Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 October 1874 — Heroic Soldiers. [ARTICLE]

Heroic Soldiers.

In * eub-report of his recent fight with the Indians Gen. Miles has sent the following additional intelligence, which was received a few days ago at Gen. Sheridan's headquarters in Ohicagfe: “ I deem it a duty to brave men and faithful soldiers to bring to the notice of the highest military authority an instance of indomitable courage, skill and true heroism on the part of a detachment from this command, with the request that the actors be rewarded and their faithfulness and bravery recognized. “ On the night of the 10th inst. a party consisting of Scrgt. Z. L. Woodhall, Company I; Privates Peter Rath, Company A; John Harrington, Company H, and George W. Smith, Company M, Fifth Cavalrr; Bcouts Amos Chapman and William Dixon were sent as bearers of dispatches from the camp of this command on McClellan Creek, Texas, to Camp Supply, I. T. At six a. m. on the 13th, when approaching the Washita River, they were met And surrounded by a band of 135 Indians, Kiowas and Comanches who had recently left their agency, and at the first attack all were struck, Private Smith mortally and three others severely wounded. Although inclosed on ail sides and by overwhelming numbers one of them succeeded, while they were under a severe fire at short range and while the others with their rifles kept the Indians at bay, in digging with his knife and hands a slight cover. After this had been secured they placed themselves within it, the wounded walking with brave and painful efforts, and Pri"Vkte Smith, though lie had received q mortal wound, sitting upright within the trench to conceal the crippled condition of their party from the Indians. “From early morning until dark, outnumbered twenty-five to one, under an almost constant tire, and at such short range that they sometimes used their pistols, retaining their last charge to prevent capture, this little party of five defended their lives and the person of their dying comrade, without food, and their only drink the rain-water that collected in a pool, mingled with their own blood. There is no doubt but that they killed more than double their own number, be--sides those that were wounded. The Indians abandoned the attack at dark on the 12th. “ The exposure and distance from the command, which were necessary incidents of their duty, were such that for thirty-six hours from the first attack their condition could not be known, and nor till midnight of the 13th could they receive medical attendance or food, exposed during this time to an incessant cold storm. “Sergt. Woodhall, Harrington, and Scout Chapman were seriously wounded. Private Smith died of his wounds on the morning of the 18th. Private Rath and Scout Dixon were struck, but not disabled. “The simple recital of their deeds, and the mention of the odds against 'Which they fought; how the wounded defended the dymg, and the dying aided the wounded by exposure to fresh wounds after the power of action was gone—these alone present a scene of cool courage, heroism and self-sacrifice which duty as well as inclination prompts us to recognize, but which we cannot fitly honor”