The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-23

out, when one of the men accidentally
discharged his piece. A second later
there was a volley of rife shots from
the timber at the northeast corner or
the clearing, and the engagement was
on.
Maj. Wilkinson, who left the COM
pany in charge of the first sergeant,
was q short distance away. l realized
the situation and shouted to the men
to stand steady and fire in the direct
ton from which the volley from the
Indians came. Maj Wilkinson ran
up, and, although there was a dispo-
sition on the part Of some of the de-
tachment especially the men who were
recruits and had never been upder
tire, TO break for cover, they stood
their ground, fired couple of volleys
and then deployed into a skirmish line.
For the first hour the engagement
Was as hot as any one could WISH the
troops being at a disadvantage, as the
Indians had the better position, being
cCEcealed in the dense timber and I'M
der brush, and not one showed in sight.
Maj. Wilkinson was wounded short
ly after the engagement opened, but,
after having his wound dressed, re-
turned to the firing line. Our line was
advanced so as to take in the block
house or cabin of Old Bug and the
shanty was afterwards used as head
quarters and as hospital for the
OSoQ dilu u. Inc 1nOIdnS were
driven back from their position, and at
nightfall when the firing ceased our
skirmfsh line was in full possession
of the field
"Pickets were kept out during the
night, but there was no fighting until
the next morning, when small steam
boat arrived with limited amount IF
supplies and a quantity of ammuni-
ton. 1t was apparent then that the
Indians had retreated, as the fire was
very scattering and not more than a
dozen of the bucks were left.
1t has been stated by the Indians
that there were but nineteen engaged
in the fight Wednesday afternoon, but
L put no stock in these statements and
my experience and the firing leads me
to place the fighting force of the IN
dlans at from sixty to eighty, if not
more.
The firing during the morning Of
Thursday was, so far as the Indians
were concerned, confined to stray shots,
now and then several of the troops
being picked off and wounded by In
dian sharpshOoters who were concealed
in the timber. The statement of the
Indians that none of their number were
wounded or killed is not correct, as
several of the men who were excellent
shots We're detailed to pay particular
attention to the Indian sharpshooters,
and number of them were plugged.
Shortly after noon Thursday
steamboat arrived from Walker, and,
after advancing our skirmisI line and
beating through the woods in the
hopes Of getting some of the Indians,
we embarked and returned to Walker.
It was my opinion then that the In
dams had been whipped and scattered
and were badly beaten, and subsequent
events have proven this to sae the case.
THE band that caused the trouble
are whipped and Inundated, and 1 do
not think there will be any more trou-
bic. They have been preparing for the
fight for a year or more and expected
to have an easy time when it came to
an engagement. Troops have been fire.
Quently sent to the reservation, but
owing to the position occupied by the
1rdians beirg accessible only by water
nothing more than a short stay has
been attempted.
This time we went after them and
succeeded in convincing them that we
meant business, and the effect will be
that there will be no further trouble.
The Indians Of the tribe who took no
part in the fight promes to bring in
those who are wanted by the marshal,
ard with the exception Of those who
were certainly killed during the engage
ment l think they viii do as they
agree to.
Those who do not come in are either
dead or wounded, and 1 am inclined to
the belief that a number of them are
wounded and are fearful that if this
Is known 1t would be evidence that
they were engaged in the fight
In order to assure the residents Of
Walker and prevent any possibility of
trouble, a company consisting of 1O4
troops, under command of Can't.
French, will remain at Walker during
the winter. They will be quartered in
building recently erected as a SAM
tarium a short distance from Walker.
The campaign was a short one. but has
settled all troubles for years to Gomez
Gen. Bacon spoke feelingly of Mai.
Wilkinson and the other members OF
the command who lost their lives dur
Ing the engagement, and paid a high
tribute to the courage and bravery dis
played by them.
Lieut.. Tenny Ross, who was with the
detachment during the fight and is now
an aide to Gen. Bacon, returned with
the general to st. Paul last evening
The balance of the troops, with the
exception of the company which is to
remain at Walker. are expected home
today or tomorrow