The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-04-07


ST.. LOUIS, April "A long report was received
at military headquarters this morning from Gen.
eral Custer detailing his operations in the field.
After breaking camp at Medicine Bluff Greek,
fresh signs of Indians were discovered the 18th
Of March, and the whole commsn6, numbering
fifteen hundred men, moved forward rapidly,
making daily marches two or three times as long
as those Of the Indians. Tents were burned and
all blankets, except one per man, and all surplus
clothing, shared the same fate. On the 18th they
reached camp. ground which had been sban.
doned only two days before. About the same
time herd OF ponies In charge of two Indians
was discovered. Custer determined to capture
the herd, and after proceeding some two miles
saw Indians partially concealed behind the sand
hills. After good deal of signaling eight of them
came out. from whom Custer learned that EGO
Cheyenne lodges were encamped within ten or
twelve miles, 200 of which were directly in from,
on q small stream.
Medicine Arrow, the chief of the Cheyennes,
and several other noted chiefs then rode up.
Among the two hundred lodges were those of the
Dog soldiers, the most miscellaneous, blood thirsty
and barharous band of Indians that infest the
plains. Gen. Custer first intended TO attack this
village. but when he discovered that the Chey.
eDnes had two white female captves-Mrs. Nor
gan and Miss White-he concluded not to do SO,
at least until he had those women out OF the
hands OF the savages. He, therefore, went with
Medicine Arrow TO his lodge in the center of the
village, where the principal chiefs assembled.
Before entering the village he perceived the
was prepared for fight. Custer thinks that had
be then attacked them with his fatigued troops,
he could not have effected more than the capture
of their looges. Custer ordered the arrest of two
chiefs--Big Head and Dull knife-intendng to
hold them under guard as hostages for the white
women captiyes. After considerable pareying,
and only when the rope and tree were chosen,
did the Indians deliver up the captives. The
story Of their treatment, told by the captives, Is
o recital of such barbarous cruelties aud enor-
nous indignities that IT is surprising that civilized
= beings could have endured II and survived. The
Ind ans would have killed them had the village
been attacked. The Indians express themselves
heartily sick of the war, and are willing to 90 to
that part OF the country which has been desig-
mated for them, and are ready 10 submit to the de-
cison of the government authority.
Custer says: " We have taught the Indians that
they are safe from rs IN no place and at no sea-
son; and alec, what some Of our own people may
doubt, that the white man can endure the inclem.
encles Of winter better than Indians.n He says
that the country and the hiding places of the
Indians are now better known, and that he has
many officers in his command who could conduct
an expedition there without guides. The general
speaks highly OF his officers and men, and he espe-
cislly compliments the nineteenth Kansas cavalry.
The general did not lose single man Of his COM
mane. he concludes his report with the follow
ing words: =" | now hold the captive Cheyenne
chiefs rs hostages for the good behavior of their
tribe. and the fulfllment Of the promise of tire
lattet TO return and conform to the demands of
the government. This consider is the end of the
Inditn war;"