Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-08-25
CAPTIVE MINERs.>l
Fort Anderson Captured by MM:
Carpenter After Some hot
Fighting.
Five Men Were Killed and Many
Injured Before the Miners
Reiterated.

KNOXVILLE, Aug. 20.-Uncertainty no
longer marks the condition of the things at
the seat of war as it is now generally called.
Fort Anderson is no longer in state of
siege. On the contrary, the miners instead
of being huntsmen are hunted.
Tonight special train bearing the two
volunteers who were killed in the battle at
Coal creek this morning three men who
were wounded, and 1875 volun, GERS who
went to the front last night rolled into the
depot; 5000 people were gathered about the
station and the excitement was higher than
at any time since the trouble began. When
the train stopped the men, who bore every
evidence OF actual service on the field of
battle, poured out OF the coaches and
formed in line through which two of
their dead comrades were carried in mill
tary style, The company formed with
arms rever ed and marched behind the re-
mains OF the dead volunteers to the court
house.
THE DEAD AND WOUNDED.
Not until the arrival of this train was it
melee ana the incidents leading up to it.
Five men were killed in all: John T. Wal
than OF this city, railway clerk, aged
twenty-two; Bruce Givens. farmer of
Knox co unity, aged thirty-nine, and
mulutto Ill an of the Twenty-second regi-
ment, name unknown, supposed t, be from
Chattanooga. The wounded on the side of
the militia are Thomas L. Carter, a lawyer
of this city shot through the let groin, in
juries may prove fatal; Samuel Heiskel, a
prominent lawyer and Democratic poll
tician, slightly injured; John Milton,
laborer, eighty wounded. Two Miners
George Miller of Coal Creek and George
Neil Of Oneida were killed, and one, John
Wilson of Coal Creek, was slightly
wounded. J. NJ. Gaut business man of
this city and one OF the volunteers, was
badly injured by falling over ledge Of
rocks. r
ON THE BATTLE FIELD.
The battle commenced at $50 this morn
ing and lasted nearly half an hour. -Four
Of Col. Woliord's soldiers who were along
with the Knoxville boys, were captured
but were soon retaken. The volunteers
and 100 soldiers of the Second regiment
reached Offutts. small village four miles
this side OF Coal Creek, about II o'clock
lat night. After thoroughly discussing
the situation and conferriW by wire with
Brig. Gen. earn 8, it was decided to go at
once to the relief Of Fort Anderson. Maj
D. A. Carpenter, who soldiered in that vi
cinity during the war and is thoroughly
acquainted with the topography OF the
country, took command OF the men. They
left Ofutts about 2 o'clock and went across
Walden's :idge BY circuitous route.
THE ATTACK.
The night was as dark as pitch and the
Loneliness of the road was depressing. The
sides of Walden ridge were very steep and
covered with huge boulders and lodges of
sandstone Over these distractions the
brave fellows many OF whom had never
been in the mountains. clambered and then
descended. Their clothing was torn and
their hands and faces were scratched by the
brambles. Just after they started down the
mountain on the north side towards Fort
Anderson the men were divided into three
squads under Capt. Ledgerwood, Gen: D. D.
Anderson and Col. S. Wolford respectively.
Soon afterward three men, all uniformed
and Ct lining to be friendly to the soldiers
appeared and offered to pilot the regiment
down the mountain. Without suspicion
the troops followed them into we'll
planned ambuscade. Ledgerwood's men
were in front at point about quarter OF
a lille rom Fort Anderson. Firing COM
n,enced roms behind the great lodges of
sandstone overlooking the va ley where the
men were marching
A RETREAT ORDERED.
The stars aud stripes at Fort Anderson
were in full view and the men were feeling
relieved at the near sppr oach OF the for if
cations and were joking with each other
when bullets began whistling about their
ears. Ledgerwood's men had passed the
ambuscade before the firing commenced,
and they received volley of bullets in the
back. Carter, Waltham. G vens and Heis-
KEEL were all in this party. The other COM
panies faced about at once and opened fire
on the ambuscade. As the firing became
general men seemed to rise up from behind
every stump and stone in sight. They were
all we'll armed and greatly outnumbered
the military. Maj Carpenter. seeing that
the odds were greatly against him, ordered
all three companies to retreat and the long
march over the mountains to Offutts was
commenced again. The dead and wounded
of both sides were left on the field of battle
The miners, alter capturing four of Wool
ford's men. started on a retreat themselves
seeing that Carpenter was going rapidly in
an opposite direction.
The four soldiers were released and al
lowed to return to their regiment. The
regiment reached Offutts on their return
about 10 o'clock.
THOROUGHLY EXHAUSTED.
They had eaten nothing since yesterday.
They notified Gen. Carnes that they were
at his service If needed. and many piucky
young fellows, thoroughly stirred up over
the loss OF three OF their comrades wanted
to go to Coal Creek anyway. Gen. Cxrnes
wired them that he could manage Coal
Creek with his regiment and they started
around the country among the farm houses
and ate their first meal in twenty-tour
hours. A squad OF picked men returned to
the battlefield and brought the dead and
wounded into Coal Creek under hag of
truce.
Postmaster to Be Named.
FERGUS FALLS, Mimi, Special, Aug. 20.
The term of Horace Pickit the Democratic
postmaster who has enjoyed nearly tour
years of officeholding under Republican
administration has eYDired but his sncces-