Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-31
r1n1nn ON rnH AGrNcY.
BATTLE woUNoeD-KNEe CREEK,
,,,,ble story by an Eye witBess-Sol'
,I r4 and indians Fight Like Devils.
ny telegraph to the Dispatch.I

a.
nly telegraph TO the Dispaich.l
o,,,r, December 30.-The BEES CORE
,.,-l.nt NJ the camp at WOunded-kneo
,..l. t.,egraphs as follows concerning yes
hattie: la the morning as soon as
.5.Dary military work of the early day
. d.re Major Whiteslde determined
80 .lrming the Indians at once, and
o'clock the camp of Big Foot was
'..,.,rDjed by the Seventh cavalry
. Taylgr's scouts. The Indians were
,...,g In half circle. -Four
u'aTkiss Guns were placed upon the hill
r+ zoo vrrds distant. Every pTopara-
.... ,gas made not especially 10 fight. bnt
t.v the Indians the futility of resist
,.- They so,med 20 recognize this fact,
,,l whom Major Mhitcsidcs ordered them
..r.nc ou twenty ut time and give up
.srrr.n. they came. but not with their
,-rs nm sight OF the :irst twenty but
troo1 three displayed arms. These they
-,ve up sullenly. and observing the tu-
tI+r d tins method OF procedure Major
rt,t.siIe- ordered detachment Of X and
,r,.r~ on foot 70 enter the tepees and
taTrh them.
A STORM OF FIRING.
This work had hardly been entered upon
VIsr f20 desperate indians turned upon
Tho soldiers. who were gathered closely
s..,nf tlit. fences. and immediately storm
- frinr wts poured upon the military.
h ,.as a4 though the search had been the
,-rsl The latter not anticipating any
.r-h oction. had been gathered IN very
,.siv. and the first firing was terribly dis
..,r ms % them. The reply was imme-
fa,e however. and IN an instant
IF s.emol that the draw IN which tho
Indian camp WIS set was a sunken Nesu-
,.u. The soldiers, mGddoned at the sigh 7
q fhcir falling comrades. hardly awaited
command. and IN a moment the Wh0ie
front was a sheet Of fro, above Whlch the
fnoke rolled, obscuring the central scene
frm view Through tins horrible cur
t-,1 s-uele Indians could be soen at times
fvrg before the fire, but after the nrst
daalarse from the carbines Of the troopers
tlere were few Of them left.
FELL on ALL SIDES.
Thoy fell on ali sides like grain in the
..u--o of a scythe. Indians aud soldiers
hy tol,lher and the wounded fought on
N, orouDd. on through the draw to-
wl-is thc bluffs q few remaining warriors
fL turning occasionally TO FIRE. but now
,vdeu'ly caring more for escape than bat
O..
COURAGE or DEVILS.
Only the wounded Indians seemed pos
90 i NJ tho courage of devils. From tho
rr.ual where they bad fallen they con-
iluol to FIRE until their ammunition was
.0reor until killed by the soldiers; BQth
u!r, forgot everything except the Loading
.uI dischATglug OF guns.
TIE UASD-1o-HASD PLOTTING.
To was only In the early part Of the aifray
lst tho hand-to-Llnd fighting was seen.
I,rbiue. we're dubbed, sabrcs cleaned.
and war.clubs circled IN the air and came
down Ike tLuuder-bOlt8. But this was
uuly for % short time. The Indians could
+ Z stand that storm from the solher.-
tr.y had not hoped TO. IL was only a
stroke of life before death. The remnant
fef. and tine battle became u hunt. II was
now that the artillery was called into
rquisiton.
IHF ARTILLERY OPENS.
Before the fighting was so close that the
guns coull not Poe trained without the dan
ger of death to the soldiers. Now, with
Inc Indians flying whore tlw might, 1t was
easier 10 reach them. Tho Calling and
Eotchkiss guns were trained, and then be-
rpq the heavy firing. which lasted halt an
i.ur. with irequ nt heavy Youcy5 oI mus
k.,ry aud cannon.
rxrRRNiINATTD.
Twas a war of determination now with
t.trIrroI3. IL was difficult % restrain
81 l.u4. TGctic- We're almost abandon,
d About the only tactics was TO Kill
vtn.u .ould Doe done Wherever an In
tanca.I he seen down into the creek
G3 grover tie bare hills they We're fol
Is0f I the artillery and muskCtry tre,
GItr -e,eral minutes the engagement
Vlto until not live Indian was IN sight.