Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1904-08-13

Iher horses we're brought to them, ana nessesoi wa"
about to be dispatched for the Mules when were al cne
upper end of the VILLAGE when the two pronered 10 go
themselves, as they knew that TO bring tne animals ,o
the presence of Pocatelo who with his maddeneo warri
ors was preparing to leave as had threatened 10 40
would be like Haunting the FLAG the race OF an angry
bull The mules tied together and taken OUT OF tne
ravine by circuituous route one.of the men gong
before and the other bringing up the rear Ihey roue
but slowly at first keeping up the pretense that they
had no fear OF Pocatelos band who were now making
furore in the camp yelling and firing their guns In
the air. as they saddled their ponies to leave When
the two riders reached the bluff the opposite side OF
the river from the village they Observed that they were
being followed by number of mounted Indians, and
then began race for life at least of the braves pur
suing the white nearly as far AZ Franklin. When
the commissioners arrived at Logan they reported the
departure of Pocatello.- and IL OWNED that he
would proceed westerly to the Pmontory where sever
al hundred horses and cattle belonging to the Cache
Valley settlers were their winter range guarded by
only half dozen men. A strong posse Immediately
formed to go to the Promontory, which was timely
move for the conjecture to Pocaeos Intentions pro-
we'd to be well founded. The posse had barely arrived
at the OF the herders and made arrangements for
defense, when the willy chief and bis whole band made
their appearance This time Poceeo had reckoned wit
bout his host or at least found that he had to recon
with HOST of well armed and fearless men, and after
brief stay he wheeled his warriors and returned north
ward.
ready the march from Salt Lake City, to wreak
geance on the offending savages That he fully inten
ded to exterminate them implied by remark made
by him to Marshal Gibbs before leaving Fort Douglas
The marshal had asked for military escort that he
might to the of the Indians and bring back
prisoners Bear Hunter Sanpitch and Sag witch. The
Colonel replied that he making Preparations to go
there himself, and that Gibbs might accompany him if
he wanted to- but he would promise him prisoners
as he didn't intend to have any. At Logan Colonel
al
them learned many facts relative to the number
location and general condition of the Indians. He
warned by the gentlemen of the danger facing that
with his men, but he CURLY replied that it in
formation, not advice, that he seeking The army
passed on Bear River, and there the morning of
January 29th 1863 the bloody engagement begun.
(The fight was Witnessed from distance by Messers
Collect and Dudley ID. Mersill. The Indians anntici-
patng the approach of their enemy, had placed heavy
bank of top of the ridge that separated them
from the river, and through this embankment which
looked like natural drift, they made holes, through
which to shoot Contrary to the plan of General Con-
nor his cavalry arrived at the river ahead the infan
try and Immediately crosses-ts~ "a point
almost directly opposite the camp of the Indians In
stead waiting for the delayed companies the cavalry
was commanded to dismount and advance across the
plateau that lay between the river and the ravne All
at blaze of fire and rain Of lead poured forth
the bank of ahead and the boys in blue went
down like 'grass before the mower" Twice more the
brave soldiers commanded to advance, and each
time they met by deadly fire from foes.
| The ordered to seek cover and a wait
was made for the belated infantry Then begun
that which should have been executed at the very
mencement- thanking movement by the infantry, while
the cavalry remained between the exit from the ravne
and the river. Howitzers were placed on mules and
carried to points commanding view OF the entrenched
Indians, and CALLING fire poured forth from the
backs of the animals One of the few Indians who
escaped that memorable day. years afterwards said
that his people confident of victory until the mules
began shooting at them, when they we're demoralized
with supersttous fear Perhaps before did rcd
men fight with more bravery and TACT and not until
most of the fight braves had fallen, did the remain
ing few seek to escape by the egess from the avne
Here they met by the cavalry and cut down almost
to man. Bear Hunter and Sag witch were both slain,
| while Sanptch of the very few to escape.
Many of the and papooses had been killed during
the engagement and many cruelty butchered
when the conflict Every lodge was ordered to
be destroyed notwithstanding the fact that more than
hundred defenseless and children bereft OF every
human held and protection, there in the midst
OF deep snow and extremely cold weather Everything
of value taken by the conquerng soldiers, save
scanty supply of food for the fated quaws and papoo
ses Colonel Connor lost twenty-five men killed, forty
nine wounded of whom afterwards died of their
wounds, besides nearly eighty who were more or less
badly frozen, some of them being crippled Tor lhe
This loss would perhaps have been much greater had
Pocatello and his band been in the fight but contrary 70
the prevalent belief they present at all at the
Bear River battle-F d. Collett in the Utah Pioneer.