Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-08-27
THE YELLOWSTONE EXPEDITION
General Custar has a Compile of Fights
with the Red Men

MUsCLEsHELL RIVER, August 10.
The abundant preparation which the
Yellowstone Expedition made for tie
resistance Of he Indians has been full
ly justified. The prediction Of Blood
Knife that we should meet with saw
ages in the vicinity of Tongue river
has proven correct The Indians were
discovered for the first time about
August l, watching our movements
and prowling around the camp at night
No over act took place, however, until
August 4.
General Gustav, with Bloody Kni fe
and squadron Of cavalry, had been
detailed by General Stanley to go and
look up the road. Having got about
tenl miles head, they halted and pick
eted their horses in the wood by the
river to wait for The train. Two hours
afterWard six Indians appeared On the
plain, and made demonstrations to-
ward their camp. A disnounted line
Of skirmishers was thrown out, and
the hcfses were. saddled The Indians
were easily driven of, but proved to
be decoy of large party in neigh
boring wood, waiting in ambush for
the calvary.
Finding that the ruse had failed,
the Indians 80 the number of 800,
boldly rode ont and advanced on the
grove occupied by the calvary.
General Custar deferred charge.
hoping that the main command
would soon come up and assist in cap
turing the Indians. After three
hours fight his ammunition gave out. He
then charged ON the Indians, who pre-
oipitately lied, dropping many Of their
implements, and after retreating sever
al miles they took to the bad lands
One man was slightly wounded in
the arm, aud one horse was wounded.
This formed the extent of General
Custar's loss
While the fight was going on, sever
al Indians left the war party in search
Of strasslers. Coming npon DR.. Hon
singer, the veterinary surgeon, and
Balarain, the cavalry sutler, who were
less than mile from the column, they
killed them and took their horses and
valuables. Private John Ball, Of the
cavalry, while out hunting, met with
a similar fate.
In this fight two Indians were killed
and several ponies
On the 9Th of August, four DAYS
after the fight at Tongue river, We
came upon the site of recent Indian
village.
Next day he ATTEMPTED to cross the
Yellowstone, which at this point Is
$50 yards wide. The current was too
swlts and deep to swim the horses and
men, and the attempt to cross had TO
be abandoned for want OF axes and
ropes.
At evening his camp discovered by
indians, and on next morning (the
ilth), at daylight, he was attacked bv
about 500 Indians Our men were
dismounted and posted on the bluffs
aud received them bravely. The In
diaas behind the ridges kept up fire
until General Gustav ordered charge.
Our men then mounted, aud pursued
them boldly for eight miles.
This battle which took place within
two miles of Big Horn was fierce one.
UeneraI Custar and Adjutant Ketcham
had their horses shot under them.
Lieutenant Braden was badly shot in
the thigh. Private futile, General Gus
tar's orderly, was killed and twenty of
the soldiers were slightly wounded.
We bad four horses killed and three
wounded. The Indians loss is estima
ted By General Gustav at forty killed
and wounded.