CHAPTER XVIII,

THE BATTLE OF THE WASHITA,

HE Sabbath day, on November 29th, broke beautifully clear. The genial sun, soothing the asperities of the chill and damp early morning, was gratefully recognized in repeated exchanges of compliments upon the delightful weather, and speculations upon the probabilities of its duration. The troops had turned out en masse to enjoy the pure bright air, and the animals, herded in the neighboring valleys, seemed to have broken from the depression and signs of drooping spirits, which had noticeably taken possession of them.

The mysterious influence of the Sabbath nowhere more deeply touches the mind than in the wild solitudes of primitive nature. That holy and reverential quiet which pervades all creation on that day, there falls upon the religious sentiment of the soul with impressions of mingled sublimity and awe. The great volume, there spread out, opens new fields of meditation and new fountains, from which to draw strange lessons of philosophy. The primitive woods, sighing in the winds of heaven, the wolf's wild howl, or the mournful note of the raven, brings the mind to reflect upon the ages of silence that have there found no interruption, save from the voices of nature and savage man. The quiet stream, flowing onward to the great ocean, reminded the immaterial being of its onward passage to the vast ocean of eternity. The savage, in all his wildness, the child of nature controlled by instincts and passions unrestrained, presented the type of man before the doctrines of religion and the institution of the Sabbath were sent into the world. This holy

inspiration, united with such solemn influences, unmarred by the vanities and anxieties of life, were appropriate and interesting topics of meditation and comparison.

About ten o'clock in the morning the officers at headquarters were surprised by the unexpected arrival of Custer's chief scout, known as California Joe. "Old Joe" was a veteran pioneer of over thirty years standing. He, exhibiting an altitude of six feet one inch, wore a ponderous mat of flaming red whiskers and a growth of long knotty hair of the same description; as his companions expressed it, he was "brass mounted." Both his hair and whiskers were well powdered with a series of layers of dust, intermingled with stray blades of dry grass, leaves, and chips, reminding the beholder very forcibly of the old fellow's previous night's slumber on the bosom of mother earth. Joe's manner, upon making his appearance before the General's tent, indicated that he had some agreeable intelligence to communicate. His two diminutive blue orbs flashing on either side of a prodigious nasal formation, confirmed the belief. "Well, Joe, what brings you back so soon; running away?" said the General.

Joe replied somewhat indignantly in manner at the sugges tion of running away. "I've just made that ole critter of mine out thar get up and dust, for the last thirty-six hours. I tell yer it's a big thing, and we just made those red devils git." "So you have had a fight," said the General.

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Weel, we've had suthin; you may call it fittin, but I call it wipin out the varmints; yes, and sich a one as they wont have agin, I tell you."

While this introductory dialogue was going on, Joe indulged in a preliminary boring of his optics with his knuckles, and having methodically rubbed the rasp-like end of his nose on the corner of a gunny sack, which he carried by way of the necessary refinement of a pocket handkerchief, poked his long fingers into his broad, manly breast, and from it drew a budget of official dispatches from the scene of the fight. The General took the dispatches hastily, and having glanced them over, read them

aloud. Our curiosity was satisfied to learn that on the twenty seventh of November the village of the Cheyenne chief, Black Kettle, on the North Fork of the Washita river, was captured. Over one hundred Indians were killed and bodies left on the field, and fifty-three women and children taken prisoners. An immense amount of property captured and destroyed, consisting of fifty-one lodges, nearly one thousand horses and mules, rifles, ammunition, horse equipments, robes, &c. With this came the sad intelligence that "Captain Louis M. Hamilton was killed in the first charge, Colonel Barnitz was seriously wounded, Major Elliott and eighteen men were missing, and there was no doubt had been killed. One man of the seventh was killed and fourteen wounded." The dispatch added, that the Indians, including women and boys, fought with great desperation from the cover of bushes and grass. "Black Kettle, the principal chief, was killed."

This told the story of "Joe's" enthusiasm, which, as the General read the dispatch aloud, so as to be heard by those standing around, found vent at irregular periods in gratuitous observations, less elegant than forcible, and wound up by the old scout impressively wiping his nose on the fur sleeve of his

overcoat.

