River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-07-21

Henry b, Darlington. United States
army, being duly sworn, makes oath and
says: That on the 21st day of December
1856, as colonel of the Eighteenth United
States infantry, and as commanding off.
Ger of the Rocky Mountain district
department of the Platte. he found his
whole district to be In state OF
bitter war with the Indians occupying
that country, and was constantly engaged
in such warfare that it became necessary
to employ citizen scouts and messengers
who were familiar with the country anC
with Indian methods.
That on the 21st day Of December 1866
aforesaid, an action took place within si1
miles of Fort Philip kearny, which post
was his headquarters, in which, surprised
by Red Cloud and his band of oYerwhelm.
ing numbers, three officers and rs mer
were killed and mutilated in less thar
an hour that several thousand Indians
surrounded the post, rendering communi.
cation with Fort Laramie, the nearest post
having troops at disposal, impra cticable,
that the garrison was SO small that nc
troops could be sent back for assistance;
that only by the utmost care, all troops
being on guard constantly, supported by
five pieces of artillery, was the post Itself
preserved intact; that ammunition had
been reduced to less than 20 rounds per
man, and neither officers nor men believed
1t possible to venture through the sur
rounding Indian forces for help with any
hope of success.
At this juncture John Phillips, used to
frontier life, the wiles of the Indians, and
convinced of the utter destruction that
awaited the command unless relief were
promptly obtained, volunteered his serv-
ices as dispatch bearer to Fort Laramie,
225 miles distant, through hostile com
try, absolutely without inha bitants or the
possibility of aid or supplies en- route,
Confidential dispatches were intrusted to
his care, with instructions how to meet
emergencies, and during the night after
the battle he started out on his dangerous
mission. Previous mail parties and party
of expert border scouts which left later
were scalpcd and their bodies and the mails
were found where they were massacred
Phillips, by riding nights and keeping
under cover by day, safely reached a tele-
graph station 40 miles from Fort Laramie
just before the Indians attacked and
burned it, sent his dispatches, pushed on
to Fort Laramie and found that his dis
patches had been received and troops were
preparing to go to the relief of the endan-
gered garrison.
His heroism was without promise of any
special reward, but was executed with rare
Skill patriotism and success. His mission
practically rescued the whole country from
Indian outrages and brought that section
immediate relief.
1t is impossible to state more strongly
the value of his services, which were never
adequately requted; and affiant knows of
no soldier of the army whose services more
absolutely demand recognition for the sake
OF his family than do those of the brave,
modest. faithful john Phillips, since de-
ceased. leaving his widow in a destitute
condition The heroism of Phillips had q
tender and noble aspect.
That is the testimony of brave sol
dier concerning the heroism of a
brave man. And now, after 80 years,
the congress has concluded to re-
imburse his widow for actual losses
sustained; but not one penny is given
in reeompense for his splendid services
in saving so many human lives.
SMITH d. FRY.