The Lincoln County Herald

Fort Phil. Kearney Massacre

A Terrible Hand-to-Hand Fight.

[From the Louisville Journal.]

Herewith I give you additional and accurate information of the terrible calamity that befell the 18th United States Infantry on the 21st day of December, 1866 at or near Fort Phil. Kearney, in Dakota Territory. On the ill fated day the Indians made an attack on the U. S. Carrington, the commandant, sent out reinforcements to assist the guard of the wood train. The Indians numbered 60, the reinforcing party numbered eighty one men including officers and citizens.

As soon as the Indians perceived that we were in close quarters, they began to retreat. Our men followed them. The Indians entered a ravine, our men still following.

The Indians had 2,000 warriors concealed in the ravine. The troops were permitted to enter the narrow defile until they were carefully and hopelessly surrounded. Then commenced one of the most terrible hand-to-hand fights ever recorded in the history of Indian warfare. Our eighty one whites repulsed two thousand Indians in three successive charges: but the fourth charge was too much for them. Owing to the overwhelming numbers and the disadvantageous ground, our men could sustain themselves no longer. They were killed and scalped to a man.

Not one was left to tell the tale of blood. The post was too weak to send assistance to these poor fellows. They were horribly mutilated. There was but one eye-witness to this fight, Dr. Hines, he being at a distance from those engaged. He states that our men fought desperately. The Indians kept a hundred men busy carrying off their dead and wounded. It is a supposition that the loss of the Indians amounted to four hundred killed and wounded. This fact however is not easily ascertained as they carry off their dead and wounded on purpose to keep them from being seen or their numbers known.