The New York herald., 1869-02-27
THE lNDlAt1 WAR.
Engagement with Hostile Indians West Of
Witehitn Mour<aius-The savages Routed
and their viisosa Destroyed.

Enxa5cWeHs VIZ" Hostile Indians west "
Witehifa Monr<atus-The savages Ronted
and their viisose Destroyed.
ST. Louis. No., Feb 25, 1863.
letter from General Sherdan's headquarters to-
day, dated in the field. January 81, states tHat the
Cheyennes and Arapahoes report that ans.lner en-
gagement between the forces under the Command OF
Colonel Hays, Of the Third regular cavalry and the
Indians, took place between the 18th ynd 2oth OF jan
uary, at point ten days. travel y,st OF the Witch
ta Mountains In which the troo1 were successful,
totally destroying an Indian vilHige and killing eight
OF the savages. General Custo4, in communication
to General Sheridan from his camp on the south FORK
of the Red river, corroboro es the report as having
come through Indian carr .ers 1t was Colonel Evans
command which gave vle Indians such drubbing
on Christmas day. Tie news OF the fight comes
through the lndian7, but General Sheridan enter
tains no doubt that'such an engagement took place.
There are straggplg bands OF savages made up OF
several fighting Tribes. and it Is probable that 1t was
with these COLONEL Evans had the fight referred to.
Hitch in. Indian ADMINISTRATION Under
General Cusrer-A Birdscyc View Of Ras-
cnlly Wsites-Energetic Action OF General
Siscridsu,---A Few Thieves Ordered Out of
the Observation-Disclosures information.
: HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MIssouRL(
MEDICINE BLUFF CREEK, Jan. 80. 1869.
Information received from the villages OF the
Cheyennes and Arapahoes some days since an
nounced an unexpected stampede OF those Indians,
occasioned, it is supposed, by reports from their
runners that several columns were moving from the
north toward the he adwarers OF Red river. In the
latest official Communications from General Carr
that officer expressed his determination to move
south az far the Red river If possible The Indians
broke their camps and FASTENED in this direction,
rclcliuY within thirty-f.a mileq of nnint
Thence, for some unknown cause, they took the
sandy bed of the Red river which they followed for
some distance, trusting to rise the river 10 OBJ
literate their trail The Indians here say that the
marks could be seen where the Indian ponies fell
from exhaustion aud were lifted to their feet again
and urged forward. The stampede was unusually
rapid and great losses were occasioned.
The 'ardiness Of these Indians in coming in in
duced General Custer, since my last despatch to set
out for the Cheyenne ana Arapahoe camps. The
following composed the party:-Brevet Major Gene
raj George A. Custer, Captain Samuel Robbins, Bre-
vet Lieutenant Colones w. w. Cook and T. w. Gus
ter and Acting Assistant Surgeon Renick. As an
escort the General took about nfty men, composed
Of detachments from each OF the companies OF the
Seventh United States cavalry each detachment De-
ing commanded by non-commissioned oflccr.
General Custer took upon himself the mission In
which he Is now engaged. The Indians here assured
the party OF safety, though Indian treachery as ca
PRECIOUS as indian pl lomises
courier arrived yesterday from General Custer
with information to the Commanding General that
the party had reached the Arapahoe camp, and the
Cheyennes were near by. The Indians were headed
In this direction, and about seventy-eight miles dis.
tant. The Commanding General is now In expecta-
ton OF further news from Custer who will use his
efforts IN fastening on those two bands, and proba-
bly, remain and come in with them.
During the absence Of General Custer Brevet Lieu.
tenant Colonel William Thompson, Captain Seventh
United States cavalry, commands the regiment.
