Battle of
the Washita
General Custer to General Sheridan
Headquarters
Seventh U.S. Cavalry, In The Field Of The Washita River, 28 November
1868
On the morning of the 26th
inst., this command, comprising eleven troops of the Seventh Cavalry,
struck the trail of an Indian war party, numbering about one hundred
(100) warriors. The trail was not quite twenty-four hours old, and was
first discovered near the point where the Texas boundary line crosses
the Canadian River. The direction was toward the southeast. The ground
being covered by over twelve inches of snow, no difficulty was
experienced in following the trail. A vigorous pursuit was at once
instituted. Wagons, tents and all other impediments to a rapid march
were abandoned. From daylight until 9 o'clock at night the pursuit was
unchecked. Horses and men were then allowed one hour for refreshment,
and at 10 P.M. the march was resumed and continued until 1:30 A.M.,
when our Osage trailers reported a village within less than a mile
from our advance.
The column was
countermarched and withdrew to a retired point, to prevent discovery.
After reconnoitering with all the officers of the command the location
of the village, which was situated in a strip of heavy timber, I
divided the command into four columns of nearly equal strength; the
first consisting of three companies, under Major Elliott, was to
attack in the timber from below the village; the second column, under
Lieut. Col. Myers, was to move down the Washita and attack in the
timber from above; Breves Col. Thompson, in command of the third
column was to attack from the crest north of the village from the
crest overlooking it, on the left bank of the Washita.
The hour at which the four
columns were to charge simultaneously was the first dawn of day, and,
notwithstanding the fact that two of the columns were compelled to
march several miles to reach their positions, the attack of three of
them made the attack so near together as to make it appear like one
charge. The other column was only a few minutes late. There never was
a more complete surprise. My men charged the village, and reached the
lodge before the Indians were aware of our presence. The moment the
charge was ordered the band struck up "Garrey Owen," and with cheers
that strongly reminded me of scenes during the war, every trooper, led
by his officer, rushed toward the village.
The Indians were caught
napping for once, and the warriors rushed from their lodges and
posited themselves behind trees and in the deep ravines, from which
they began a most determined defense. The lodges and all their
contents were in our possession within a few minutes after the charge
was ordered; but the real fighting, such as rarely, if ever, been
equaled in Indian warfare, began when attempting to clear out of kill
the warriors posited in the ravines or underbrush; charge after charge
was made, and most gallantly too, but the Indians had resolved to sell
their lives as clearly as possible. After a desperate conflict of
several hours, our efforts were crowned with the most complete and
gratifying success.
The entire village,
numbering forty-seven lodges of "Black Kettle's" band of Cheyenne's,
two lodges of Arapahos and two lodges of Sioux-fifty-one lodges in
all, under command of their principal chief Black Kettle-fell into our
hands. By a strict and careful examination after the battle, the
following figures give some of the fruits of our victory:
The Indians left on the
ground and in our possession, the bodies of 108 of their warriors,
including "Black Kettle" himself, whose scalp is now in the possession
of one of our Osage guides. We captured in good condition, 875 horses,
ponies and mules, 241 saddles, some of very fine and costly
workmanship; 523 buffalo robes, 210 axes, 140 hatchets, 35 revolvers,
47 rifles, 535 pounds of powder, 1050 pounds of lead, 4,000 arrows, 90
bullet-molds, 35 bows and quivers, 12 shields, 300 pounds of bullets,
775 lariats, 940 buckskin saddle-bags, 470 blankets, 93 coats, 700
pounds of tobacco. In addition, we captured all their Winter supply of
dried buffalo meat, all their meal, flour and other provisions, and,
in fact, everything they possessed, even driving the warriors from the
village with little or no clothing. We destroyed everything of value
to the Indians, and have now in our possession, as prisoners of war,
fifty-three squaws and their children. Among the prisoners are the
survivors of Black Kettle's and the family of Little Rock. We also
secured two white children held captive by the Indians. One white
woman who was in their possession was murdered by her captors the
moment we attacked. A white boy held captive, about ten years old,
when about to be secured, was brutally murdered by a squaw, who ripped
out his entrails with a knife.
The Kiowas, under Satanta,
and Arapahos, under Little Raven, were encamped six miles below Black
Kettle's village, and the warriors from these two villages came to
attempt the rescue of the Cheyennes. They attacked my command from all
sides about noon, hoping to recover the squaws and herds of the
Cheyennes. In their attack they displayed great boldness, and
compelled me to use all my force to repel them, but the counter charge
of the cavalry was more than they could stand; by 3 o'clock we drove
them in all directions, pursuing them several miles. I then moved my
entire command in search of the village of the Kiowas and Arapahos,
but after a march of eighty miles discovered they had taken alarm at
the fate of the Cheyenne village and had fled.
I was then three days'
march from where I had left my train of supplies, and knew that wagons
wound not follow me as the trail had led me over a section of country
so cut up by ravines and other obstructions that cavalry could with
difficulty move over it. The supplies carried from the train on the
persons of the men were exhausted. My men, from loss of sleep and hard
service, were wearied out; my horses were in the same condition for
want of forage. I therefore began my return march about 8 P.M., and
found my train of supplies at this point, it having accomplished only
sixteen miles since I left it. In the excitement of the fight, as well
as in self-defense, it so happened that some of the squaws and a few
children were killed and wounded. The latter I have brought with me,
and they receive all the needful attention the circumstances of the
case permit. Many of the squaws were taken with arms in their hands,
and several of my command are known to have been wounded by them.
The desperate character of
the combat may be inferred from the fact that after the battle the
bodies of thirty-eight dead warriors were found in a small ravine near
the village in which they had posted themselves.
I now have to report the
loss suffered by my own command. I regret to mention among the killed,
Major Joel H. Elliott and Capt. Louis W. Hamilton, ad nineteen
enlisted men; in wounded includes three officers and eleven enlisted
men-in all thirty-five. Of the officers, Brevet Lieut.-Col. Albert
Barnitz, Captain Seventh Cavalry, is seriously if not mortally
wounded. Brevet Lieutn. Col. F.W. Benteen had his horse shot under him
by a son of Black Kettle, whom he afterward killed. Col. Barnitz,
before receiving his wound, killed two warriors.
I cannot sufficiently
commend the admirable conduct of the officers and men. This command
has marched constantly five days, amidst terrible snow storms and over
a rough country covered by more than twelve inches of snow. Officers
and men have slept in the snow without tents. The night preceding the
attack officers and men stood at their horses' heads for hours,
awaiting the moment of attack, and this, too, when the temperature was
far below the freezing point. They have endured every privation and
fought with unsurpassed gallantry against a powerful and well-armed
foe, and from first to last I have not heard a single murmur: but, on
the contrary, the officers and men of the several squadrons and
companies seemed to vie with each other in their attention to duty and
their patience and perseverance under difficulties. Every officer,
man, scout and Indian guide did their full duty.
I only regret the loss of
the gallant spirits who fell in the battle of the Washita. Those whose
loss we are called upon deplore were among our bravest and best.
New York
Times, 30 November 1868
