty OF the
Caddo tribe succeeded in getting under
the bank of the creek in our rear, at
about forty yards distance, and opened
n heavy lire upon us, which wounded
Matthew Doyle, the ball entering the
left breast aud coming ont at the back.
As soon ms he cried out that he was
wounded Thomas McCaslin FASTENED to
the spot where he fell and observed,
'Where is the Indian that shot Doyle?'
He was told by more experienced hand
not to venture there, rs from the reports
OF their guns they mus. be riflemen.
At that instant he discovered an
Indian, and while in the act of raising
his piece was shot in the centre of his
body and expired. Robert Armstrong
exclaimed, Where is the Indian that
shot McCasinf He was told not to
venture there, rs they must DO riflemen;
but on discovering an Indian and while
bringing his gun up, he was fired at,
and part OF the stock OF his gun cut off
and the ball lodged against the barrel.
During this time our enemies formed a
complete circle around us, occupying
the points OF rocks, scattering trees and
bushes. The firing then became general
from all quarters. Finding our situa-
ton too much exposed among the trees.
we were obliged to leave them and take
10 the thickeis. The first thing neces.
sary was to dislodgc the riiemen from
under the bank Of the creek, who were
within point-blank shot. This we soon
succeeded in doing by shooting most of
them through the head, as we had the
advantage of seeing them when they
could not see us.
"The road we had cut round the
thicket the night previous gave ms now
an advantageous situation over that OF
the enemy, us we had fair view of them
when they could not see us. We batlied
their shots by moving eight feet the mo-
mont We had fred. rs their only mark
was the smoke OF our guns. They would