The Saint Paul globe., 1898-10-23

out, when one OF the men accidentally
discharged his piece. A second later
there was a Volley of rifle shots from
the timber at the northeast corner OF
the clearing, and the engagement was
on.
Maj Wilkinson, who left the COM
pany in charge of the first sergeant,
was a short distance away. 1 realized
the situation and shouted to the men
to stand steady and fire in the direct
tion from which the volley from the
Indians came Mai Wilkinson ran
up, and, although there was a dispo-
sition on the part of some of the de-
rachment, especially the men who were
recruits and had never been upder
ire, to break for cover, they stood
their ground, fired a couple of Volleys
and then deployed into 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 un-
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 a hospital for the
dead and wounded. The Indians were
driven back from their position, and at
nightfan when the firing ceased our
skirmish 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 a small steam
boat arrived with a limited amount If
supplies and a quantity Of ammuni-
ton. 1t was apparent then that the
Indians had r6frp9tpd
very scattering and not more than
dozen OF the bucks were left.
1t has been stated by the Indians
that there were but nineteen engaged
In the tight 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
dians 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 were detailed to pay particular
attention to the Indian sharpshooters,
and a number of them We're plugged.
Shortly after noon Thursday
steamboat arrived from Walker, and
after advancing our skirmish 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
dians had been whipped and scattered
and were badly beaten, and subsequent
events have proven this to s2e the case.
The band that caused the trouble
are whipped and Inundated, and I do
not think there will be any more trou-
BILE. They have been preparing for the
fight for 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 being 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 I think they will do as they
agree to.
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, company consisting of 1O4
troops, under command of Can't.
French, will remain at Walker during
the winter They will be quartered in
a building recently erected as a sant-
tarium short distance from Walker.
The campaign was a short one but has
settled all troubles for years to come
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.