The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1873-08-30
THE YELLOWSTONE EXPEDITION.

THE YELLOWSTONE EXPEDITION.
MUSCLE SHELL RIVER, VIA FORT
BENTON, MONTANA, August 23.-The
abundant preparation which the Ycl-
lowstone Expedition made for tho re-
ception of Indians have been fully JUS
titled. On August 4th, General Custar,
with Bloody knife and q squadron
Of cavalry had been detailed by Gem
eral Stanley to go on several miles in
advance Of the wagons and look up the
road. Having gone about ten miles
ahead, they halted, picketed horses In
the woods by the river to wait for the
train, and two hours afterward six In
tiians appeared on the plain and made
demonstrations towards the camp.
The troops were dismounted and a line
of skirmishers thrown out and horses
saddled, when the Indians were easily
driven OFF, but proved to be the decoy
Of largo party in the neighboring
wood, waiting in ambush for the cav
airy. Finding the ruse had failed, tho
Indians to the number of three hundred,
boldly rode out and advanced on the
Grove occupied by the cavalry. Gene
raj Custar had only one squadron of
eighty mon, under command Of Capt.
Maylan. The men again disrnounted
and formed a skirmish line. The In
dians also dismounted and formed a
line in semi-circle, around the cavalry,
who had a bad river at their backs.
Rapid firing was kept up at distance
of three hundred yards. Gen. Custar
deferred charging, hoping the main
commander would soon come up and
assist in capturing the Indians. After
three hours fighting, his ammunition
gave out, and he then charged the In
dians, who precipitately fled, dropping
many of their equipments. After re-
treating several miles, they took to
the "bad lands" One man slightly
wounded In the arm, and one horse
wounded, formed the extent of Custar's
loss. While the fight was going on,
several Indians loft the party, in search
of stragglers from the train coming up.
DR.. Housinger, veterinary surgeon,
and Mr.. Balatin, the sutler of the cav
airy, who were less than mile from
the column, were killed by the Indians,
who took their clothes and Valuables.
Private John Ball, of tho cavalry, ,whi1e
out hunting, met a similar fate. In
this fight two Indians were killed and
several wounded. They lost several
ponies. General Stanley directed Cen
eral Custar to tako the cavalry, num-
bering four hundred and fifty men ,and
follow tho trail, and if possible ovor-
take and punish the Indians. Gen.
Custar left on the night of the sth, and
ON tho morning Of August 11th, at day
light, he was attacked by about eight
hundred Indians, who came down to
tho river and fired on his camp. Fir
ing was returned for two or throe
hours, both parties using trees for cover.
A party of three hundred Indians then
crossed the river above and below tho
camp, cndeavoring to gain tho bluffs,
in the rear. Tho mon dismountcd on
tho bluffs and received them bravcly.
The Indians beyond the ridges kept up
q g.,lliiig fire, until Custar ordered a
charge. The mounted mon pursued
thc,m hutly for eight miles. Just ut
this time a train opened up on the In
dams across the river with artillery.
A few shots dispersed them and ended
the fight. This battle, which took
place within two miles Of the Big Horn,
was II fierce one. Gon. Custur and Adj
Ketcham had their horses shot under
them. Lieut.. Braden was badly shot
in the thigh. Private Tuttle, General
Custar's orderly, was killed and twenty
soldiers were slightly wounded. The
Indians loss is estimated by Gen. Gus
tar at forty killed and wounded. Tho
Indians were armed with heavy rifles,
and had abundant ammunition. Some
were dressed in clothes procured at
agencies. These wore mainly Uncapa-
has, supposed to bc under the command
of Suting Bull. It is also to be sup
posed they have received their supplies
from Fort Peck, on the Missouri. Tho
expedition arrived at Pompey's Pillar
on the 18th, and reached Muscle Shells,
10th, but is now, however, homcward
bound. Gen. Stanley expects to reach
Fort Rice by tho 1st of October.
COLOR IN THE ARMY.