Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-01-07
BESIEGtD BY INDIANS.
Troops Sent to the Rescue After IA Long
Fight.

Troops Sent to the Rescue After Long
Fight.
CAMP NEAR WOUNDED KNEE CREEK,
:. D., January 6.-Another engagement
took place at this point yesterday morn
ing.
As number Of wagons with supplies
were known to be coming on the road
from Rapid City TO this point, it was
thought best TO send out Il detachment
TO protect them. So 30 men were picked
aud Immediately started down the road.
They had not gone over 10 miles when
they discovered the wagons, l3 in num-
Der. drawn up in the form Of square,
and being attacked by band OF about
80 Indians.
The detachment put their horses to
full gallop, the Indians seeing which,
drew to an adjoining hill. The detach-
ment then Joined the teamSterS, who
numbered only -. Sacks OF grain,
bundles and bOxeS were thrown up IN
front of the beseiged as breaStworkS.
The Indians, noticing this, Immediately
returned and commenced the attack,
circling around the wagons, but keep
ing at distance Of 500 yards As ire
suit the shots from their Wlnchesters
were not very effective, often falling
short OF the mark. The carbines OF the
soldiers were used with much more
effect, a number of Indians being seen
20 fall from their horses.
Meantime the number of the hoStlleS
was augmented until they numbered
about 100 warriors, besides those they
had posted of on the adjoining hills.
One Soldier, during the commence
ment of the fight, while arranging the
breastworkS. was shot in the ShQnlder'
hut not seriously wounded. A soldier
was detailed 10 return TO camp and re-
mort that ths detachment was besieged
by the Indians, and that they were at
tacking the wagon train. lie selected a
fast horse and made a break at an OPP
portune moment, the attention OF the
Indians being attracted 10 movements
made on the other side. As soon rs the
object of the ruSe was seen about 20 In
dams gave chaSe to Private Collins, and
fired shot after shot at him, but as he
had a fast horse he soon diStanced them.
Fhey then returned with the others to
/ the attack. Three more Indians were
seen TO fall from their horses, aud were
picked up and carried away by their
companions. Four cavalry horses were
shot and killed, as were large number
Of Indian ponies.
While the large body of Indians was
being engaged b, the majority of the
soldiers aud citizens, few Indians seat
tered about. diSmoInted, and getting as
close as possible, began firing into the
horses, trying 10 stampede them. ms
thev nearly succeeded in doing several
times. BY this time things were getting
pretty hot for the besciged party. and 1t
was hard to distinguish the Indians
through the smoke. The teamstcrS ha /
been Gghting them for sly hours and
/ the soldiers about thres hours.
shortly before o'clock In the atter'
noon a commotiOn was seen among the
Indians. and they gradually retreated'
when it was seen that the troops were
coming at full charge to the rescue
Every one gave three reSounding cheers
= tLG troops rode up, the Indians seat,
tering in ali directioRS, and Troop
giving chase. The hostlles were pur-
Sued tim near nightfall, when the chase
was abandoned, the wagon train return
ing to camp, bringing the dead Indians
IN souc ponies with them.