New-York tribune., 1869-02-27
I"|L -.
THE INDIAN WAR.

D
II THE SIOUX INDfASs-THE NEGRO fhooro
AND THE INDIANs-HOw THE BLACKS FIGHT
-.r. GEN CARR'S INDIAN BATTLES. Itt i"'
IFRoM Ak OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT
THE PLAINS, January, 1SG9.-Not long after Gen,
Bradley had established his camp on Ihick"oou
Creek. near the Republican River, scout Oh ~,
fantry and cavalry was ordered down the River, anu
determined to accompany it for the purpose OIL sec
ing the country and learning what could Oh the In
dams. We marched thirty miles down the stream
ON the South bank, and found the land much De'.ei
than ON the north side. Some good farms migh' po
made, but the scarcity of fine land and wood' Pc.
cludes the idea of settlement After paSsins ..o
nlace where We struck the river in coming from tne
platte. the land on the Republican improved IN
ouality. and timber became quite abundant "o
nitcbed our camp in a fine grove, and found deer
ducks. geese, fish, and antelope, quite aounaan'
Earv in the morning of the second day, the column
turned south. and marched for the Beaver, twenty
nine miles from the Republican. The marcn
lay across O dry prairie, much broken Win Ia
vines. Late in the evening we reached Ine
Beaver. n small stream, and found plenty OF Woou
and grass Here we came upon large lndap tran'
several days old, leading southwark. The guide es
timated that not less than six hundred Indians ana
a thousand head of stock had passed over the trail
and Judging by the marks his estimate was moderate
Having only five days rations, the General dster-
mined not to follow the trail. and next morning SET
ont up the Beaver The Beaver Valley is marrow ana
contains but little good land. After marchlng yen
miles the timber disappeared entirely and tnat nlent
we had to use buffalo chips to cook; They make out
poor fire and the odor is so unpleasant 1t almost
takes away ones appetite. On the following morn,
camp eas N1S on Thickwood, the column turned
north nortB6ward and followed the Wallace
trail to the camp which is 80 miles from the beaver
:. la fnln
Beaver and Thckwood, but prairie is abundant.
Three days after our return from the Beaver cay
alry scout was ordered up the South Fork OK the
Republican and accompanied it Inc nrst gay out 96
we crossed the river and ascended the north bank ~
miles The bluffs extended in close TO the water,
and the little level land that was to be found was
arid and sandy Dlcks ana geese Telg ttIe streams
emptying into the Republican seemed to be well
wooded, but had no fine land along them. Inc sec
ond day out we passed over sand hills ana raVines,
the river having but little valley land on the north
side Several buffalo were seen, and one hne Dqll
run down and shot by the cavalry. larry
the next morning crossed the river
TO the south side, and continued our march up IT;
Toward night the stream became quite narrow ana
at sundown we camped at the forks. where ,l nan
could Jump across either branch. Hundreds OF ducks,
geese and water hens were seen. and good many
shot At times the air was full OF nylng Wlid plIds,
and wild goose was shot while passing over tne
column. Indian signs abundant. but no Indians
were seen. Camps in which hundreds had lived
were found abandoned. and one large trail leading
south probably the same seen on the Beaverl Twas was
quite fresh. passed, and one OF these had
evidently contained chief. Four stout posts eight
feet high, were set firmly into the gT9una, ana ,ha
scaiiold the chief was laid, wrapped IN
his robes. Over him his lodge was pitched, and his
bow arrows and war relics hung up In lt. Two
ponies had been killed, and the heads nailed up on
the south posts OF the grave, while the tails were
fastened to the north posts. The carcascs were
buried under the scsfiod The ponies were to servo
i'm in In laDUY hunting
arms to kill game on the way. and the robes and
trinkets TO enable him to make respectable appear
reached the happy land. Before saw the grave. the
body had been thrown of the scaiod, and the robes
and lodge taken away, On the following
our return to camp. Late in the after
noon, eight buffalo were reported on the
ri ght Of The column. and detachment was sent after
returning TO camp they saw Q solitary horsenans
standing on blnf. aud mistaking him Tor one OF
the camp vdettes they approached quite close before
the party and was looking down the ryer In the d-
recton the column had taken. In his right hand ne
grasped the reins Of his pony and his nile wnHe ne
setting sun. Observing the approach of his white
foes he sprang upon his pony dashed down tho
5n sfsSrsa 1b sesreSed % VIGOROUSLY for hum sa
dark Several Indian ponies were found on tho
march, run down by the cavalry, and brought
INTO camp Their names and r,, Iss ,S Mefe %hss Sfha
fellow had evidently been the property OF
some Indian girl. When brought among the cavalry
he became terribly alarmed and sn9rted. reared and
plunged until he succeeded in breaking away when
he sped 10 the hills like an arrow Tho Indian po-
nies when offered and oats wonld not tonch the
grain, and had certainly never seen any food oi the
and would eat cottonwood limbs as thick as mans
thumb. We found the land on the south side OF the
Republican much better than tho north bank, and
capable in many places OF being rendered INTO hne
farms. On the evening OF the sixth day out we ar
rived safely at camp having had excellent weather
for the trip. mail from the States had
arrived during absence, and we were soon
all enjoying newspapers and pleasant letters from
friends, while the coffee boiled and the buffalo steak
frzzed the fire. Letters Of instruction had been
received from Gen. Sherman. and the commanding
officers seemed delighted with their contents. The
war was TO be prosecuted with yigor. and as many
Indians killed as possible Buffalo were TO be
slaughtered, and the country made uninhabitable
even for sayages Sheridan had also written to say
that the troops must be kept in motion and the In
Attack the Indians right and left, burn their
villages, and kill all who would not go
upon their reservations II any, Indians
caught send them to Fort Wallace so he could hang
them as an example. SO read tho warlike episte OF
Philip. IL is impossible TO conceive of the popularity
zens of the frontier He is their ideal OF warrior.
and everything he does is right did not find an
officer, soldier resident in all my travels who had
not the fullest confidence in Sheridan. " Oh. yes,
Phil will soon give peace and security, IL they will
only let him alone at Washington" was the invari-
able expression IL is true Sheridan is impulsive and
has a ringing way of doing things but, after ALL he
is possessed Of good sense kind heart and may
be trusted as far as any man in the nation Intent
upon the public good devoted patriot, IL would be
we'll for tho authorities to let him alone as much as
possible, assured that he will act for tho best
interests Of the people, and the end will be
peace Thus he wrote TO the troops "You must be
prepared TO share with me the hardships of Winter
campaign Treaties and presents have been tried in
vain. We must conquer the Red Skins. Let ms
march at once, and thrash them soundlyp And
every citizen and soldier on the border responded
I've are ready; let us march at once, and thrash
them sonndlYD Soon after our return from up the