SCALPED ALIVE AT WASHITA.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 589, 26 October 1869, Page 4

SCALPED ALIVE AT WASHITA.

r f A victim of Indian vengeance in the present struggle along the borders arrived in Detroit recently, on his way to his home in New York, near Rufield, Monroe County. His name is Delos G. Sanberston, and he lost liia scalp at the battle of Washita. He has been an inmate of Laraniie Hospital since that event, and was dicharged about ten days ago by reason of the expiration of his term of service. He allowed the curious to examine his head,!,* and gave the following account of his experience : — " 1 was in the infantry. Custar had command of the troops. There was quite a force of cavalry with us, but they were about a mile in rear when we first discovered the reds. Some of the troops had. been sent around so as to attack from the other side. The reds were encamped in a sort of valley and we were within eighty rods of them for half an hour before daybreak. Just in the grey of the morning, the firing commenced on both sides, and we had it all our own way for a 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 ordering. The vermin got into holes and behind rocks — anywhere they could find a place, and began to light back with a will. We tired whenever we could see a topknot, and shot squaws— there were lots of them— just as quick as Indians. When it was fully daylight, we all gave a big yell, and charged right down into camp. The lodges were all standiug yet, and lots of Indians in them. As we run through the alleys, a big red jumped out at me from behind a tent, and before I could shorten up enough to run him through with my bayonet, a squaw grabbed me around the legs and twisted me down. The camp was full of men fighting, and everybody seemed yelling as loud as he could. When I fell I went over backward, dropping my gun, and I had just got part up again, the squaw yanking me by the hair, when the Indian clubbed my gun and struck me across the neck. The blow stunned me. The squaw kept screeching and. pulling out my hair by handfuls. I 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 In diau stepped one foot on my. chest, and with his hand gathered up the hair near the crown of my head. He wasn't very tender about it, but jerked my head this way and that, like Satan. My eyes were partially open, and I could see the bead work and trimming on his leggings. Suddenly I felt the awfullest biting, cutting flash go round my head, and then it seemed to me. just as if my whole head had been jerked clean off. I never felt .such pain in all my life ; it was like pulling your brains right out. I don't know any more for two or three days, and when I came too I 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. I was shipped down to Laramie after a bit, and all the nursing I got haint made the hair grow out on this spot yet.— Neto York Tribune.