Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-10-03
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

Gen. Earnsy's Battle-We have been fay
ored with copy of Gen. Harney's official re-
port Of his battle with and rout of the Sioux,
under "Little Thunder" which will be found
full Of interest, indeed. 1t is dated Head
quarters Sioux Expedition, camp on Blue
water Creek, Nebraska Territory, Sept 5,
1885," and is as follows
COLONEL have the honor to report, for
the information of the General in Chief that
on my arrival 81 Ash Hollow, on tho evening
OF the II inst, L ascertained that large pOr-
ton Of the Bru!s band Of the Sioux nation, uI.
der Little Thunder" was encamped on Blue
water Creek, (Mee-ns-to-wak-pah)a about six
miles northwest Of Ash Hollow and four from
the left bank Of the North Platte.
Having no doubt, from the information had
received from the people of the country had
previously met on the road, and from the
guides accompanying me, of the real charac
ter ard hostile intentions Of the party in ques-
ton, at once commenced preparation for at
tscking it. I ordered Lieut. Col. p. st. Geo.
Cooke, second dragons, with companies and
h Of the same regiment, Light company G
fourth artillery, ana company L tenth infan-
try. all mounted, 10 move al three O'Clock a
m. on the 81 inst, and secure a position which
would cut OF the retreat of the Indians to the
Sand Buttes, the reputed stronghold of the
Bruies. This movement was executed i'm n
most faultless and successful manner-not
having. apparently, attracted the notice or
excited the suspicion Of the enemy ND to the
very moment Of the encounter.
At 4! o clock a. IN, | left nv camp with
companies a, L, II, and Il, sixth infantry,
under the Immediate command of Major A,
Cady, OF that regiment, and proceeded toward
the principal village OF the Brules, with a view
to attacking 1t openly, in concert with the sur
nnYt TO- ~ 1f 81 = 3 -. 3
before reaching II, the lodges were struck and
their occupants commenced a rapid retreat up
the valley q the Blue-water, precise " in the
direction from whence | expected the mount.
ed troops They halted short of these, how
ever, and parley eIsued between their chief
and myself, In which l stated the causes Of
the dissatisfaction which the Government felt
toward the BIules, and closed the interview
by telling him that his people had depredat ID
upon ard lnsulted our citizens whilst moving
quietly through our country; that they had
Inassacred our troops under most aggravated
circumstances, and that now the day Of retri.
button had come; that / did not wish to harm
him, personally, as he pTofessed to be a friend
TO the whites; but that he mus. either deliver
up the young men whom ne acknowledged he
could not control, or they must suffer the con-
sequence. OF their past misconduct and take
the chances of s battle. Not being able, of
course, however willing be might have been.
TO deliver up all the butchers Of our people,
Little Thunder returned to his band to warn
them Of my decision, and to prepare them for
the contest that must follow.
Immediately after his disappearance from
my view, l ordered the infantry to advance.
the leading company Captain Todd's) as Skin
mlsheS, supported by Company Ii, sixth in
family, (under Lieut.. AcCIeary y the remain
ing companies OF the sixth being held in ha and
for Interior movements. The skirmishers under
Captain Todd opened their fro, crowned the
bluffs on the right bank Of the stream where
the Indians had taken up their last position J
in very spirited and gallant manner driyin,
the savages thersirOm into the snare laid for
them by the cavalry, which last troops burst
upon them so suddenly and 60 uneypectedly
rs to cause them to cross instead Of ascending
the valley OF the Blue Water, and seek an
escape by the only avenue now open to them
through the bluffs of the left bank of th at
stream. But although they ayailed themselves
OF tnls outlet tor csc pc from complete capture
they did not do 80 without serious molestatiop.
FOR the infantry not only took them in flank
with their long range rifles, but the cavalry
made most spirited charge upon their op-
po.ire or left flank and rear, pursuing them
for five or six miles over very rugged
country, killing n large number of them,
and completely dispensing the whole party
This brilliant charge of the cavalry was sup
ported es far as practicable by the whole body
Of the infantry, who were eager from the first
for fray with the butchers OF their comrades
Of Lieut.. Grattan's party.
HE result Of this affair were eighty-six
killed, five wounded, about seventy women
and children captured, fifty mules ard ponies
taken, besides an indefinite number killed and
disabled The amount of provisions and amp
equiPage must have comprised nearly all the
enemy possessed for teams have been con-
stantly engaged III bringing into camp every
thing Of any value to the troops, and much
has been destroyed on the ground
The casualties Of the command smount N
four killed, four severely wounded, four slight
Iy wounded, aEtCne missing, supposed TO bs
killed or captured by the enemy. L enclose
herewith list Of the above, and also field
returns exhibiting the strength of the troops
engaged in the combat.
With regard TO the Off ,ers and troops of nv
command, L have never seen q finer military
spirit displayed, generally; and if there has
been any material difference in the services
they have rendered, il must be measured
chiefly by the opportunities they had for dis
tinctiOn. Lieut.. Colonel Cooke and Major
Cady, the commanders of tie mounted and
foot forces, respectively, carried out my in
structions to them with signal alacrity, zeal,
end intelligence. The company commanders