, 1873-08-26
THE INDIANS.
Tho Yellowstone Expedition Has Two
Adventures with tho Savages.
Tho California Authorities Desire to
Obtain Possession Of the Uncon-
victed Modocs.

expoditon:
hiusoLEsHELL n1yER, Aug. 10.--Tho abundant |
preparation which tho Yellowstone expedition |
made for tho resistance Of tho Indians has been |
fully justified. The prediction Of Bloody |
that VIC should moot with savagos In tho vicinity |
OF Tongue River has proven correct. Tho In
dians woro discovered for tho frat tima about |
Aug. l, watching our movements md prowling
around tho camp at night. No overt net took
placo. however, until Aug. L..
Con. Custer, with Bloody Knifo and Hqund-
ron Of cavalry, had boon detailed by Gen: Stan.
10y to 60 md look up tue road. Having got
about ton miles ahoad, thoy halted and pfokoted
their horaos in tho wood by river to wait for tho
train. Two hours aftorward Bix indians appear
cd OIL tho plain, and nude dolnonstrations toward
thoir camp. A dibuountod lino Of skit1nsllers
WAS thrown out, and tho horses were saddled
Tho Indians we're easily drivon of, bnt proved
%oe s nsse isG} ass Ss {or ay IL ea1ay
Finding th9t thor rueo bad failed tho Indians,
to tho nt,ubor of 900, boldly rodo out and I'D
vunced on tho grove occupied by tho cavalry.
mon, under Tho command Of dapt. Maylon, ono
troop commandod BY Liout. Custer, and tho
othor by Lieut. Van Ium.
Tho men wero ngain dismounted and OK
tended thoir line in Ho1ni- -circlo around tho cav
ulry, WHO had rodo ut their backs, and rapid
| firing was kept up at distance Of 400 yards.
| Wilile thus eugagod with Con. Custer In front,
| another party Of lndinns craWted along behind
utldor tho rivor-bank and tried to stampede bis
horBoB, but wero frustrated. The Indians tirod
tho grass IN several pucos, but failed to burn
| out tue cavalry.
Con. Cuytor doforrod charge, hoping that
| tho main command would soon como mp and
assist in capturing tho Indians. After three-
hours fight his ammunition gayo out. Ho thou
cAargcd on tho Indiane, who procipitatcly fled,
| dropping many Of tlloir implements, md alter
retreating several 1nlos thoy took to tho bad
| 1antla.
Ono man WAS slightly wounded in tho arm,
and one horse was wounded This formed tho
| extont Of Gon Cllster'b loss
While the fight was going on, several Indians
| left tho war party, in search Of Htrngglers.
| Coming upon DR.. 1tonsillger. tho veterinary
surgeon, md Balarail, tho cavalry attlor, who
| wuro lusa than milo from tho column, thoy
killed them and took their horsos and yal,ialloB.
! Private John Ball Of tho cavalry, while out
hunting, met with n similar fate.
In this fight two Indians woro killed and aev-
| oral ponteK.
Oh tho sth Of August, four days aftor tho fight
ut Tongue River, wo came upon tho eito Of n
recent Iutlian Sillnge. Htaniey directed Custor
to talso hiu cavalry, numbering $50 men, and fol-
low and punish the Indians. Custor loft Oh the
might Of tho 9TH, ut slndown, and on tho 9th.
after nlnrcl Of 10 miles, ho arrivod ut tho place
wloro Tho Indians had crossed q river twonty-
four hours boforo, talsing oYor thoir families on
! rafts.
Next day he attempted to cross the Yellow
stone, which at this point is 450 yards wide. Tho
current was too swift and deep to swim tho
horses and mon, and tho attempt to CROSS had to
DO abandoned for want Of axes and ropes.
1T evoning his camp was discovered by In
dians, aud on tho next morning (tho 1tth),
At daylight, ho waB attached by about 800 III
tliaus. Their fire WAS returned for two or three
hours, both parties using tho treoa as coror.
X party Of 500 Indiana then crossed tho river
above and below our camp, and endeayored to
gain the bluffs in tho rcnr. Our mou wero dis
| mounted and posted on tho bluffs, aud received
them brayely. Tho 1udians behind tho ridges
kept up a fire until Con. Custer ordorod .
charge. Our men then mounted, and pursued
them boldly for miles.
just ut this time tho train camo up and opened
on the Indians acroaB tho river with artillery. 4
fow shots dispersed them aud ended tho fight.
This battle, which took place within two milcs
| of big Horn was force one. Gen. Custer and
| Adjt. Ketcham had their horses shot uudor thom.
Liout B1aden WAS badly shot in the thigh. Pri-
yate 1uttlo, Con. CuHtor's orderly, WAS killed.
We lad four lorHes killed, rnd throo wounded.
Tho Intans' loss il estimated by Con. Custor at
forty killed aud wounded.
Tho Indians wero vol armed With heavy rifles,
and lad abundant ammunition. 6ome wero
; dressed in clothes procured at tho Agency.
Those Indians wero mainly Uucapapas sup.
posed to 10 undor the command of Sitting Bull
: Dies from Fort Peck, on tho Missouri Fall
Missouri, famous trading post for the indians
and ~ Infamous Quo for tho whites.
Th, expedition arrived at Pompoya pillar or
: the lbh, and reached Muso1esholl On the 10TH
, homew.rst bound.
Con: nanloy expects to roach Fort Rico BY
tho lHt o. October.
The heath If the command iB good. Lieut.
, Drogen Is e,t.iug on woll.
|