The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-12
HEADQUARTERS oF TR0Nps


of sulIy's NIarch--"Uncie john Plains
HEADQUARTERS or TROOPS
OPERATING South THE ARKANsAS RIVER
CAMP SUPPLY, l. T., Nov, %, 1868,
Brevet Brgadier General Alfred Sllly, lieutenant
colonel Third United States infantry, commanding
the expeditionary force, having reached this point
but four days since has within this brief space trans
formed this wild and uninhabiled vicinity into q
scene Of active life ana martial preparation. Here
IN the wds OF the Canadian the paradise OF the In.
dan IN the heart OF the region occupied by the hos
tile sagages, the sound OF the bngle the
roll OF the drum and the woodman's axe break
the solitude which prevailed but few days ago
TIE wild animals, tne deer ana the buffalo, tile wolf
and the fox, the innurDgrabe turkeys and different
varieties OF the feaherefl kingdom which made this
sheir aVorite resort, now find their old haunts
pied by a superior species. lowering upon the out
skirts OF this unusual icene with mute bewilderment
the crack OF the rife tpd the fatal ballet alarm them
from their astOnshm.ent and drive them 10 seek
resorts VI distance. The wandering parties OF
savaUes are themselves surprised and alarmed al
TINS extraordinary and new aspect OF affairs, and
doubtless look upon this sudden display OF force as
bad medcine's for their future career OF murder and
devastation towards the North. The force already
Concentrates ~ this post consists ofeleven companies
OF the Seventh cavalry three companies OF the Third
United States infantry, ope company OF the Fifth
United States infantry and one company OF the Thr-
tyeighth United States infantry, arriving with the
column commanded by General Supy, and escorting
train .of $50 wagons, conveying supplies and
stores fer the proposed post. This force was in
creased yesterday By the arrival OF General Sheridan
with the scouts, Company c, Tenth United States
cavalry; two companies OF the Nineteenth Kansas
volurr and ten Kaw Indians and twenty wagons.
The following is a list OF field and line officers now
serving with their commands or IN their respective
spheres OF duty on the star, exclusive OF the CON-
mandlng general ana stan and the companies which
constitute HIS escort -
Brevet Brigadier General Alfred Sully, lieutenant
colonel Third infantry, commanding District of the
upper Arkansas ana troops operating In the field
north OF the Arkansas.
Captain J. w. Cews, Thrty-eighth infantry assist
ant adJutant general.
Brevet Lieutenant Colonel M. w. Keogh Captain
Seventh cavalry acting assistant inspector general
Brevet Major II. lnman captain and assistant
Quartermaster, chief quartermaser OF the district
and troops in the nield.
Brevet Major G. NJ. Sternberg, assistant surgeon,
chief medical officer.
Second Lieutenant J. +. Weston Seventh cavalry,
Brevet Captain w. Mitchell, Third infantry, acting
assistant quariermaster OF the troops in the field.
First Lieutenant II. J. Nolan, Seventh cavalry,
acting commissary general OF the troops in the field
Seventh Cuodtry.-Brevet Major General George A.
Custer, lieutenant colonel Seventh cavalry, CON-
manding. Major-Joel IL. Elliott. Captains-Wil-
liam Thompson, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Frederick
". Benteen Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Edward
Myers Brevet Colonel Robert NJ. West, Louis NJ.
Hamilton Brevet Major Albert Barnitz. Lee r. Gil
lette George w. Yates, Brevet Major Thomas b. West
First Iieutenants-Samdel NJ. Robbins, Brevet CAP.
tain Matthew Berry, owen Hale, Myles Moylan. Ad.
Jutants-Brevet Captain Thomas w. Custer, Brevet
captain Ea. Charles Brewster, Breyet Major James NJ
John M. Johnson and Edward G. Godfrey. Second
Lientenanis-Breyet Captain Algernon E. Smith,
Edward Law, Walworth ii. Smith, Edward c.
Mathey Frank NJ Gibson aud j. 7. March. Assist
ant surgeon-Henry 'Lippencott. Acting Assistant
Thdd Unued states Observation-Disclosures Brevet
Major DOM r Page commanding infantry battalion;
Breyet Major Henry Asbury. First Leutenanfs-
Bfevet Captain William Mitchell, Joseph Hale and
john y. Thompson. Second INSTRUMENTATION n.
Williams, Chancellor Martin
RIM Ended States H.td1aIY.-Second Lieuten-
ant-George +. Borden.
