Following the Guidon (Illustrated Edition). Elizabeth Bacon Custer

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      HEADQUARTERS SEVENTH CAVALRY,

       CAMP ON WASHITA, November 28, '68.

      On the morning of the 26th, eleven companies of the Seventh Cavalry struck an Indian trail numbering one hundred (not quite twenty-four hours old) near the point where the Texas boundary line crosses the Canadian River.

      When the Osage trailers reported a village within a mile of the advance, the column was countermarched and withdrawn to a retired point to avoid discovery. After all the officers had reconnoitred the location of the village, which was situated in a strip of heavy timber, the command was divided into four columns of nearly equal strength. One was to attack in the woods from below the village. The second was to move down the Washita and attack in the timber from above. The third was to attack from the crest north of the village, while the fourth was to charge from the crest overlooking the village on the left bank of the Washita. The columns were to charge simultaneously at dawn of day; though some of them had to march several miles to gain their positions, three of them made the attack so near together that it seemed like one charge. The fourth was only a few moments late. The men charged and reached the lodges before the Indians were aware of their presence. The moment the advance was ordered the bank struck up Garryowen, and with cheers every trooper, led by his officer, rushed towards the village. The Indians were caught napping for once. The warriors rushed from their lodges and posted themselves behind trees and in deep ravines, from which they began a most determined resistance. Within ten minutes after the charge the lodges and all their contents were in our possession, but the real fighting, such as has been rarely, if ever, equalled in Indian warfare, began when attempting to drive out or kill the warriors posted in ravines or ambush. Charge after charge was made, and most gallantly too, but the Indians had resolved to sell their lives as dearly as possible. The conflict ended after some hours. The entire village, numbering (47) forty-seven lodges of Black Kettle's band of Cheyennes, (2) two lodges of Arapahoes, (2) two lodges of Sioux—(51) fifty-one lodges in all, under command of their principal chief, Black Kettle—were conquered.

      The Indians left on the ground (103) one hundred and three warriors, including Black Kettle, whose scalp was taken by an Osage guide. 875 horses and mules were captured, 241 saddles (some of fine and costly workmanship), 573 buffalo-robes, 390 buffalo-skins for lodges, 160 untanned robes, 210 axes, 140 hatchets, 35 revolvers, 47 rifles, 535 pounds of powder, 1050 pounds of lead, 4000 arrows and arrow-heads, 75 spears, 90 bullet moulds, 35 bows and quivers, 12 shields, 300 pounds of bullets, 775 lariats, 940 buckskin saddle-bags, 470 blankets, 93 coats, 700 pounds of tobacco; all the winter supply of dried buffalo meat, all the meal, flour, and other provisions; in fact, all they possessed was captured, as the warriors escaped with little or no clothing. Everything of value was destroyed. 53 prisoners were taken, squaws and their children; among the prisoners are the survivors of Black Kettle and the family of Little Rock. Two white children, captives with the Indians, were captured. One white woman in their possession was murdered by her captors the moment the attack was made. A white boy, 10 years old, a captive, had his entrails ripped out with a knife by a squaw. The Kiowas, under Satanta, and Arapahoes, under Little Raven, were encamped six miles below Black Kettle's village. The warriors from these two villages came to attempt the rescue of the Cheyennes. They attacked the command from all sides, about noon, hoping to recover the squaws and the herd of the Cheyennes.

      Though displaying great boldness, about three o'clock the cavalry countercharged, and they were driven in all directions and pursued several miles. The entire command was then moved in search of the villages of the Kiowas and Arapahoes, but after an eight-mile march it was ascertained that they had taken fright at the fate of the Cheyennes, and fled.

      The command was then three days' march from the train of supplies, and the trail having led over a country cut up by ravines and other obstructions, difficult even for cavalry, it was impossible to bring the wagons on. The supplies which each man carried were nearly exhausted, the men were wearied from loss of sleep, and the horses in the same condition for want of forage. About 8 P. M. the return march was begun, and continued until the wagons were reached. In the excitement of the fight, as well as in self-defence, some of the squaws and a few children were killed and wounded; the latter were brought on under medical care. Many of the squaws were taken with arms in their hands, and several soldiers were wounded by them. In one small ravine 38 warriors were found dead, showing the desperation of the conflict. Two officers, Major Elliott and Captain Hamilton, were killed, and 19 enlisted men. Captain Barnitz was seriously wounded.

      The command marched through snow-storms and rough country, sleeping without tents; and the night before the attack the men stood for hours by their horses awaiting the moment of attack, when the thermometer was far below freezing-point. No one complained, the one regret being that "the gallant spirits who fell were among the bravest and best."

      Many of the squaws and children fought like the Indians, darting in and out and firing with cool aim from the opening of the tepees. Some of these squaws followed in the retreat, but there were some still prudent enough to remain out of sight. While the fight was going on they sang dirges in the minor key, all believing their own last hour had come. Captain Smith was sent round before the fight was ended to count the tepees for the official report. The squaws and children fired away at him so fast that he told his wife afterwards, "The first count of those lodges was made pretty quick, as the confounded popping kept up all the time."

      The attention of Captain Yates was attracted to the glittering of something bright in the underbrush. In a moment a shot from a pistol explained that the glistening object was the barrel of a pistol, and he was warned by his soldiers that it was a squaw who had aimed for him, and was preparing to fire again. He then went round a short distance to investigate, and found a squaw standing in the stream, one leg broken, but holding her pappoose closely to her. The look of malignant hate in her eyes was something a little worse than any venomous expression he had ever seen. She resisted most vigorously every attempt to capture her, though the agony of her shattered limb must have been extreme. When she found that her pistol was likely to be taken, she threw it far from her in the stream, and fought fiercely again. At last they succeeded in getting her pappoose, and she surrendered. She was carried forward to a tepee, where our surgeon took charge of her.

      As soon as the warriors were driven out, "Romeo", who spoke the dialect, was sent by the commanding officer to set the fears of the self-imprisoned women at rest, and they were then all gathered in some of the larger lodges. Two of the squaws had managed during the mêlée to mount and reach one of the herds of ponies, but in the flight, while driving the property off, California Joe had captured women, ponies, and all, and he came into camp swinging his lariat and wildly shouting.

      Before leaving the battle-ground it was necessary, if our troops hoped really to cripple the enemy and prevent further invasion, to destroy the property, for it was impossible to carry away much of what had been captured. The contents of the village were collected in heaps and burned. The ponies were crowded together and shot. It took three companies an hour and a half to kill the 800 ponies. This last duty was something the officers never forgot. Nothing but the exigencies of war could have driven them to it. There were the several grades of animals as the Indian uses them: the ponies for marching, those for pack-animals to carry the luggage, the hunting-pony, and finally the best, truest, and swiftest, for battle alone. But the value of the animals was not what affected the officers; it was that, mute and helpless as they were, they must be sacrificed. But they could not be driven away in the deep snow, and with so small a command it was impossible to spare men to even attempt such a rescue. Besides, the presence СКАЧАТЬ