New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-01
FIGHTING AT PINE RIDGE.
AN6THERBATTLE WITH INDIANS
THE cAvALRYslEN WEARY AND GREATLY
oUTNUMBERED.

BSING SITUATION AT THE AGENCY
RAScHMEN KILLED-GpNERAL
MILES ON HIS WAY TO
THE sCEENE.
Pine Ridge Agency, Dec 31.-The 9Th Cavalry
had just reached camp yesterday morning. after
repulsing the attack made on their supply train
by Two Strikes band, when courier arrived
with word that the Catholic mission was on fire
and the teachers and pupils were being massaered.
In twenty minutes the weary and hungry aad
almost exhausted cavalry were once more in mo-
ton They found that the fire was at the day
school. one mile this side Of the mission.
The Indians. under command of Little Wound
and Two Strike, were found to the number OF
1 500 about mile beyond the mission. The 9TH
formed line and began the fighting, which was
carried on by only 800 or 400 Indians at time.
while the great mass kept concealed. General
FORSYTH suspected an ambush and did not let
them draw him into dangerous ground.
Colonel Henry started one hour later than
FORSYTH, and owing to the exhaustion OF MS
horses. had to travel very slow. The 7th became
surrounded by the redskins, but just as the circle
was ready to charge, the 9th broke in upon the
rear of the hostiles, and they vanished Inc
weary soldiers slowly retreated. reaching the
agency at dark. The infantry had been ordered
out but were stopped by the sight OF the heau OF
the column of cavalry. The soldiers, praVe auu
heroic as they were, were greatly outnumoereu'
and there are not enough troops at this polhO W
clean out these Indians, who are still campeo
within seven miles of the agency. The damage
done by the troops is small. Lieutenant Mann, Oh
Company f, 9TH Cavalry, was wounded, snoI
through the side The First Sergeant OF Com
pany X was also wounded
Omaha, Neb., Dec 3l.-A =" Zee correspondent
at Pine Ridge telegnphs that General BROOKE
has Just received news from the scene oil the nghO
at the Catholic Mission, on Clay Creek, that SAX
men of the 7th Cavalry have been killed ana
MANY wounded Further particulars have not yet
been received. The first intimation Of the trouble
ot the mission was brought late yesterday after
noon by a courier, who rushed in with the start
ling news that the mission Building, where there
are a number Of Catholic priests and sisters and
hundreds Of children, was surrounded by hosHles
and had been set on fire. The cavalrymen, who
had had scarcely any rest for four days, were IN
stantly in the saddle and with couple OF Hotch-
kiss guns started on gallop for the mission AS
the dispatch was being written the roar of the
guns could be heard, indicating that hot light
was in progress
Two Strike. Little Wound, Short Bull and other
chiefs ran away from the agency Monday nlSho
after hearing of the Wounded Knee fight, taking
with them hundreds of warriors. They also COM
PEELED the old chief, Red Cloud, to accompany
them under threat Of death. tt is these Indians
who looted the supply train yesterday morning
and in the afternoon raided the Catholic mission.
General Miles left Chadron at Z. m. for Pine
Ridge with large force of cavalry. 1t is reported
th,t. the ranches on Whit River have oeen pill
lagcd horses stolen and cattle killed. John Dyer,
chief herder of the Government herd, has aban--
dOned his cattle. Three ranchers are reported
killed on White River.
The Catholic mission near Chadron was burned
by Indians this morning. General Brooke has
ordered detachments there to guard the town. Ip
is now showing on the reservation and bllZzard
is setting in. Ranchcrs leaving their homes
and hocking into Chadron. The loss of life and
property is great. Three thousand Indians are
said to have broken away from the agency and to
have gone on the warpath.
A dispatch to The Bee from Rushville says ::
A binding snowstorm, which is fast assuming
the proportions of blizzard, began falling here
and at the agency at o'clock this morning.
Advices are that the dcsutOry fight was kept up
nearly all night at the late battle-ground, within
a few miles Of the agency until by reason of the
suspicious actions Of the alleged friendly Indians
in camp near the agency the troops were called in
from the uelu. III ITuHSplTtu ldtc ycoWIudS
evening that large camp of frendlies, located
south of the agency, is made up almost entirely
of old men, squaws and children. The question
is, what has become of the supposedly large
number of friendly bucks located there until
Yesterday
St Paul, Minn Dec. 31.-A Dickinson, y. d.,
dispatch to The Pioneer Press" says: Major
Carrolrs command arrived at New-England City
yesterday afternoon, returning from the Cave
Hills Captain Fountaine, whom he had been
sent to relieve, is ordered to report to him for
duty, and in few days Majer Carroll will march
to the forks Of the Grand River, where he will be
Joined by two troops OF the sth cavalry, under
Captain Fochet, from Fort iat 1T Is oelievea ,ei
move north, and Major Carroll, from his per-
manent camp on the Grand River, Will ii the
country as far west as the Little Miss and
as far east as Fort Yates His five loops OF
cavalry and two companies of infantry are at
present considered sufficient TO control the sltna-
ton The camps on the Cannon Ball and az
Dickinson are to be broken up, as being con-
sidered no longer necessary.
a half-breed courier, who was through that
camp last night, reports that nearly every aDle-
bodied Indian in this friendly outfit had quietly
slipped away after dusk and joined the hostile
forces Friendly Indians at Pine Ridge now, he
says, are principally squaws, and these not able
TO fight. Up to IL o'clock this morning, hoH-
ever, everything is reported to be quiet, both
sides resting on their arms and each waiting some
move from the opposing forces That fnrther
fighting will occur there seems no doubt II
the Indians should make an onslaught during
the storm they would undoubtedly have great
advantage The danger is that they will now
break away TO strongbolds in the Bad Lands. and
will be reinforced by Rosebud, Standing Rock and
other Indians. Eight more dead soldiers were
brought into the agency after dark last night.
being part Of yesterdays fatalities. The losses
TO the Indians are known 20 have been great,
but definite numbers have not yet been ascer-
tanned. The twu strangers who were murdered
within two miles Of the agency Yesterday are now
believed to be tcamsteH from Rushvile. Indian
signal-lights were again plainly visible last night
in Rough County, twenty Eiles north
Lincoln, Neb. Dec. 31.-Goyernor Thayer is IN
receipt of the following telegram
Chadron Neb., Dec. 31.-Indlans fighting here for
to days The city Is full Of women and children and
no arms Can't you order out militia and send guns.
JAMES C. DAHLMlAN. Sheriff.
The Governor Immediately authorized the fol-
lowing response
lincoln Neh Dec. 3i.-To Capt. Fred IL Smith,