Thutiy eighth Uytited States LlfdptU.-Brevet Ma
ior--W. NJ. Bcebe, captain; Brevet Captan-J.A Gou-
ders, first lieutenant. Acting Assistant Surgeon-J.
Il. a. Marston, United States Army.
With this command General Sully moved out OF
Fort Dodge: the men and animals were IN excellent
condition for tile hardships ana exposure as well
fGntlng, which were 10 constitute the burden OF
the experiment OF a vigorous winter campaign.
The officers were anxious for the opportunity OF
taking part IN solving the problem of Indian admins.
traiion. which II s admitted has since the pre-
rent policy Of buying peace has been adopted been
constant succession OF failures In regard 70 the
details of the march OF General Suly's column
wll here give copy OF the itinerary OF First Lieuten
ant Henry Jackson, Seventh United States cavalry
ah Acting Chief Engineer Department OF the
tssouri, who was detailed from General Sheri-
. BINS headquarters to accompany tine movement OF
,neral suuy In advance. The itinerary gives a
q ely record Of movements, with interesting data
r pecting the country and Of particular value, Us
N region through which the column passed Is for
al practical purposes unknown 10 our government.
N = distances were computed by an odometer.
! pvENBER IL, ls6S.-Left Fort Dodge at seven
&c Lock r NJ. Marched eight and quarter miles
nas down the north bank Of the Arkansas river and
i INTO camp for the night ON the same side of the
tire
n, ,vgSBER l2.-Left camp at sunrise. Crossed the
Ark ansas three-lourths OF mile east OF camp. The
,oI TRY passed over for the first three fourhs OF
ME was the bottom OF the Arkansas river. The
cross ing OF the river was indifferent the channel
ocns cut out TO an unusual depth and filled with
.on and shifting sands. The country for
flstM zee OF one mile on the south bank was
,omp ,sed OF sand hills. At the summit
d N adjacent ridge the country swept on
nto hard, Eolling plain, covered with
buffals grass, trees, and broken into ravnes
eadiul unto Mulberry creek: crossed the creek by
buffalo tran and went into camp ON the south side at
quar-, or before eight O'Clock In the evening having
travellt hye iailes. The banks OF Mulberry creek
were rr ON twenty TO fifty feet IN height and almost
pcrpenC ocular The water is poor ana In pools,
and TIN per In sufficient abundance for camping pur
poses rhe bed OF the creek was firm.
NOyFs BER 13.-Left camp at seven A. NJ. amer a
delay OF wohours. caused by stampede OF the bulls
81 the tr in during the night The route lay IN
southeast eriy direction The PLAIN Tor the nrsl six
miles was much cut UP 10y ravines; beyond tins dir
rance the country was rolling with slight raylnes.
until ii column struck ridge between two tfibu-
tarics OF 'ul creek Inc banks OF these were very
rough and ali the surrounding country, from appear
ances II al most impossible for wagons the breaks
from the ~ vdes beng almost perpendicular. The
water In M i creek IL fair, timber rather and
grass mlddll ng, Inc country passed over was COW
ar. with Il, ir buffalo grass. The crossing ut the
confluence the two streams was toleraby good
The main str am IN thirty feet wide sandy bed. with
water mostly below the sand, but shows a clear
ming current about six feet wide and three inches
<ieep i'm pacta Went into camp at TWO IN the after
noon near RM III creek, north SIDE the odometer In
dlcatng a dk, lance OF twenty and one-haf miles
travelled durLug the day. Killed bufaloes
on The march, NO Indians seen this day, though the
weather was very favorable 10 their mode OF
fare owing to al thick fog which obscured the
rounding country until after r1vinH In camp Broke
nne wagon III GRO ssiDg the last creek ana shot two
hoves having the CHAMBERS. The weather moderated
NOVEMBER A.. Left camp al quarter past SIX
this morning. Marched one and a half miles 10 Blur
fIee.. The crossing OF the creek was found 10 he
VERY difrcult The creek bed about 200 yards
vsnie with a sedgy ssland in the mid lie with sand
ICED SPOUT thirty feat wide. TN the south side
bufry banks with merry bad descents for wagons.
Plenty or cottonwood timber this SIDE Aer cross
irx accented the biz ~ winding up In the bed ~
rIaa rayne eachinga divide which was followed for
I'VE mics. From this s,oint descended into n basin