The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-07

with Winchesters come out of the house
and go away inland. They did not speak
to me, although l was their agent for
hVe, and l feared trouble and called in
the twelve soldiers who were scattered
along the shore. About that time Gen.
Bacon returned with the troops Half the
men had stacked arms and the order was
given to unload their equipments. As they
did so a shot was fired and firing almost
Immediately became general.
THE soldiers formed In line in a semi
circle facing the Indians and the twelve
men who were with me rushed up to pro-
tect the right flank and drove the Indians
back, securing a more favorable position.
One of these men was shot in the face,
one in the arm and third in the leg. l do
not know how the others We're wounded.
After our first rush we had the best of the
position. The log house was inside our lines
and it was used as a hospital and the
men sought the cover of logs and trees
and settled down for long fight 1t con-
tinued during the day and evening and
was renewed this morning, although it
was never so hot as during the first hour
or so.
This morning a boat made a landing
with some provisions, and Gen. Bacon
wanted to send the wounded back. He sent
me down to make arrangements, and l
went out to the steamer in a canoe. They
captain of the boat brought him off shore,
and before the other could be moved the
Indians opened a hot fire on the boat and
we had to leave. About six miles out we
met the Flora going in with thirty or
more armed men and everything
the soldiers needed. When l left there had
been five killed and eight wounded, besides
the Indian policemen. Three men were
sick. / do not know the names of any
of the killed or wounded except Maj.
Wilkinson.
Gen. Bacon handled his men magnifi-
Gently, and was on the firing line during
the whole of the engagement, encouraging
his men and directing the operations. He
was ably seconded by Maj. Wilkinson un-
til he was killed, and Lieut. Ross, under
fire for the first time, showed himself
born fighter. He rallied the men at the
opening volley and stayed right with them
all the time. 1t is impossible TO tell how
many Indians are in the attacking party,
but 1 should say not less than $50 or 200,
and we don't know how many more are
joining them. They evidently had the
thing all planned, and were ready TO begin
firing at the signal They concentrated
part of their fire on the boats TO drive
them away and leave the soldiers no
means of retreat, evidently thinking they
could overpower the whole force. The
newspaper men, Brill, Beaton and KNAPP
pen, were all in good shape when l left,
doing their share of duty on the line. No
one of them had been injured"
Several of the small boats and the
steamer Flora went out during the night
and early this morning to endeavor to
land provisions for Gen. Bacon's beleag-
uered command, and bring away the dead
and wounded. The Flora had thirty
Brainerd fighters and few other armed
citizens.
'The Vera alone succeeded in effecting
the purpose of the trip. Harrison McCabe,
with the Vera, made a landing off the
north end of Bear Island, where the troops
are entrenched landing sufficient quanti-
ties of provisions to relieve immediate ne
cessities of the men. An attempt was then
made to bring down some men wounded.
The steamer could not approach close to
the shore, and it was necessary to use
small boat. One man was brought across
the open, but the Indians concentrated
their fire on this point and on the boat.
The place was too hot and McCabe was
forced TO leave.
During the engagement Capt. Sheehan
received a slight flesh wound across the
abdomen, bullet through his coat sleeve
and another through his trousers leg.
Maj. Wilkinson was killed yesterday af-
ternoon. He received a flesh wound in the
leg and retired to have Il dressed by DR..
Harris, the surgeon with the party. He
then reported to Gen. Bacon on the firing
line as ready for duty, and while talking
to Gen. Bacon an Indian sharpshooter
picked him out. Mai. Wilkinson was shot
through the body from side to side and
died almost instantly.
Tie agency Indians have been disposed
to be peaceful up to to-day, but last night
one of the Indian police was killed by the
troops by mistake, and the Indians are
now disposed to be hostile. The occurrence
was most unfortunate, but 1t Is hard to
see how any blame can be attached TO
the troops. The Indian Policeman Rustln
was said to be one of the best agency
Indians This incident has made the
agency Indians very angry and a council
Is said to be in progress tonight.