The foot prints of the charging squadrons could be followed in one extended front through tangled brush. As we moved closer to the immediate site of the village, our approach breaking upon the quiet surroundings of the scene of death, and alarmed from their sense of security and enjoyment, fled innumerable beasts and birds of prey. Suddenly lifting from the ground could be seen thousands of ravens and crows, disturbed in their carrion feast. The dense black mass, evidently gorged, rose heavily, and passing overhead, as if to take revenge for the molestation, set up the greatest confusion of noises. The cowardly wolves started from their abundant repast on human flesh, reluctantly left the spot, and while slowly getting out of reach of danger often stopped to take a wishful look behind, Retiring to the summit of the nearest hills, they seated themselves on their haunches and watched every movement of the intruders.

A few yards in advance of the first position taken by Elliott an object having the appearance of a bundle of blankets laid up against a tree was discovered. A large quantity of underbrush had been gathered and deposited around to prevent disturbance or molestation. Upon examining the mysterious bundle it was found to be a warrior killed in the fight, and whose friends returning had given him part of the rites of an Indian burial. As we moved along these evidences of the severity of the conflict became more numerous. Thirty bodies were found on one part of the field alone.

It was very evident that the rest of the tribe, and their allies occupying the villages lower down on the same stream, visited the battle-ground after the troops had departed. Many of the warriors left on the field were carefully tied up in two or three thicknesses of blankets. Some were laid in the branches of trees, out of the reach of the hungry wolf, while others were deposited under protections made of bushes. The most important men of the village were dragged off and buried, doubtless at a distance, in some remote and hidden cañon, where man ror beast would ever disturb their bones. Several bodies with lariats about them, which were evidently in the act of being

dragged off, were subsequently found abandoned on the hills adjacent.

Entering the space lately occupied by the Indian lodges, on all sides were scattered the charred remains of Black Kettle's village. The conflagration started by the troops had done its work effectively. Scarcely anything of a combustible character escaped.

From the village, the Commanding General, attended by several officers and a small escort, rode to the top of a neighboring ridge, from which there was an excellent view of the battle-ground. The positions of the Indian lodges could be distinctly traced by the circular rows of pins and the rude fire-holes in the centre. On the right of the village, at a distance of less than two hundred yards, were strewn the carcasses of the ponies of the village, which had been shot by the troops. The bodies numbered not less than seven hundred, and covered an area of several acres.

After the battle was perfectly understood and the ground well surveyed, Sheridan and Custer, accompanied by Lieutenant Hale, the writer, and a small detachment of troopers, moved down the south bank of the Washita, over the route taken by Elliott and the missing men, in hopes of recovering the bodies. The remainder of the party spent some time longer in the village, and subsequently moved down the bed of the valley of the river.

We crossed the stream and proceeded down the south bank until we ascended a high "divide," from which an extensive view could be had of the surrounding country. Descending on the other side, the party had not proceeded but 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 warclub. 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, upon minute examination, this was found not to be the case; but it was one of his men.

Marking the spot where this body was found, we continued moving down stream. Crossing, with some difficulty, a small ravine, about the centre of an extensive plain, at a distance of two hundred yards farther on, objects were seen lying in the grass, and were supposed to be bodies. Our attention attracted in this direction, we rode to the spot at a gallop. A scene was now witnessed sufficient to appall the bravest heart. 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 its cold blasts had added to the ghastliness of death the additional spectacle of sixteen naked corpses frozen as solidly as stone. There was not a single body that did not exhibit evidences of fearful mutilation. They 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 only, which the men had ridden out, was lying at a distance of fifty-yards The other animals had evidently escaped and were taken by the savages when the party found themselves hemmed in and obliged to fight on foot. All the bodies were carefully examined, but it was with great difficulty that any of them were recognized, owing to the terrible atrocities to which they had been subjected.

