The National tribune., 1890-01-30
FIGHTING THE SIOUX.
Correcting tho Statement Of IN nth Ohio Cavalry
man.


EDITOR NATIONAL Tribune: In recent
issue of your paper | sec an article headed
Fighting tho SouiS. in which Il. NJ. Drake,
Co. Il, 18th Ohio Cav, states chat no has never
seen an account of the Rush Creek fight with the
Indians, which occurred at Mud Springs Feb.
5, 1869" Mr.. Drake then submits his version
of tho fight with dates and numbers, much of
which is Inaccurate, and his first and greatest
error is that the Rush Creek fight should have
occurred at Mud Springs for they are different
places, separated by about 10 or ID miles, and
were scpcratc battles fought Oh different days
by the same parties.
Again, il is n fact that this Same band of
Indians burned the Town of Julesburg, on the
South Platte, fought aud killed about % of Co.
i, 9TH Iowa Cav, and that fight occurred on
Feb. %, 1860. This news was wired Col.
Collins, of the 18th Ohio Cav then at Fort
Laramie. before the Indians resumed their
journey northward. for Immediately thereafter
they left the South Platte, via Pole Creek STR p
ping the telegraph poles of the wire rs they
came, and to their establishment met Mt Mud
Springs Col. Collins, with parts of Cos. b and
ID, of the 9TH Iowa Cav, and small squad OF
his own regiment, nj which time tho fight ut
Mud Springs above referred to took place, which
could not have been earlier in the month than
the 18th of February.
Mr.. Drake states that Own. o. Collins, Colo
mel of tho 18th Ohio Cav, with about 100 of the
regiment, including some of the 9Th Iowa Cav,
was attacked by an overwhelming number oil
Sioux" That is erroneous, for there was a
nero Corporal's guard of the 1lth Ohio in the
Mud Springs fight, and the artilerymcn, who
did not arrive until after the battle, did not
number moro than % men, while Cos. Il and ID,
OF the 9TH Iowa. mustered about 100 men. True
the battle nj Mud Springs lasted one day, and
after the reinforcement of the % of the llth
Ohio with little l2-pOund gun, the Colonel
decided 10 pursue tho Indians. Therefore, on
the morning of tho second day we followed
their trail northeast To the North Platte where
the waters of Rush Creek empty into that river,
and the stream being frozen over, the COlOnels
orders were To march on to meet the Indians,
who by this time were coming out of the hills
on the opposite side Of the river in great NUM-
bcrs. which were estimated at 80 10 our one,
aud who wonld have met Us on the ice where
the greatest victory the Indians ever won, and
tho greatest slaughter that ever occurred In the
West would have taken place (the Custer
massacre not excepted had not nearly all the
commissioned officers Of the command earnestly
advised the Colonel to fall back 20 "A command
ing position on the banks OF Rush Creek, here
the two days siege took place, known IA the
Rush Creci, fight, TO which Mr.. Drake refors.
After taking our position on the banks Of the
creek throwing up works was an easy matter,
the soil was very sandy aud easily removed
hence, by tho time tho battle commenced the
brcastworks were fairly under way. Much
credit IS due the Lieutenant Ot the llth Ohio
Cav for the able manner Ia which lao handled
the little gun, which no doubt saved the lives
of US all. That tho Indians charged our breast
works once or twice and haud-to baud fight
followed. Is erroneous. and more especially is
il an error that they charged at o'clock in tho
morning for at that season Of the year it was
dark at O'Clock la the morning, and Indian
dCpTcdntious are most invariably committed in
daytime. In fact the ouly charge made was
By the soldiers. who charged TO dislodge In
dams, who had crept close TO our breast.
works that they wers pouring vOlioys of lead
aud arrows into our lines, aud the honor OF
leading this charge belongs 10 the above mon
toned Lieutenant Of the llth Ohio but he was
followed by boys OF tbe 1th Iowa almost cxcu-
sively.
Our commanding position, the manipulation
OF the small gun. and tho aforementioned
charge, Is what saved our lives. none Of which
WAS the good management Of Col. Collins. for
the position we took was urged upon the Col
onol, and the Lieutenant was instructed 10
handle the gun to the best of his ability. which
ho did, and the same Lieutenant who lei the
charge went to the Colonel aud asked pcrmis-
sion to make the charge, which was granted;
aud ngain u IS "A we'll known fact that we did
not return 20 Mud Springs but marched di-
rect 10 Fort Laramie.
Although Col. Collins was a good man, yet rs
a soldier and an officer he Was "a mere cipher
with shoulder-straps Twenty-Five years is a
long time 10 remember dates aud numbers,
consequently Comrade Drake is excusable for
his errors.
| think my impartial statement, though per-
haps not absolutely correct yet more accurate
and impartial than Mr.. brakes, because hc
barely mentions the eth Iowa Cav, aud scoops
the houors for Col. Collins aud the nth Ohio
Cav, both OF whom cut the smallest figure in
the fight, and, worst OF all, wholly ignores tho
brave Lieutenant of his own regiment, above
referred TO and whose name. am sorry to say,
! have f0rRottcn.-Ggo W. RoWAN, Co. ID, 7th
Iowa Cav, Chchalis, Wash.