AN INDIAN BATTLE FIELD.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 512, 27 April 1869, Page 4

AN INDIAN BATTLE FIELD.

(Prqjn the New York Herahl) Headquarters, Department of the Missouri, in \he field, Camp at Washita river, I. T. , December 11, 18(>8,— Ilaving reached this point in the chosen yalley of the hpstile Indians, the commanding general determined to spend an entire day in camp, in order to give the animals a. rest, and an opportunity tp avail themselves of the luxuriant pagturage in the vicinity. We •were now, it was known, but eight miles from the scene of General Ouster's decisive victory over the Cheyenne band of Black Kettle; but two wgeks ago General Ouster, still feeing considerable anxiety to know the fate of Major Elliott and the missing men of the Seventh Cavalry, who disappeared in the battle of the Washita, and hopeful pf at least finding traces whereby spine certainty might be arrived at relative to their death or captivity, he determined to organize a small expedition to the battle-field. At eight o'clock this morning the horses of the party were saddled and mounted, and the bugle had sounded the escorting squadron to horse and forward. , . .As the party entered within the area of the fight, the alarm of the approach was the signal for the flight of innumerable beasts and birds of prey, Thousands pf ravens and crows, disturbed in their carrion feast, rose in one dense, black mass, filling the surrounding air witli their mournful notes, and soaring over the field, seemed to shower down imprecations in return for their molestation. The sly, cowardly wolf started from his abundant repast, at intervals casting a savage look behind, retired to the summit of the surrounding hommocks and ridges out. of range of danger, and here seating himself on his haunches, boldly watched the results of the intrusion. A few yards iv advance of the first popition taken in the opening of the battle by Major Elliott, an object haying the appearance of a bundle of blankets was discovered in the bushes. Upon opening the blankets an Indian warrior was found scalped, At intervals these evidences of the just retribution given the savage Cheyenne in the battle pf the Washita were seen. About thirty bodies of warriors were cpunted, also several squaws accidentally shot in the melee. Entering the space occupied by the Indian lodges, on all sides lay the ruins pf the village of Black Kettle's band. The conflagration started by the troops were so complete that scarcely anything of a combustible character escaped, and to-day the* debris of the village consisted of broken and burned lodge poles, small pieces of tanned and untanned hides. From the immediate site of the village the party iode to the top pf a hill, abput a hundred yards disr tant, from which General Custer repeated to General Sheridan the details of the battle and the position taken by the different columns. The former site of the lpdges could be distinctly seen by the pins ranging in a circle and the fireplace in the centre. On the right pf the | village, a distance of 130, yards, lay the carcases, of the ponies of the Choyennes. These covered about four acres, and numbered npt less, than 7^o- After the battle was perfectly understood and the ground well surveyed, Generals Sheridan and Custer, accompanied, by Lieutenant Hale, your correspondent, and a small detachment of troops, moved down the south bank of the Washita, over the route taken by Major Elliott and the missing men, in hopes of recovering the bodies. The remainder of the party spent some time longer in the village and moved down the bed pf the valley of the river. The general's party moving down the south bank, ascended a high divide, from which an extensive view could be had of the surrounding country. Descending on the other side the party had proceeded not a hundred yards when the body of a white man was found, perfectly naked and covered with arrow and bullet holes. The head presented the appearance of having been beaten with a war-club. The | $op of the skull was broken into a number pf pieces, and the brain was lying partly in the skull and partly on the ground. At first it was supposed that the body was that of Elliott, but this was found not to pc the case. Marking the spot where this body was found, the party continued moving down the stream. Crossing with some difficulty a small ravine, about the centre of an expansive swell, at a distance pf two hundred yards further on objects were seen lying in the grass and supposed to be bodies. Their attention attracted in this direction, the party moved off for the spot at a gallop. A few minutes fitter, a scene was witnessed sufficient to call forth the rebuke of every benevolent and enlightened mind against the darkened intellects of the so-palled philanthopists. Within an area of not more than fifteen yards lay sixteen human bodies, all that remained of Elliott and his party. Th,e winter air swept across the plain and with its cold blasts had added to the ghastliness of death the additional spectacle of sixteen naked porpses frozen as solidly as stone. The party here dismounted and an examination of the bodies was made. There was not a single one that did not exhibit evidences of fearful mutilation, The bodies were all lying with their faces down and in close proximity to each pther. Bullet and arrow wounds covered the back pf each, the throats of a number were cut, and several were beheaded. The body of one of the horses which the men had ridden put was seen lying at a distance of fifty yards from the pile of bodies. Owing to the mutilation of the bodies, and no one presenthavin»been sufficiently acquainted with Major Elliott while living, his body was not at the time recognised. Judging from the position of the bodies and the nature of the ground surrounding, it is probable that Major Elliott (by some it is thought his horse" ran away with him) set j put in the direction of a party of fugitive Indians. Some of the men seeing the Major start, followed and joined him. It is very probable the party pursued several miles when they struck the Arapahpes coming up to the support of the Cheyennes. Theparty being vigorously pressed, commenced .retiring, and descending the second divide on the return, found, themselves cut off by a party of warriors who had moved up under cover of the timber on the banks of the Washita and took position in the ravine, which cut them off entirely from the rest of the command. Not being missed in the command until too late, this littlp band was compelled to defend itself against the whole force of the Arapahoes. and, doubtless, a number of he K'.owa warrior.-. Tho party abandoned

their horses and probably attempted tc£ force their way down to the river and take, protection behind the trees, where they could fight to greater advantage. It is likely when all hope^pf. rescue and escape was given up, they dSfeMined to sacrifice their lives as dearly as possible,. The grass where they lay was trodden down, and a number of cartridge shells testify to the valour of their defence, until some friendly, fatal bullet gave them the only alternative pf escape from the terrible torture to which they would unquestionably have been subjected if taken alive. It is not likely that the entire party was killed before taken, but whether any and who were taken alive and . the trying and terrible moments which followed will always remain a mystery. All the missing bodies were now found. Not one has been left to narrate the horrible story. The last offices of humanity — a proper burial — was all that remained. Generals Sheridan and Custer now considered that all had been accomplished, and set oiit on return. Moving towards the creek the party followed down the banks of the stream. The bodies of several dead warriors werefound, probably killed by Elliott and his men. After a short ride o£ several miles, the remains of the villages of the Arapahoes and Kiowas, who came to the support of the Oheyennes, were found. It was evident that both these nations cleared out with their families as hastily as their own means of locomotion would allow, Camp kettles, coffee pots, cups, Peace Commission and Interior Department powder kegs (empty), Beveral philanthropic rifles, hundreds of untanned robes, hundreds of lpdge poles, and a variety of other things, were left behind. Orders were given to destroy everything found. It was not king before a stream of consuming smoke and fire could be described following the line of the Washita for a distance of six or seven miles all the way to our present camp. Not less than 1000 lodges occupied this stretch of country at the time of the fight. It' was quite evident after the troops had left the scene of the battle that a party of warriors had returned to contemplate the lesson prepared for them. It was noticeable that all the bodies left were those which had been scalped. As the Indians consider a warrior losing his scalp as debarred from the privilege, of entering the happy hunting grounds, these bodies were left, the Indian merely wrapping them in a blanket, and laying them at the foot of a tree. The others were removed and probably taken to a distance, and there buried according to the ritss of their nation. Upon reaching camp this afternoon, General Custer sent out two waggons, with an escort commanded by Lent. Owen Hale, to bring in all the bodies.