New-York tribune., 1873-09-06

PREPARATIONS For "fNfHN
INDIANS
x,,o,,,e the proper time had arrived 70 assume INC
oH,psve orders 10 this effect were accordingly sen' "
CoI Hart and Capt. French the two wing eominahue'
Is.,, weston was directed to his Troop up
desp rayne on our left, which would convey mu W ~
nno,nv,s nosit,on and opportunity ocouireu
be was 20 charge and pursue the Indians with all VIC
- nraoticable Immediately after Capt owen
uala was directed TO move his squadron' cou-/
s,s,inr OF and Troops, In iconjuneton Win Aoe'
weson,s troop, and the three troops to charge si"
neosly Similar dispositions were oroered 10 toe
ana rtrht Lieut.. Custer, commanding ireefN ""So
70 advance and charge the Indians in mont OF our
center while Cspts. Yates and Aoylan nre'eu rap',
forward in the direction. Before tais movoa'on.
began Il became necessary 10 dsodge large party VI
Indians posted IN ravine and Dehlnu fo0"'
10 our front, who we're eheaseu ." f
ing up heavy fire upon our 'roop,
while the latter were forming IL was Az Vns p'."'
that the horse of Lieut.. hiram H. ketehu'h Ac''"s no
as,sut Acknowledgement of the Expedition was snoe
,ua<r him Nv own horse was also shot under me
within few PAGES of the latter The duty OF driving
the Indians engaged iuf sharpshootng WAS n"uS'ou "
Lieut. Charles A. Varnum with detacnuien1 VI n
troop 7th Cavalry, who soon forced the huaLs oaoh
from their cover Everything being Ia readiness io'
general advance charge was ordered and the squsu
rons took the Gallon TO the tune OF "Gary OweD"
the band being posted Immediately IN the rear OF the
skrmsh line. The Indians had evidently come ou' pre-
pared TO do their best and with no mlsgNngs as 10
their success as the and high bluffs beyond the
river were covered with groups Of squaws old men ana
children who collected there 70 witness our destruc
ton In this the prOverbal power OF music 10
sooh the savage breast utterly failed for no sooner did
the band strike up the CHEEKY notes OF Garry owen
and the squadrons advance 10 he charge then the In
dians exhibited uninistakeable signs OF commotlon
and then resistance became feeble, until finally
satisfied of the earnestness of attack they turned
their ponies heads and began disorderdely Hight
THE RED MEN COMPLETELY ROUTED.
The cavalry put spurs to their horses and dashed Tor
ward in pursuit the various troop and squadron com
manders vieng with each other as TO who should head
the advance. The appearance OF the main command IN
sight down the valley at this moment enabled me TO re-
Heve Capt. French's command below us, aud he was
ordered 70 iOin in the pursuit Lieut. mclntOsh, com
manding sc" troop moved his command up the valley
at a gailop and prevented the Indians from crossing
The chase was continued with the utmost rgor until the
Indians completely dispersed aud driven distance
OF nine miles from where the engagement TOOK place.
and they were here forced back the Yellowstone
The last pony killed in the fight was shot fuy elght
miles from the point OF attack The number OF Indians
opposed to us has been estimated by the various officers
engaged as from 800 10 1OO0-my command numbered
45O officers and men. The Indians were made
ND OF different bands Of Sioux, principally the
Uncpspas, the whole under command OF sitting buil'
who participated the second days fight ana VINO Ior
once taught lesson he Will not soon forget
large number of the Indians who fought us were fresh
from their reservations the Missouri River Many OF
the warriors engaged inthe fight on both days were
dressed IN complete suits Of the clothes issued at
the Agencies TO Indians. The arms with which
they fought us several of which were
captured in tine fghD were OF the latest
improved pattern OF breechoadng repeating rifles and
their supply Of metallic rife cartridges seemed unllm
tied as they were anything but sparng in its use. So
n1fo1 With hpaac 1n1di m
rifles and ammunition that neither bows nor arrows
we're EMPLOYED against As evidence that these In
dams, least of them. were recently from the
Missouri River agencies, we found provisions, such as
coffee IN their abandoned camps, and cooking and
other domestic utensils such only reservation Indians
are supplied with. Besides, our scouts conversed with
them across the for nearly an hour before the
fight became general and satisfied themselves 10 the
identity OF their foes only regret that it was impos-
sibe for my command to effect crossing of the river
before our presence discovered aud while the hos
tile village located at hand. as am confident
that we could have largely reduced the necessity for
appropriation for Indian supplies the coming WINTER
THE GALLANT BEARISs or THE TRooPs
Before closing report desire 10 bear testimony TO
the good conduct OF every man connected with my com
nand. including officers, men, and scouts. The COM
mand as previously stated consisted Of eight troops OF
the 9Th Cavalry. Where all did SO well no special men
ton can be made, but matter Of official record
desire the troops and 20 include the names
of the officers who participated in the engagement:
Troop A.-Captain, Myles Moylsn; Second Lieutenant,
Troop B.-Flrst Lieutenant, T. ". Custer; Second Lieu
Troop First Lieutenant, T. NJ McDousail; Second
Lieutenant, j. Aspnwan
Troop - Captain, Geo. w. Yates Second Lieutenant,
Troop s~Tirst Lieutenant, d. Mcintosh Second Lieu
te0ant g. d. Wallace.
Troop E.-Capiain, owen Hale; First Lieutenant, E.
Troop First Lieutenant, JnO. F. Weston; Second
G. Mai Ssfhey e "f'''"' '''''''
Two Of the squadr0ns were under command Of Capt.
V. X Hart the remaining two commanded by Capt
r. H. French. FIRST Lieut.. James Calhoun, Battalion
Adutant and First Lieut.. a. T. smith Battalion Omar
termaster rendered efficient service aids during the
ngagement. desire, also, 10 commend TO the Brevet
Major General commanding, First Lieut. Brush. who,
commander Of the scouts and guides rendered prompt
and valuable information regarding the eDepy's move
nents. First Lieut. Hiram II. Ketchum, 22d Infantry
Acting Assistant Adjuant-Genera and Lieut. James II.
Jones, 4th Cavalry, acting aidde-camp on the staff
OF the Breyet MaiorGenersl commanding but tempors
rily serving me. Of great assistance me, in
Transmitting my orders on the battlefield. Ny personal
acknOw Judgments also due 10 Mr.. K g. Frost OF st.
Louis who although accompanying the expedition for
pleasure acted volunteer aid during the last days
engagement. Mr.. Lewis Clifford and Mr.. Lewis Moles
worth, two young English gentlemen making the tour
OF this continent also accompanied my command and
al three Of the gentlemen named joined IN
the charge made by the troops with great gal
lantry. Acting Assistant Surgeons j. Harvey and
H. II. Ruger represented tho Medical Department in
highly credtable manner and Althoneh their hospital
was necessarily established under nre the wounded
under their received every attention. The OF
the Indians ponies particularly heavy, while
We know that lose in killed and wounded
was beyond all proportion 10 that which they
were enabled TO inhict upon Our losses
being one officer badly wounded, four men killed and