The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-11-11

| Indians and Texans who were making an
effort to flank the Federal position. When
the artillery ceased firing the Union in
| fantry was ordered forward to attack the
| Confederate line concealed from view IN
the brush and timber On coming up to
within 40 or so yards of the Confederate
line, which had until this moment been
hidden from view, Col Williams, 1st Kan.
| c. T., and Col De Morse, 29th Tex, gave
the order to fire almost at the same instant,
and Immediately the volleys from the two
| lines made terrific roar of small-arms
In this volley from the Coniederates Col.
| Williams had his horse killed, and also fell
| himself at the same time, severely wounded
! in the breast and face. Col. De Morse, on
| the Confederate side, was also wouaded III
the arm. Col. Williams was obliged to be
! taken to the rear, but continuous lire was
kept up between the two opposing lines for
some minutes. the colored troops loading
and firing lying down on the ground.
Lient-Col. Bowles assumed command of
the colored regiment when Col. Williams
was borne off The field. He was on the
right of his regiment at the time and no.
| ticing some of the mounted Indians of Col.
Schaurte's command on his right riding be-
tween him and the Confederate line, ordered
them back out Of the line Of fire.
The commander of the Texas regiment
directly in front, hearing the order of Col.
Bowles, supposed it was an order for the
colored regiment to retire, and at once Or
dered his own regiment to advance. They
came up within % yards of the colored
regiment, who gave them q volley Of mus
kerry which shot down their colOr-bearer
and quickly sent them back in considerable
disorder, with the loss of number of men
killed and wounded and left on the ground.
Their coloIs were again raised, but in
few moments shot down again, and left on
the ground to fall into the hands of the OPP
posing force. by the retreating Texans. The
center of the Confederate line was now
broken. and obliged to retire some distance.
While the ist Kan. was thus employed,
the ID Indian regiment, on the right OF them,
under Col. Schaurte, was deployed as Skin
mishers and entering the timber soon oom-
PEELED the Southern Indians to retire across
Elk Creek. Capt. Sterens, commanding the
battalion Of the Sd Wis Cav, who was
posted on the extreme right Of the Union
line dismounted part Of his men to Skin
mish the woods, and with the assistance of
his section of howitzers forced the lett of
The Con lederate line back upon their center
On going into battle Six mpanies of the
I'd Colo, of Col. Phllips's Brigade, were on
the left of the 1st Kan. c. T., and early in the
action, before the Confederate line had COM
menced to yield, three companies came near
being cut off and captured.
While the Union line was advancing
through the brusii, which was thick enough
in places with the leaves and heavy foliage
TO hide from view q foe n few yards in adj
vance, these companies had become out OF
alignment, had reached perhaps as far rs 20
iatt Of h. Of
the colored infantry, and coming to an i'm
passaple ditch or washout directly IN their
front, filed TO the right and crossed in front
of the left of the line of the colored infantry.
When the Colorado men got over the
ditch :hey filed TO the left again and came
into line, but still in advance Of the colored
infantry, on their right. At this moment
Confederate force which had been lying
down concealed in the brush behind the
gully, but How between them and it, rose
up to cut them off.
The colored regiment was almost in
stantly ordered 10 0blique 30 the left, and
coming up within less than 80 yards Of the
COnlcdsrates, gave them several vOlleys of
musketry, which caused them to break, and
they ran back right in the direction of the
Colorado men, who now realizing the situa-
ton and seeing the enemy in confusion,
turned and opened fire upon them, only 4
fay yards distant. Many were killed or
wounded and few captured.
While these movements were taking place
liz the center of the Union line, the LIST
Indian regiment, under Col. Wa,tles, on the
left of the Cd Colo, and the four companies
of the 9Th Kan. Cav, on the left the Indians,
had entered the timber. and were driving
the rebel Indians under Col. Waite and the
Texans supporting him back upon Elk Creek.
! They soon compelled the enemy to cross to
the south side 1T the lower ford.
The Confederate line had now been forced
to retire to the soulh side OF Elk Creek in a
good deal of confusion. feeble effort, how
ever, was made TO hold the bridge over Elk
Creek, aud some of the iords, but the troops
defending them were specify driven from