Transcript

Transcript for "From the West," New York Daily Times, 18 Sept. 1854

FROM THE WEST.

Authentic Details or he Bugle at Sarpy's Point—Defeat of the Troops from Fort Laramie—Government Goods Captured—Bordeau's Store Pillaged
Correspondence of the Missouri Republican.

SARPY'S POINT, Nebraska Territory,
Eight miles east of Fort Laramie, Aug. 21, 1854.

SIR : An affair has happened here between the soldiers and the Indians, which ought to be properly noticed by the United States Government. Having been an eye-witness to the battle, I consider it my duty to furnish a strict account of it and its causes. In the first place, on the 17th of August a train of Mormons passed this place. The Indians, who were encamped here waiting for their payment from Government, had no provisions, and were of course anxious for something to eat. As the Mormons were passing, a lame cow, belonging to a man in the rear of the Mormon train, became frightened and ran into the Indian camp. The Mormon left the cow behind, and so one of the Indians, a Minnecosha, shot it down , and with his companions, ate it up. The Mormons then went to the Fort and reported that the Indians had killed one of their cows. On the 19th, about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, Lieutenant GRATTAN, with a command of 27 solders, and AUGUSTE LUCIEN, interpreter, arrived here to arrest the Indian who had killed the cow. I accordingly sent for the chiefs to go with the Lieutenant and make the arrest. They accompanied him, but the Indian was not willing to give minself up, saying that he would die first. While the Bear Chief of the Wazazies was standing with three other chiefs, the Little Thunder, the Big Partizan, and the Man who is afraid of his Horses among the soldiers, the Lieutenant ordered his men to fire. They did so, and wounded the Bear Chief and his brother. But one round was fired, when the Indians in turn charged, and succeeded in routing the soldiers and killing all of them, with the exception of one private, who is not expected to recover. Lieutenant GRATTAN and two of his men were killed while standing by their cannon, the Lieutenant receiving twenty-four arrows, one of which passed through his head. As soon as the soldiers saw their commander fall, they took to flight, but were all killed within half a mile of this place. The Ogalallah camp was about one mile distant, and a white man named SEYFROY IOTT was staying there at the time. Being a Sioux interpreter, the chiefs requested him to stay between the camps to prevent the young men from charging on the soldiers, but he could not succeed, and barely escaped with his life.

At my house we were placed in a bad situation. There were with me, Mr. ANTOINE REYNAL and Mr. SAMUEL SMITH, with five others, and all we could do was to stay in the house, and try to keep the Indians out. As Mr. R. was standing in the doorway of the house, an Indian rushed on him, and tried to kill him, when another Indian, the Quick Bear, tried to kill the first Indian for rushing on a white man—but some one caught Quick Bear's gun, and its contents went into the wall of the house. By this time a party had collected outside of the house, who tried to force their way in, but some of my friends, the Quick Bear and other, stopped them After the battle, the Chiefs came in my house, and said that as the young men had killed all the soldiers that had come to fight them, they would now go and slaughter the rest of the soldiers at the Fort, burn all the houses, and kill all the whites on the river; but I told the Chiefs to stop them from so doing-assuring them that since the soldiers had commenced the quarrel, it would be overlooked by Government. But they then rushed in the house and demanded of me to give them everything that they wanted. To save our lives, I gave them everything that I had in my store, to the amount of two thousand dollars.

The next day they went to the post of the American Fur Company, took all the goods that were sent to them by Government, and pillaged the store. The situation of the traders and of Fort Laramie is perilous in the extreme. I was requested by the commander of the fort to bury the dead soldiers, since he had not men enough to detach a party for that service, and I succeeded in doing so.

As far as I know anything about Indians, I think that our Government ought to send five hundred mounted men, veteran troops, to keep the Indians in subjection, and one company of infantry to guard the fort. The Indians, in the recent battle, after killing all the soldiers, broke their cannon to pieces, and carried off their muskets and animals. As for placing the infantry on a prairie to fight with Indians, it is just the same as putting them up as targets to be shot at. There were about one thousand Indians in the battle.

Yours truly,
JAMES BORDEAU,
Per SAMUEL SMITH.

Witness that the above is correct, the undersigned being eye-witnesses:
(Signed.)

ANTOINE REYNAL, SAM'L SMITH,
TOFIEL GROPH, PAUL VIAL,
PETER PEW, ANTOINE LAHONE.

Copy of a letter from the commander of Fort Laramie to JAMES BORDEAU:

FORT LARAMIE, Nebraska, Sunday, Aug. 20, 1854.
SIR : Your letter of the 19th has been received by me, and in reply I say that I am unable to take further notice at present of this unfortunate transaction; and I wish you to speak to the Bear and other Chiefs with reference to the matter. Make the best terms with them you can for the present for your own safety and the safety of others likewise unprotected in the country. I wish you to use all means in your power to procure the restoration of the bodies of those who have been killed.

Your obedient servant.
H.B. FLEMING,
Second Lieut. Sixth Infantry, Commanding.
To JAMES BORDEAU, Sarpy's Point, Nebraska.