The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-08-26
FIGHTING THE INDIANS.

Two Fierce Indian Attacks ON the
Yellowstone EIpedltionssGalIah!
Defence by q Force Under General
CuStaT.
NEW YoRK, August 25.-The follow
ing dispatch Is published this morning
from the Yellowstone expedition:
MUaRL SHRLL RIVER, August ~
The abundant preparations which the
Yellowstoue expedition made Tor the re-
ception Of The Indians has been fully JUS
titled. The prediction OF Bloody hnile
that they should meet the saVages IN the
vicinity OF Tongue river has proved cor
rect. The Indians were discovered Tor
the first time about August 1st, watching
our movements and prOWling around the
camp at night. NooVert act took place
however, until August l4Ih. General
Custar with Bloody Knife and squad
ron Of cavalry had been detailed by Gen
erHl Stanley TO go on and look up the
road, and having got about. ten miles
ahead, they halted and picketed their
horses in the woods by the river 10 wait
for the trains. Two hours afterwards
six Indians appeared on the plains and
made demonstrations toward their camp.
A dlSmounted line Of administers was
sent out and the horses saddled. The
Indians were easily driven oil, but
they proved TO be q cecoy Of
q large party In the neighbOring wood
waiting in ambush for the cavalry. Find.
inp the ruse failed the Indians to the
number Of three hundred boldly rode out
and advanced on the grove occupied by
the cavalry. Gen. Cnstar had only one
squadron Of eighty men under the COM
mand Of Capt. Msylen, one troop COM
manded by Lieut.. Custar and other by
Lieut.. Van Tuiu. The men were again
dismounted and extended their line In a
semi circle around the cavalry who had
the river at their back. Rapid tireing
was kept up at distance Of four hundred
yards. While thus engaged with Gen.
Custar in front another party of Indians
crawled behing under the river bank and
tried 10 stampede his horses, but was irus'
trated. The Indians fired the grass In
several places, but failed 10 burn out the
cavalry. Gen. Custar deferred the charge
hoping that the main command would
soon come up and assist in capturing the
Indians, After an houFp hght his nmmlnl'
ion gave out. Ee then charged on the In
lians, who precipitately fled, dropping
many Of their equipments. Alter retreat:
ing several miles, they took 10 tho bad
lands. One man slightly wounded IN the
arm and one horse wounded formed the
extent OF General Custar's loss. While
the fight was going on several Indians
lett the war party In search OF Stragglers,
and coming on DR.. Housinger, veterinary
surgeon, and Mir. BalArariAnn, cavalry
sutler, who were less than q mile from
the column, they killed them and took
their horses and Valuables. Private John
Ball, oil the cavalry, while out hunting
met the same fate. In this fight two In
dlans were killed and several ponies cap
tured.
On the 9Th Of August, four days after
the fight on Tongue river, we came upon
the size oil recent Indian village. Stan
lev directed Custar. to take his cavalry,
numbering 450 men, and 10 follow and
punish the Indians. Custar, at sundown
on the 9th, after a march Of forty miles,
arrived at the place where the Indians
had crossed the river twenty.tOur hours
before, taking over their families on boats
and rats. Next day he attempted to
cross tho Yellowstone, which at this point
Is 400 Yards wide, but the current was
too swift and deep 10 swim horses and
men. The attempt 10 cross had TO be
abandoned for want ol axes and ropes.
At evening his camp was discovered BY
the Indians, and tho next morning the
11th) at daylight was attacked by about
500 indians. The firing was returned for
two or three hours, both parties using
trees as cover. a party Of 800 Indians
then crossed the river above and below
our camp, and endeavorcd to gain the bluff
on which our men were diamounted and
posted on the bluffs and received them
bravely; the Indians behind the ridges
kept up the fire until Gen. Costar ordered
The charge. Our men then mounted and
pursued Them boldly for eight miles. Just
II this time the train came up and opened
on the Indians across tho river with ar
tillery. A few shots dispersed them and
ended the fight
This battle, which took place within
two miles OF Big Horn, was fierce one.
Gen. .Cualar and Adj + Ketcham had their
horses shot undet item. Lieut. Braden
was badlyHShotsfh the thigh. Private
Tutlle, Gen. Custsr's orderly, was killed
and twenty of the soldiers slightly wound
cd. We had four horses killed and three
wounded. The Indians loss Is estimated
by Gen. Custar OF 40 killed and wounded.
The Indians were well armed with heavy
rifles and had abundant Of ammunition,
Some were dressed in clothes procured At
the agencies. These were mainly Unca-
papaS supposed 10 DO under command -Ot
Sitting Bull, and also supposed to have re.
ceived their supplies from Fort Peck or
Missouri Falls, two famous trading posts
for the Indians and q famous one for tue
whites. I'. 9. '.-i !
The expedition arrived at Pompey's
Pillar on tho 18Th and reached Mussel
Shell on the 10Th, homewRrd bound. Gen.
Stanley expects to reach Fort Rice by the
firss Of October. Tho health Of the com.
m4nd is good. Lieut. Braden Is getting
on well.