Leaving our camp
At the intersection

The details of the movement were these. the column headed in a southerly direction. of the Texas boundary line with the main Canadian, and tend ing in a south-easterly direction, Custer struck a fresh Indian trail of about one hundred warriors. While Elliott kept the trail at a trot, Custer leaving the train and all tents in charge of Lieutenant Mathey, with a guard of eighty men, and taking but a few wagons, containing three days rations, started across the country. Fortunately the General struck Elliott's column, The entire command now hastened forward at the utmost speed the animals could endure. At nine o'clock on the same night, after an unparalleled march, the column was balted, but for a single hour for refreshment and rest. The march was again resumed. In the grateful light of the moon, which made itself

apparent through the passing clouds, the column was enabled to move with certainty of retaining the trail.

At half past one, on the morning of the twenty-seventh, one of the Osage trailers returned to the column, reporting an Indian village within less than a mile distant. A solemn stillness reigned. The snarling wolf, and the accustomed wild sounds of the savage surroundings, alone disturbed the silence. The hostile Indian, enjoying a sense of security in the deep snow, which covered the plain, slumbered within his lodge.

When the report of the Osage trailers, of the discovery of the village was announced, Custer, with several officers, crept up stealthily to the crest of a hill overlooking the plain. At first they doubted the authenticity of the Osages' report. The light of the moon was not sufficiently bright to enable them to define the dark objects which they saw before them. At first they remarked they were buffaloes, as it was an extraordinary occurrence to get so close to a village without an alarm being given. Suddenly the distant tingling of a bell broke upon the alert ears of the party. This slight and welcome sound solved the mystery. The Osage chief repeated his words, "heaps ponies." Custer, turning to those with him, said in a whisper, "I am satisfied they are ponies, the herd of the village. Buffaloes are not in the habit of wearing such ornaments as bells in this country." The party now returned, and fearing that the untimely neigh of a horse, or some unusual noise might signal their presence to the sleeping village, the column was withdrawn to a distance. The men were ordered to stand by their horses and not allowed to build fires, or even to stamp their feet, for fear of defeating success. A small detachment of dismounted men were left with instructions to attack immediately should the savages show any signs of suspicion by issuing from their lodges.

Custer now took his principal officers with him to a point, giving an idea of the situation of the village. It lay upon the south bank of the Washita. The Cheyenne lodges were in the centre, the Arrapahoes above, and the Sioux below, all rang

ing along the banks of the stream. The nature of the ground as it could be indistinctly traced by moonlight, seemed to indicate that the village was accessible from all points.

The General and his officers now retired to a ravine near the impatient troopers, and determined upon the plan of attack. Four columns, composed as follows, were organized to make the assault.

Right column-Companies B and F, Colonel Thompson, commanding; Captain Yates, Lieutenants Wallingford and Gibson, on duty with column.

Right centre column-Lieutenant Colonel Myers, commanding; Captain Brewster and First Lieutenant Johnson, on duty with column.

Centre column-Companies A, D, C, and K, General Custer, commanding; First Lieutenants Moylan and Robbins, Major Bell, Captain West, Captain Hamilton, Lieutenant Colonels Weir and Custer, Captain Berry and Lieutenants Godfrey and Law, on duty with column.

Left column-Companies G, H, and M, Major Elliott, commanding; Lieutenant Smith on duty with columu. A detachment of sharp-shooters under Lieutenant Colonel Benteen and Lieutenants Hale and Cook, with center column.

The left column was directed to take position in a timber below the village, the right center column was to move along the Washita and attack from the timber above. The right column was to attack from the crest of the hill, north of the village, while Custer, with the center column, determined to make a direct charge from the hills overlooking the village from the left bank of the Washita.

In the dead of night the columns upon different lines of march started. The dawn of day was fixed as the unfailing indication of the moment of attack. As each command reached its appointed position, it halted to await the time designated. So close were some of the troopers that the Indian dogs could be heard barking, as if sensible of the approaching danger. Prob.