.MTAzMw.NjkyMjQ

138

but having lost it, encamped to wait until it was found and if possible to find out the direction it led in.

       Monday, Septbr. 28, 1874, broke camp at 4 o'clock A.M., taking the trail lost the night before, after marching about 4 miles North and Northwest found an Indian camp in the great canon of the Red River.              Several camps were were reported seen by the scouts from the hills and some 15 minutes was taken in finding a trail

leading down the Canon, and when found, the 2nd Battalion and Lieut. Thompson with the scouts were ordered down and the 1st Battalion was ordered to remain on the hill.

       The men were a very short time reaching the foot, considering the length and roughness of the hill.
       As soon as the first two Companies of the 2nd Battalion ("A" and "E" Co's. 4th Cavy.) had reached the foot, they, with Lieut. Thompson and the scouts were ordered to attack the Indians, who were getting away as fast as possible into the mountains.
       The other two Companies of the 2nd Battalion ("H" and "L" Co's., 4th Cavy.) were sent out to the support of the other two Companies and the 1st. Battalion was ordered down into the Canon.
       "A" and "E" Companies 4th Cavy., with the scouts under Lieut. Thompson, had a running fight with the Indians for about 4 miles in which they killed 3 Indians and captured 1424 head of stock consisting of ponies, colts and mules.  The Indians were all killed by the scouts under Lt. Thompson, who was in the advance.
       The advance Companies were ordered to fall back, driving off the stock and destroying the camps, &c.
       "H" and "L" Companies were ordered up and protected the flanks and rear, which were for a short time considerably annoyed by a few Indians on the sides of the, among the rocks, where they could not be reached, until men were sent on foot up on the sides of the Canon.
       Here the 1st Battalion having come to position in  rear of "H" and "L".  Those Companies were ordered back and "H" and "E" Companies to occupy the the hill, where the trail let down.
       The other Companies of the 2nd. Battalion drove off the stock and got it safely up on the plains; about an hour was spent in getting the stock together, when the Command started back to the wagon train, which was supposed to be at Tule Canon and reached the train about half past twelve, Sept. 29, 1874, at that place with all the captured stock.
       Our casualties were as follows:  One man severely wounded by a carbine shot, Trumpeter Henry E. Hard, Co. "L", 4th Cavalry.   Three horses killed and ten wounded.