Brevet Lieutenant Colonel A. J. McGonnigle, chief
guartermasrer OF the expedition, and Brevet Lieu
tenant Colonel w. c. Moore returned several DAYS
since from Fort Arbuckle. Colonel McGonnigle re-
ports the trains en- route for this place with sup
plies as making some progress They were greatly
retarded by the rains and floods, hut will certainly
be in by the 9th Of February. Il would be dincuit
to comprehend the exerton required to keep even
small commandssupplied In this remote section at
this season OF the year. So far, however. owing to
route not the least Inconvenience has been expert
cnced Had the other route done as well there would
ness on the Arbuckle route there has been short
supply OF forage Tor the animals. From this direc-
ton 1t was expected to feed the animals. For
raj weeks they have been half forage, which how
ever will be Increased when the trans get through
!. Brevet Major General b. II. Grerson, commanding
road between this point and Fort Arbuckle Captain
Robinson. Tenth United States cavalry, has com.
already BEEN bdaep Il is expaced fSa nays
two weeks the road win have been completed
DR.. Henry Lipplncott, Surgeon Seventh United
ton or the troops OF this regiment The doctor had
already earned high reputation as medical oficer
In the present expedition he has earned fresh com.
mendation at the success which has thus far attend
cd MS enorts 10 set an example OF the sanitary con-
dition OF a command undergoing the seventies OF
winter campaign. the proportion OF sick Is less
than might ne looked for IN more clement season.
Since the suspension Of hostilities the troops have
been considerably scattered In order to give the
animals better shelter aud more favorable opportu-
mites Tor browsing. The Seventh United States
cavalry occupies the south bank Of Medicine Bluir
and vQllnvg off Ia fba
The Tenth United States cavalry ID about q mile
lower down, on Cache ana Medicine Bluff creeks.
beyond Medicine Bluff. about three miles distant,
occupying the valleys towards the eastern extremity
located IN ana shetered are
ing on Medicine Bluff creek, between the Seventh
and Tenth cavalry camps. General Hazen is In camp
Work has not yet been commenced upon the new
posts. 1t VIII be necessary first to receive the re-
quired authorization from the War Department,
The company OF the Tenth United States cavalry,
commanded BY First Lieutenant Thomas T.. Lcbo,
which has served for some months In the District OF
ferred to the District OF the Indian Territory and
ordered to report 10 Brcvet Major General Grierson
pany several days since for Fort Arbuckle TO recu.
perate his animals.
Since General sheridan has been in this vicinity he
has given considerable attention to ferreting out the
scoundrels who infest this Territory. There being
no civil law here some idea may be formed Of the
various purposes These characters, with the repre-
sentatves or the Indian Bureau, constitute nde-
Unable population and have always been great nut
sance 70 the army well az to the Indians and
have either directly or indirectly caused most OF the
trouble experienced. AS q specimen OF some OF the
singular business transactions now being stirred up
the following letter. forwarded by General Hazen 10
General Sheridan, VIII explain ITSELF
General HAzEN:-
sRn regard 70 the cattle stolen BY the Csddos have the
full psr.ienlan Don Caros made clean breaol H. Aoou.
$50 head brought 70 Uucnstens and bought BY Carlos
GuIenstein and Dr. Holmes Two hundred OF them
ey Naxeiey and the other 26o the Joint properly Of
way from the Canadian Camp Supply, 10 be sold by Dr.
Holmes to the government These cattle bought by
OF the Cnddoesa, about hve dollars per head
In goods. When sold Mt Camp Supply 0urenrten 10 TO
get eve dolArs per head, Don Carlos two dollars per
bead and Dr. Holmes tho balance The cattle we're sio-
len along the Red river BY the caddccs would respect
fully suggest that ycu inform General Sheridan OF these facts
VIA. he may send q once Camp Supply and hay. the cattle
70 the affair WIN 60 On towards Clouds Ranch to-day
IN possession Of the Cadd2es Those cows were sold BY
fsrbsr wakesy and BY him Issued 70 ohe Caddoes he
DurcH BILLS JAM 49, "a.
The above paper Is signed by the party sent ont
on tour OF inspection whose name, for prudential
reasons cannot yet be given.
The foliowfnO ourioailro ocentnrxo oufrl tho abave