The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-01-14
TREACHEROUS INDIANS.
Biz Foot's Band Surrender and
Then Begin a Battle.
CAPTAIN Wallace and a Number
of Troopers Slain.

A dispatch from Pine Ridge Agency, South
Dakots, says: Big Foot's braves turned upon
their captors this morning and bloody fight
ens:ed. The trouble came when the soldiers
attempted to disarm the Indians, who had
surrendered to Major Whitesids. This move
on the part Of the troops was resisted, and
bloody and desperate battle at close quar-
ters followed, in which the Indians were shot
down ruthlessly, and in which the lives OF
several soldiers were sacrificed.
Captain George W. Wallace was killed and
Lieutenant Darlington and fifty troopers
were wounded.
Big Foot's band, numbering $50 warriors,
surrendered yesterday to Major Whiteside,
who, with the Seventh Cavalry, had been in
readiness to intercept the hostiles who were
making for the Bad Lands.
They had been lowering about the edge o.
the Bad Lands ever since Sitting Bulls
death. On Sunday last they approached
Major Whitesids's camp, near the mouth OF
Porcupine Greek, and signi6ed their inten-
ton to return to their reservation.
Colonel Forsyths threw his force around
the Indian camp and mounted the Hotchkiss
guns so as to command the camp, and at S
O'clock issued the order to disarm the rcd
skins.
The preparations were quickly made The
command was given to the indians
to come forward from the tents.
This was done, the squaws and chill.
dren remaining behind tho tepees Tho
braves advanced short distance from the
camp to the placs designated and were
placed in half circle, the warriors squat
ting on the ground A body Of troops were
then dismounted and thrown around the n
dians, this force comprising Company K,
&o; oil Cor N
Varnum. The order was then given to
twenty Indians to go to the tents and get
their guns. Upon returning it was seen that
only two guns were brought A detachment
at once began to search the village, resulting
In thirty-aight guns being found.
As this task was about completed, the In
dians, surrounded by Companies K and B,
began to move. All of sudden they threw
their hands to the ground and began firing
rapidly at the troops not twenty feet away.
The troops were at a great disadvantage fear
ing to shoot their own comrades. The Indians.
women, and children then ran to the
south, the battery firing rapidly at them as
they ran. Soon the mounted troops were
after them, shooting them down on the wing
on every side.
The engagement lasted fully an hour and a
half. To the south many took refuge in ra-
vine, from which it was difficult to dislodge
them. The Indians from cover kept up con-
slant fire on the soldiers, VINO replied, pick
ing off the redskins at every opportunity.
The HotchkiSs gun was also run up so as to
command the ravine, and whitening fire
was poured upon the reds. It is estimated
that the soldiers killed and wounded number
about fifty. There were more than fifty
Indians killed outright.
The Indians were shot down wherever
found, no quarter beirS given by any one.
Captain Wallace was Killed by a blow Of a
club on the head and Lieutenant Darlington
Of Arctic fame was shot through the arm at
the elbow.
he soldiers pursued the red skins who at
tempted to escape from the ravine, and few
of the band of 10 who surrendered escaped.
To say that it was most daring feat, 100
Indians attacking 500 cavalry, expresses the
situation but family.
1t could only have been insanity which
prompted such deed. It is doubted IL by
night either buck or squaw out OF all Big
Foots band is left to tell the tale Of this days
treachery.
The members OF the Seventh Cavalry have
once more shown themselves to be heroes in
deeds of daring. Single-handei conflicts
were sean all over the field.
The Indisns were not all armed with guns,
many Of them having only pistols or knives
ohet SioDS. Ivy Aou6np ViVu ocSPel dVioui
and after the first surprise were greatly at
disadvantage. After breaking through the
line that surrounded them they were at the
mercy Of the mounted troopers, the ground
for some distance being unbroken
After the first volley the Indians threw
themselves upon the troopers who sur
rounded them, and who were so completely
taken by surprise that they were unable to
return the first fire, and could only fight with
their clubbed guns or small arms.
Before the battle was over another skirmish
occurred near the agency. One Of Colonel
Forsythe's troopers of the Seventh Cavalry
was fired on by some Indians who went out
from the Rosebud Camp, near Pine Ri6gc, and
on their return fired into the agency. This
caused skirmish, in which two soldiers were
wounded. Indian scouts who have just come
in say that but few Of Big Foots men are
left alive.
Captain George D. Wallace, the dead cap
tain, was appointed to the Military Academy
from South Carolina in 1865, and upon being
graduated in 1872 was commissioned second
lieutenant in the Seventh Cavalry. He
received his promotion to first lieutenant in
1876 and was commissioned captain in Sep
TENDER 1885.