The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-04-08
Details OF Gen. Custar's Recent opera
tiOns Against the indiaElS---Rcscue
of Two Female Captiyes.

ST. LOUIS, April "A long report
was received at Military Headquarters
this morning from General Custars, de-
failing his operations IN the field. After
breaking camp at Medicine Bluff Creek,
| the first signs of Indians were discovered
on the 18th of March, and the whole
command, numbering l 500 men, moved
forward rapidly, making daily marches
two or three times as long as those Of
the Indians. Tents were burned, and ali
blankets, except one per man, and all
surplus clothing shared the same fate,
On Tie 18th they reached a camp ground
which.had been abandoned only two days
before About the same time a herd of
ponies in charge of two Indians, were dis
covered. Custar determined to capture
the herd, and after proceeding some two
miles, saw the Indians partially conceal
ed behind the sand hills. Alter a good
deal of signalling, eight of them came out,
from whom Custar learned that two hun
dred and sixty Cheyennes lodges were en-
camped within ten or twelve miles, two
hundred OF which were directly in front
on small stream. Medicine Arrow, the
Chief of the Chyennes, and several 9TH
er noted chiefs, then rode up. Among
the two lodges were those of the
Dog Soldiers most mischievous,
bloodthirsty and barbarous band Of In.
dians that infest the plains Custar at
first intended to attack this village, ~but
when he discovered that the Cheyennes
held two females captives Mrs Morgan
and Miss Nhite-he conclued not to do
SO at least until he had those women out
fthe hands Of the savages. He there
l, II
lodge IN the centre of the village, where
the principal chiefs assembled Before
entering the village he preeeiyed the
thing was prepared for flight, and Gus
tar thinks that if he had then attacked
them with his fatigued troops he could
not have effected more than a capture of
their lodges. Custar ordered the arrest
oftwo chiefs Big Head and Dull Knife.
intending to hold them under guard as
hostages for the white women captives.
After considerable parleying, and only
when the ropes and trees chosen, did the
Indians deliver up their captives.
The story of their treatment told by
these captives, is of such barbarous cruel
ties and enormous indignities that it is
surprising that civilized beings could
HdNS euuuIGu IL anu survived. Inc In
dams would have killed them had the
village been attacked The Indians ex-
press themselves heartily sick of the war
and are willing to 60 to that part OF the
country which mas been indicated for
them, and are ready to submit to the de
| clslon OF the government authorities.
Custar says: 1--WE have taught the
Indians that they are safe from us in no
place and at 40 season; also, what some
OF our own people may doubt, that the
white man can endure the inc]emencies
of winter as well as Indians" 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 cculd conduct an expedition without
gnides. The General speaks highly of
his officers and men, and he especially
compliments the Nineteenth Kansas Cav
airy. The General did not lose single
man of his command He conclued his
report with the following words:
II now hold the captive Cheyenne
chiefs as hostages for the good behavior
of their tribe and for the fulfilment of the
promise of the lattar to come in and con-
form to the demands of the government.
This, | consider is the end of the Indian
war -