New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-25
Vol. XXXIn.... No'10.lO7.
INDIAN sAvAGERY.
THE YELLOWSTONE EXPEDITION TWICE
ATTLCKED

ATTACKED.
.v rSsrccrssFUI RAID ON GEN. CLUSTERS cAVALRf
THREE WHITE MEN KILLED. BATTLE WITH
EIGHT HUNDRED INDIANS ENDED BY ARTILLERY
THE LOSSES ON EACH SIDE.
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIDusEl
Fort BENTON, Montana, Aug. @.-The following
dispatch has Just been received by courier from 'e
special correspondent of The TRIBUNE with the
Yellowstone Expedition:
MussF1 SHE'LL. RIVER, Aug. 19.-Tbe abundant
preparation which the Yellowstone Expedition made
for the recepIon Of the Indians has been tny JUS
ti6ed The nrediction of Bloody Knife that we
should meet the savages in the vicinity OF Tongue
River proved correct. Indians were discovered Tor
the first time about Aug. l, watching our movements
and prowIng around the camp at night. NO overt
act tcok Mace however until Aug. 4. Gen. Custer,
with Bloody Knife and q squadron OF cavalry, had
been detailed by Gen. Stanley to go on several miles
in advance of the wagons aud look up the road.
Having gone about 10 miles ahead they halted and
picketed their horses in wood by the
river TO wait for the train Two hours
afterward six Indians appeared the
plain and made demonstrations toward their camp.
dismounted line of skiImishers thrown out
and the horses saddled. The Indians easily
driven of, but proved to be the decoy of large
party in a mel hboring wood waiting in ambush for
the cavalry. Finding that the ruse failed, the In
dams to the number of 300 boldly rode out and adj
vaneed on the grove occupied by the cavalry. Gen.
Custer had only squadron of 50 men, under COM
mand Of Capt. Mayhem one troop commanded by
Lieut.. Custer, and the other by Lieut. Vantum. The
men were again dismOunted and formed a skrmish
line The Indians also dismounted and extended
their line in semi-clrcle around the cavalry, who
had the river at their backs. Rapid firing was kept
upat a distance Of 400 yards
While thus engaged with Gen. Custer in the front,
another party Of Indians crGwled along behind IN
der the river bank and tried to stampede his horses,
put the attempt frustrated. The Indians fred
trass in several places but failed TO burn out the
avalry Gen. Custer deferred charge hoping that
he main command would soon. come up and assist
in capturing the Indians After three hours fight
his ammunition gave ont; he then charged the In
dians who precpitately fed dropping many of their
equipments After retreating several miles they
took to the Bad Lands
One man slightly wounded in the arm and one
i,orse wounded formed the extent of Gen. Clusters
Joss. While the fight going Oh, however, sew
,ral Indians left the party in search of strag-
Elers from the train. Coming upon DR.. HOusinger
he veterinary surgeon, and Mr.. Balarain, the cav
airy sutler, who were less than mile from the
}olumn they killed them. and took their horses and
Sauables. Private John Bah of the cavalry, while
Sut hunting, met similar fate. In this fight two
indians were killed and several wounded, and they
lost several ponies.
On the sth Of August, four days after the fight at
Tongue River, we came upon the site of a recent
Indian village The Indians had packed up and left
few days before. abandoning considerable prop
erty. Gen. Stanley directed Gen. Custer to take his
cavalry, numbering 40 men, follow the trail and
if possible overiale and punish the Indians. Gen.
,tnf and alad
hight and most of the next day. At sundown on
She 9th, after a march of 40 miles, he arrived at
place where Indians had crossed the river q hours
before taking over their families "bull boats
md RATS The next day he attempted to
cross the Yellowstone, which at this point
is $50 yards wide. The current was too swift and
deep to swim horses and men, aud the attempt to
cross had to be abandoned for want OF axes and
rope. At evening his camp was discovered by the
Indians. On the next morning Aug. ~, at day
light. he was attacked by about 800 Indians, who
came down 70 the river and fred on his camp. The
firing was returned for two or three hours, both
parties using the trees as a cover A party of 800
Indians then crossed the river above and be-
low our camp, and endeavored to gain the
bluffs in our rear. Our men were dsmounted, and
posted on the bluffs and received them bravely The
Indians behind the ridges kept up CALLING fire until
Gen. Custer ordered charge. Our men then
mounted and pursued them hOtly for eight miles.
Just at this time the train came up and opened on
the Indians across the river with artillery; few
shots dispersed them aud ended the fight This battle,
which took place within two miles Of the Big Horn,
was fierce one. Gen. Custer and Adjt Ketchan had
their horses shot under them. Lieut.. Braden
BADLY shot in the thigh; private futile, Gen. Gus
aers orderly was killed. and 20 of the soldiers
slightly wounded. We had four horses killed and
three wounded. The Indians loss is estimated by
Gen. Custer at 40 killed and wounded. The Indians
were we'll armed with heavy rifles and had abundant
ammunition Some were dressed in clothes procured
At the agencies These were mainly Uncapapas,
mpposed TO be under command of Sitting Bull,
and also supposed TO have received their
supples from Fort Peck on the Missouri, famous
trading post for Indians and infamous one for
whites. Camp Cook is another depot Of their sup
plies. liberal appropriation by Congress was
made last wear for making the trading post at Fort
Peck military post, practically an appropriation
1nr fighting our own armies. large quantity Of
Arms and ammunition was shipped to the posts as
hardware These agencies sadly need lnvestlga-
bon.
The expedition arrived at Pompey's Pillar on the
18th, and reached the Musse Shell on the 18th. 1t
n now hOneward bound. Reynolds and Norris, two
bunters take this dispatch to Fort Benton 100 miles
Sstant. Gen. Stanley expects to reach Fort Rice by
The LIST of October The health of the command is
good. Lieut.. Braden is getting on well. ..
FATE OF THE MODOCS.
LHE INDICTMENT AGAINST THE SIX PRIsoNERs-ALL