AN INDIAN BATTLE-FIELD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 306, 7 May 1869, Page 3

AN INDIAN BATTLE-FIELD.

(From the New York Herald.') Head-quarters,Department of the Missouri, in the field, Camp at Washita River, I. T., December 11, 1868. — Having reached this point in the chosen valley, of the hostile Indians, the commanding general determined to spend an entire day in camp, in order to give the animals rest, and an opportunity to avail themselves of the luxuriant pasturage in this 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 weeks ago General Custer, still feeling 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 hopef al of at least finding traces whereby some certainty might be arrived at relative to their death. or captivity, he determined to organise a small expedition to the battlefield. 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 of ravens and crows, disturbed in their carrion feast, rose in one dense, black mass, filling the surrounding air with 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 behin 1, retired to the summit of the surrounding hummockd and ridges out of range of danger, and here seating himself upon his haunches, boldly watched the results of the intrusion. A few yards in advance of the first position taken in the opening of the battle by Major Elliott, an object having 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 of the Washita were seen. About thirty bodies of warriors were counted, also several squaws accidentally shot in the melee. Entering the space occupied by the Indian lodges, on all sides lay the ruins of the village of Black Kettle's band. The conflagration started by the troops was so complete that scarcely anything of a combustible [character escaped, and to-day the debris of the village consisted of -broken n.nd burned lodge poles, small pieces, of tanned and untanned hides. From the immediate site of the village, the party rode to the top of a hill, about 100 yards distant, from which General Custer repeated :to General Sheridan the details of the battle, aud r the position taken by the different columns. The former site of the lodges could be distinctly seen by the pins ranging in a circle and the fire-place in the centre. On the right of the village, a distance of 130 yards, lay the carcases of the ponies of the Obey ennes. These covered about four acres, and numbered not less than 700. After the . battle was perfectly understood, and the ground well surveyed, Generals Sheridan and Custer, accompanied by Lieut. 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 of the valley of the river. The: general's party, moring 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 top of the skull was broken into a number of 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 be 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 au expansive swell, at a distance of 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 after, a scene was witnessed sufficient to call forth the rebuke of every benevolent and enlightened mind against the darkened intellects of the so-called philanthropists. Within an area of not more than fifteen yards lay sixteen human bodies, all that remained of Elliott and his party. The winter air swept across the plain, and with its cold blasts had added to the ghastliness of death the additional spectacle of sixteen naked corpses frozen as solidly as stone. The party here dismounted, and au 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 other. Bullet and arrow wounds covered the back of each, the throats of a number were cut, and several were beheaded. The body of one of the horses which the men had ridden out was seen lying at a distance of fifty yards from the pile of bodies. Owing to the mutilation of the bodies, and no one present having 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 out 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 Arapahoes coming up to the support of the Cheyennes. The party 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 taken 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 little band was compelled to defend itself against the whole force of the Arapahoes, and, doubtless, a number of the Kiowa warriors. The party abandoned their horses, and probably attempted to 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 of rescue and escape was given up, they determined 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 of 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 aud 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 con- ; sidered that all had been accomplished, . and set out on return. Moving, towards the creek the party followed down' the . banks of the stream. The bodies of several dead warriors were found, probably killed by Elliott and his men. After a short ride^ of several railes, the remains of the Tillages of the Arapahoes and Kiowas, who came to the support of the Cheyennes, 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), several philanthropic rifles, hundreds of untanned robes, hundreds of lodge poles, and a variety of other things, were left behind. Orders were given to destroy everything found. It was not long 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 auite 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 Indians 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 rites of their ) nation. Upon reaching camp this afternoon, General Custer sent out two waggons, with an escort commanded by Lieutenant Owen Hale, to bring in all the bodies. Previous to burial, Dr fTenry^ Lippincott," AssistantSurgeon, United States Army, made a minute examination of all .the bodies and the extent of their mutilation , •

%J' I've just come aince mair to ye, doctor," «aid Mra M'Tavish, to a druggist who had undertaken to cure her husband's ' deafness, " to see if ye can gie John something better, for the last boltle ye gaed him' did him nae good avn." "Dear me," Baid the doctor, " did it no ? I'm surprised at that ; but it matters very little, for there's naething gaun on worth hearing the noo."