Year: 1869

From the Detroit Press. 16th.l


A victim of Indian vengeance In the
present struggle along the borders and In
the territories, and one that will forever
have cause to remember it, arrived in
this city Saturday night, departing yes
terdsy for his home in New York, near
Rufeld, Monroe county. His name is
Delos G. Saudberton, and he lost his
scalp at the battle of Washita He has
been an in Of Laramie Hospital since
that event, and was discharged about ten
days ago by reason of the expiration of
his term of service. He allowed the Gu.
rious to examine his poll, and look at
the still red and tender spot from which
his scalp was jerked away, was not calcu-
lated to prejudice any person in favor of
"hs,r lifting" As but few persons have
ever lived to undergo the process, per
haps the sensations experienced by Mr..
Sandberton will interest and enlighten.
Says he:


II was in the infantry. Custar had
command of the troops There was quite
force of cavalry with us, but they were
about mile in the rear when we first dis
covered the reds. Some Of the troops
had been sent around so as to attack
from the other side. The reds were
camped in a sort of valley, and we we're
within eighteen rods of them for half an
hour before daybreak. Just in the gray
of morning the firing commenced on both
sides, and we had it all our own way for
q few minutes, the cursed snakes being
much confused and not knowing what
was up. At length they rallied, and we
could hear Black Kettle shouting and or
dering. The vermn got into holes and
behind rocks-anywhers they could find
place--and began to fight back with a
will. We fired whenever we could see
top knot, and shot squaws--there was
lots of them-just as quick as In
dians. We just went in tor
wiping out the whole gang. When 1t
was fully daylight, we all gave q
big yell, and charged right down into the
camp. The lodges were all standing
vet, and lots of Indians in them. AS we
run through the alleys, q big red jumped
out at me from behind tent, and before
| could shorten up enough to run him
through with my bayonet, squaw grab
bed me around the legs and twisted me
down. The camp was then full of men


fighting, and everybody seemed yelling
as loud as he could When | fell, went
over backward, dropping my gun, and
had just got part way up again, the squaw
yanking me by the hair, when the Indian
clubbed my gun and struck me across the
neck. He might just as well have run
me through, but he wasn't used to the
bayoaet, or didn't think. The blow
stunned me ; it didn't hurt in the least, but
gave me a numb feeling all over. |
couldn't have got to my feet then if all
alone. while the squaw kept scracching
and pulling my hair out by handsful.


81 heard some of our boys shouting
close by, and the squaw started and ran
-one of the boys killing her not three
rods off. The Indian stepped one foot on
NV chest, and with his hands gathered up
the hair near the crown of my head. de
wasn't very tender about it,and Jerked my
head this way and that way, and pinched
like Satan. My eyes we're partially open,
and / could see the beadwork and trim
ming on his leggings. Suddenly | felt
the awfullest biting, cutting flash go
round nv head, and then it seemed to me
lust as if my whole head had been jerked
clean off. Inever felt such pain in oil
my life; why, it was like pulling your
brains right out. didn't know any more
for two or, three days, and then ! came to
TO find that had the sorest head OF any
human that ever lived. If the boys killed
the viper, they didn't get back my scalp


perhaps it got lost in the snow. l was
shipped down to Laramie after bit, and
ali The nursing got hain't made the hair
nrnu nnt ON this spot vet