New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-09
THE YELLOWSTONE WAR.
Csutinusd from First PAGE.

three casuals rAviz., the Hon. Louis Clifford,
son of Lord Clifford; Louis Moesworth. son Of Sir
Paul Wordsworth. and Mr.. Il. G. Frost of st. Louis.
former friend of the first two Of the London Uni
versitY, who having provided their own mules
wagons and outfit, were allowed to accompany the
expedition also formed part Of the cavalry advance
Uniting our supplies consisting Of bacon, sugar. cof
fee and hard bread, with those of the casuals." we
packed them on mule provided for the trip by the
Quartermaster. BY o'clock in the morning it was
so cold that many had to put their oyercoats and
others had to walk to keep warm. Only once during
the night was there doubt about the trail. The
scouts had lost it, and the column was obliged to
halt. 1t was soon found again. The Indians
had diverged to the river land watered
their horses, and then returned again
to the hills. Athalfpast o'clock just as daylight
had fairly FURNISHED the day, we halted in quiet
rayine for three hours rest We had made -
miles, BY half-past we were OIL again, and
marched until IL O'clock making 10 miles under
very hot sum- which brought coats and oyercoats
into disrepute 1t was desirable to march at night
as much as possible, to hide our advance from the
Indians. Our horses needed grazing to make up for
lack of forage We halted here till o'clock, took
a sleep, had dinner and once moro resumed our
march, hoping to overtake the Indians some time on
the following day. After march OF SIX
miles, when just on the verge Of evening" our
trail which had followed beautiful val
lev, suddenly diyerged to the river. Other trails
from the hillside were discovered leading down TO
the river at the same place. From the way IN
which the tall grass leaned, we could tell that the
Indians from the hills had gone toward the river,
instead Of going from it. They had either gone TO
the river for water or what we most feared, they
had conyerged at that point and crossed We Looked
in vain to find the trail resumed. Bloody KNIFE was
confident they had crossed. and further, that the
Indians had sent out runners to near camps ana
gathered in all the neighboring Indians The ques-
ton was soon decided. One Of our scouts, after
much difficulty succeeded in swimming his horse
across the river and found very heavy trail on the
other SIDE We could go no further that night, but
must lie over and attempt crossing in the morning.
We went to bed disappointed If we had started As
hours before we did, we should have come upon the
Indians when they were crossing They had not
crossed earlier than the preceding day.
UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS To CROSS THE YELLOW
STONE.
The next day was Sunday the 10th. 1t was day
destined to failure and disappointment, as the sue
ceedIng day was marked for success. Breakfast as
usual; then at o'clock the rUmpeter called boots
and saddle" and we rode down to the river. At
this point about two miles below the Hi@ t"I;
River the Yellowstone is about AS yards wide from
bank to bank. Two sand bars in the river divided
! its waters. securing good ford, about 300 yards
wide leaving channel 27j yards to the other bank.
1t was an easy matter to wade horses to the fur
thest sand BAR the water only coming up to our stir
rups The next problem was how to get to the fur
Their shore and the whole day was occupied with
| attempts at its solution. Men were sent out on
horses to swim across but the current proved
too strong for them. A small raft was made
to carry across line, and thus provide q
way of bringing back RATS which could be built on
the other side but the strength Of the current
snapped the rope several times and the plan was
finally abandoned Meanwhile Reynolds, who with
Norris another hunter will carry this letter to Fort
Benton, if the Indians do not capture them, sug-
gested that Bloody Knife make two bull-boats.
Bloody Knife reported himself able and willing.
Bloody Knife, by the way, is Rec Indian from Fort
Buford distinguished for intelligence and bravery,
who has been made corporal for valuable services
rendered. His limited knowledge of English COM
pels the of an interpreter who is readily found
in one of the half-breeds.
Two beeves were Immediately killed and skinned
for Bloody Kuife's use Stout willow wands were
then cut and the bark pulled Off They were then
bent into the proper shape and bound together by
thongs of raw hide. The frame, when completed
looks like denuded umbrella frame. the tips being
secured by large willow ring which determines
the diameter of the circular boat The hide is
stretched over the frame and secured to it by more
thongs of raw hide The green hide is then allowed
to dry, the process in our case being fastened by
large fire. When completed this unique boat looked
like large raw-hide umbrella three feet deep and
about five in diameter. without a handle. Yet
Bloody Knife declared that this Wilde tub would
carry 200 pounds. second bull-boat was made
and dried In the same way. The day had been
passed in these endeavOrs, and it was too lato to
make further trial that night.
We picketed our horses near by. spread our ban-
kets. and dropped to sleep. Just before retired,
an Indian was seen to come down to the bank on
the other side to water his horse. As as he OBJ
served our camp he immediately fled without giving
his animal drink. His surprise showed that
presence so near the enemy had not been discOv-
cred. Had we possessed the proper appliances for
crossing the river we could no doubt have effected
the passage without discovery. Once discovered,
an attempt to cross line in the morning by
bull-bOats would be extremely hazardous
FIGHTING BEGINS.
Whatever plan Gen. Custer might have had for the
morrow, however was subject to revision about
o'clock the next morning. Two three solitary
rifle shots, then doublet, then trpet of cracks,
and finally whole volley from the other side of the
river was the nature of the reveile that suddenly
startled us from orr blankets in the morning. The
Indians! the Indians. they firing from the
other side" shouted one of our number. We jumped
up and dressed Immediately. Our men seized their
guns and rushed to the 'front.' aud began to fire in
turn. As yet only few Indians had appeared on
the opposite bank Gen. Custer ordered our firing
to stop until the Indians should come
down in larger numbers and give us better
target The horses were not moved at first,