The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-01-21
RECKLESS REDSKINS.
A Detailed Account Of the
Battle in South Dakota.
twenty-five Soldiers and Nearly
a Hundred Indians Killed.

The battle with the Indians on Wounded
Knee Creek in South Dakota was bloodier
and more deadly than the first reports indi-
:atei. twenty-five soldiers were killed and
thirty-fve were wounded. Nearly 100 Indi-
ans fell before the sheet of fame that swept
lown from the batteries and guns of the
United States troops The manner in which
Big Foot's band turned upon their captors,
stood before the terribly raking fire and shot
lown so many soldiers rivals anything that
las accompanied the Indian wars Of Amer
ca. Though encountered by their squaws
and pappooses, they almost snatched victory
from defeat and displayed degree Of reck-
ess daring and bravery that has rarely been
qualed.
Big Foot and his band were surrounded at
,oulock in the morning by the Seventh Cav
dry and Taylor's scouts. Four Hotchkiss
guns were stationed on hill about two hum
ired yards from where the Indian warriors
we're encamped in semi-circle. The posi-
ion taken was so strong that it seemed a
hopeless task for the redskin braves to make
any sort Of resistance. Far outnumtared by
.oldiers and directly in range Of the sheet Of
dame and shot, that might come from the
uSly looking Hotchkiss guns, they seemed to
realize that resistance meant death to them,
while the foe was In comparative safety.
Major. Whiteside arranged this line Of bat
tie with view of oyerawing the Indians and
capturing and disarming them without
bloodshed.
The first show Of resistance was made when
the Indians were ordered to surrender their
,rms. They had been ordered 90 come for
ward ty twenties and dissrm. Only three of
Ll-zn n.-.A H.
their guns. Major Whiteside therefore or
search the tepees and take away all arms
Iound. The order aroused all latent forces
If the redskin nature. They seemed to re-
yard the surrender Of arms as the giving up
II their lives. Probably they feared that
ihey would be shot down without mercy as
ioon as they were made defenceless, and they
determined to die fighting and in defence Of
iheir arms.
With desperate bravery the 120 Indians
Mrped upon their foe and poured frightful
7olley upon the soldiers that were gathered
closely about the tepees. The determination
20 fight and the execution Of the design were
10 sudden that the soldiers were completely
surprised. They had not expected resistance
n the face Of such overwhelming odds. They
aad come 80 near the tents and were gathered
10 closely together that the first volley
swept down before it a score Of tie brave
men who had been sent forward to disarm
Big Foot's desperate followers.
The return fire came upon the Indians just
,s suddenly as their own, but its effect was
more deadly. The soldiers, maddened at the
light of their falling comrades, hardly
awaited the command, and In moment the
whole front was sheet Of fire above which
The smoke rolled, obscuring the central scene
from view. Through this horrible curtain
Jingle Indians could be seen at times flying
before the fire, but after the first discharge
rom the carbines Of the troopers there were
.ew Of them left. They fell on all sides like
yrain In the course Of the scythe.
Indians and soldiers lay together and,
wounded, fought on the ground. OF toward
turning occasionally to fire, but now evil
iently caring more for escape than battle.
Only The wounded Indians seemed possessed
II the courage Of devils. From the ground
where they had fallen they continued to fire
1ntil their ammunition was gone or until
killed by the soldiers. Both sides forgot
everything excepting only the loading and
lischarging Of guns.
It vas only In the early part Of the affray
hat hand to hand fighting was seen. The
,arbines were dubbed, sabres cleaned and
war clubs circled in the air, coming down
ike thunderbolts. But this was only for
hort time. The Indians could not stand
that storm from the soldiers. 1t was only a
troke of life before death. The remnant
led and the battle became hunt.
1t was now that the artillery was called in
% requisition. Before the fighting was 80
lose that the guns could not be trained with
,ut danger Of death to the soldiers. Now
z,itl, kha T,d;opc Hp;poy no hara fhav noi0ht IL
vas easier to reach them. The Gatling and
Iotchkiss guns were trained, and then began
, heavy firing, which lasted half an hour,
with frequent heavy volleys Of musketry and
cannon.
It was war Of determination now with
he troopers. It was difficult to restrain the
roops Tactics were almost abandoned.
About the only tactics were to kill while 1t
:ould be done, wherever an Indian could be
zen. Down into the creek and up over the
bare hills they were followed by artillery and
nusketry fire, and for several minutes the
Engagement went on until not live Indian
vas In sight
More than ninety Indians were killed by the
ieadly fire from the Hotchkiss guns and the
lnerring aim of the soldiers. But when the
lmoke cleared away it was found that the
irine Of the redskins had been only degree
ess effective than that Of the we'll trained
troopers. Twenty-Five brave soldiers were
rcattered on the field and thirty-fve others
we're suffering from wounds that may yet
prove fatal. Father Francis N. ]. Craft,
. Catholic priest who had fastened to the
,ront to lend his services in settling the diff
:ulties with the red men, lay on the field with
mortal wound in the lungs. The death Of
his brave man, in addition to the killing OF
Captain Wallace and the wouding o. Captain
Myles Moylan and Lieutenant T. A. CARING.
on. make up list Of casualties which Will
.ause this strife to be regarded as most ex'
,ensive one.
A late dispatch from Pine Ridge Agency
avs: General Miles has assumed command
IF the forces here, relieving General Brooke,
who started into the field with the Second
Infantry, going by way Of Oelrichs to point
,orne fifteen miles north Of here.
"Amid as wild, binding and bitter win
ter's storm as ever swept this bleak and
barren country, were laid away to their last
.est thirty Of the bravest boys who fell with
.tace to the foe in the bloody encounter at
Wounded Knee.
"The graves were in rows Of six, close to-
yether. in ths southwest corner OF the ceme-
tery, and overlooking the camp; After the
reading of the burial service by ,sr the rev; y
Mr. Cook, the Episcopal clergyman IAN
uere, alQeu oy LAO
bodies were lowered into the grave:
OWING to the intensely critical condition OF
the surroundings, with hordes Of the enemy
hockinr about the agency threatening all
attack the usual salute of guns was omitted,
While soft notes from the bugle and the wall
of the storm whispered last-loving good
bye. ill +,
sent to Fort Riley, Kansas, for interment
Those of Captain Mills, who was found dead
in his tent from rheumatism of the heart,
were sent to Omaha"
GENERAL SPINNER DEAD.
The Famous Ey.Treasurer q victim