Judging from the nature of the ground and the location, it was concluded that Elliott started under the impression that the village the column had struck constituted all in that section of country. Three warriors, the only fugitives, had left, on the first alarm, to arouse the bands below. Elliott, seeing them break through his lines, started in pursuit. According to the Indian account, which I subsequently obtained, two of the three were killed, but the third gained the nearest village with tidings of the attack on Black Kettle's people. The warriors of the neighboring bands hastily mounted their war ponies, and set out for the scene of the fight.

Elliott was several miles from the column when the Indian

allies, from the lower villages, struck him. The savages began an immediate assault, and were in such overwhelming numbers, that he retired rapidly, in hopes of making good his retreat. Crossing the second "divide," before he had time to pass the valley, the ravine between him and the column was occupied by warriors, who opened fire as he and his men approached. There was now no alternative but to dismount and take a stand and prolong the fight, in hopes of being rescued, or if the worst came, to die together. Elliott gathered his men around him. The Indians now appeared on all sides, and with wild shouts gave vent to their savage determination. An Arrapahoe warrior, braver than the rest, in hopes of inspiring his people with courage, led off at a gallop, with the intention of riding down the party. As he came near, followed by one other warrior, a volley from the troops finished both. Confronted by the whole force of the Arrapahoes, and a large number of Kiowas, and having abandoned their horses, the party on foot made an effort to force their way down to the river and seek protection behind the trees, under cover of which Elliott, probably, hoped to fight his way back. Here, again, the savage warriors intercepted him. When all hope of rescue or escape was given up, the gallant band, evidently, determined to sacrifice their lives as dearly as possible. The grass, where they lay, was much trodden, and numbers of cartridge-shells, scattered on the ground, testified to the valor of the defence, until some friendly, fatal bullet, afforded the only alternative of escape from the terrible torture awaiting them, if taken alive. It is not likely that the entire party were killed before overpowered, but whether any, and who were thus taken, and the trying and terrible moments which followed, will always remain a mystery. All the missing bodies were found. Not one was left to narrate the fearful story. The last act of humanity—a proper burial—was all that remained.

Although the savages, with whom I afterwards conversed upon the subject, readily spoke of their first knowledge of the attack, upon the closing scenes attending Elliott's party, they

were remarkably reticent. Every one disclaimed any partici pation in the killing of the soldiers, declaring that they merely went up to see the fight.

After the troops, under Custer, had withdrawn, the savages must have returned to wreak their vengeance upon the dead bodies of the brave little baud. The horrible work was too effectively done to have been accomplished in a short time. The savages admitted that they lost many braves before they "killed the white men."

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It is considered "good medicine" for each warrior, who ticipates in a fight, to put a bullet or an arrow into the body of his enemy or to commit some other atrocity, even more hellish. In this instance, there was no exception. In order to furnish an idea of the nature and extent of these mutilations, I will give an extract from the official report of Dr. Henry Lippincott, Assistant Surgeon United States Army, with the seventh.

Major Joel H. Elliott, one bullet hole in left cheek, two bullets in head, throat cut, right foot cut off, left foot almost cut off, calves of legs very much cut, groin ripped open and otherwise mutilated.

Walter Kennedy, sergeant-major, bullet hole in right temple, head partly cut off, seventeen bullet holes in back, and two in legs,

Harry Mercer, corporal company E, bullet hole in right axilla. one in region of heart, three in back, eight arrow wounds in back, right ear cut off, head scalped, and skull fractured, deep gashes in both legs, and throat cut.

Thomas Christie, company E, bullet hole in head, right foot cut off, bullet hole in abdomen, and throat cut.

William Carrick, corporal company H, bullet hole in right parietal bone, both feet cut off, throat cut, left arm broken, and otherwise mutilated.

Eugene Clover, company H, head cut off, arrow wound in right side, both legs terribly mutilated.

William Milligan, company H, bullet hole in left side of head, deep gashes in right leg, left arm deeply gashed, head scalped, throat cut, and otherwise mutilated.