Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1891-01-08
A BATTLE WITH THE REDS.
Particulars Of the Engagement at Wounded
Knee-capt. Wallace and Number Of
Soldiers Are Killed
THE INDIANS LOSE HEAVILY.

THE INDIANS LOSE HEAVILY.
LINCOLN, NEB., Dec. 29.-The State
Journal has from it's special CORE
spondent the following account of the
fight between the troops and Big
Foot's Indians at the camp on
Wounded Knee. At eight o'clock this
morning troops were massed about
the Indian village, the Hotchkiss guns
overlooking the camp not over fifty
yards away from the tents. They
came and sat in half circle until
counted. Dismountsd troops were
then thrown around them,-Company
X, Capt. Wallace, and Company B,
Capt. Varnum. The order was then
given to twenty Indians to go and get
their guns. They returned with only
two guns. A detachment of troops
at once began to search the village,
finding thirty-eight guns. Asthis task
was about completed, the Indians
surrounded by Companies X and B
began to move.
All of sudden they threw their
blankets to the ground, whipped up
their rifles and began firing rapidly at
the troops not twenty feet away.
The troops were at great disadvan-
tage, fearing to shoot their comrades.
Indian men, woman and children then
ran to the south, the battery firing
rapidly as Ithey ran. Soon mounted
troops were after them, shooting them
down on every hand. The engagement
lasted fully an hour and a half. To the
south many took refuge in a ravine
from which it was difficult to dislodge
them. l should estimate the loss
in killed and wounded, from what
saw on the field, at fifty. just now
it is impossible to state the exact
number. The soldiers are shooting
them down wherever found. The field
was one of great confusion, horses
running in every direction and the men
for few moments frantic, owing to
the unfortunate way they wersplaced
Capt. Wallace, OF X troop, was the
only officer killed. In the first mad
rush of the Indians those of them who
had not guns attacked troopers with
knives, clubs and tomahawks, and
poor Capt. Wallace was struck down
with a blow from hatchet on the
head. Father Croft, catholic mission
ary, received bullet wound which
will probably result fatally. Lieut..
Darlington, OF Arctic exploration fame,
received a serious wound in the arm.
A number of ofnon-commissioned officers
and privates were wounded, probably
twenty-five or thirty in all. Several
of these are likely to die. AS this dis
patch is being written troops are still
pursuing Indians in every direction.
The correspondent says the Indians
must have been mad to have attacked
the number of soldiers gathered about
them, there being only 12O bucks. The
treacherous deed, coming at the time
it did, was a surprise, and the cores
pondsnt doubts if any OF the Indians
will be left alive to tell the tale when
the soldiers get through with the day {
work. The members OF the Seventh
cavalry have once more shown them
selves heroes in deeds of daring. Sim
gle conflicts ofgreat bravery were seen
all over the field.
BUCKS AND sQUAws SLAUGHTERED.
OMAHA, Dec. 31.-In the course OF
tine story sent to the Bee from Pine
Ridge late tonight, a correspondent
saws that besit!es some who fell in the
guilies, one hundred and sixteen war.
riors and forty squaws verifying dead
on the ground at Wounded Knee yes
terday.