New-York tribune., 1873-09-06
TIE YELLowsToNE WAR.
Ccrt,uued from Firui Page.

COntiuued from Firut Page.
sarew away breeohloading arms, 50 lille equipments,
othins robes ariats and other articles comprised ia
an Indian outfit Among the Indians who fought us on
shie occasion were Of the identical warriors who
ssnmitted at Fort Phil Kearney. and they
ne doubt intended similar programme when they
-eut the ak warriors 10 dash mp and attempt TO deeoy
r into pursuit past the timber, in which the savages
bsped 10 ambush us Had pursuoG the six warrlors
Aa mile further instead of balting the entire band OF
warriors would have been in rear, and all tne au-
vantage Of position and numbers would have been wiz,
so far the troops attacked were cohcerhe"'
che Indians 20 Offset their heavy losses hsd peen
nbe To do us no damage except wound one man ana
two horses. But unfortunately two non-compa'an'e,
Veterinary Surgeon John Honsnger, 'th Ca'aiiy' "nu
Mr.. - Baliran OF Memphis, Tenn ia ehded'oli"s "
come from the main command 20 JON the suuau'V" "
advance discovered BY The Indians during 'i9
tack and being unarmed we're overtaken ana h"eu a.
,nest within view Of the battle-ground. Fortunately INC
Indians were so pressed not be able I" scalp vi
ssherwIse mutilate the remaIns
AN upIAs TRAIL FRUnLEssLr FOLLOWED
I'm the 9Th INST we discovered the trail oi i%se
Village evidently that 10 which the party tns' s'~Au
Us on the Ih belonged The course OF the iran r W
the Yellowstone, and apparently was NOT more 'Ha ~ W.
Aaya old Acting under the authority Oh '"o oi''.'
Major General commanding. ordered my commanu'
nssnc OF four sauadrons OF the 7th Cavalry III read
tDess 10 begin pursuit that Night Inc hroNeV 9
General commanding also directed the deaehneh' VI
suides and indian under Lieut. Daniel H. Brush
l7tb Infantry. to report 10 me ior ~"Po@,
service leaving an tents and wagons behind'
and taking with us rations for seven DAYS, we
started m pursuit at 10 O'Clock the night OF the sh
inst having waited until that hour until the moon
shoud enable us 20 follow the trail Following the iran
rapdly as the rough character Of the country would
permit daylight next morning found us nearly W 'oS
from our starting point COncealng horses ana men IN
araype q halt OF three hours ordered TO ensDle
the Rorses 10 craze and the obtain refreshmeue
Renewing the march at O'Clock, the pursuit was con
timed without haltiDg until noon when TO avoiH dis-
royery as well as obtain needed rest for men anu anl
mails il was decided TO conceal ourselves IN the timber
and await the cover OF night to continue the pursuit
Starring ont nj e3 d. m. the trail followed rapidly
far SIX miles when 20 our disappointment we discovered
that The Indians had taken 10 the river and crossed 10
the east side following their trail 70 THIS point IL
WAS evident that the movement of the Indians was one
Of ecpitate light the result Of the engagement on the
ith All along their trail and in their campngpiaces
were 70 be found large quantities OF what constitutes an
indians equiument such lodgepoles, robes, saddle
equipments arms and cooking utensils. Ia one hastily
abandoned camp ground nearly 200 axes. beside great
many eamy-kettles and cups, were found. Nv entire
command was disappointed when the trail showed that
Indians had crossed over so that one more harch
would have enabled TO overhaul them.
AN UNsUCCEssFUL EFFORT To CROSS THE YELLOWSTONE.
Bivouachine in Of timber the river bank, we
waited until light 70 begin attempt to cross the
command over river which at this point is about
eco yards wide. At early dawn the entire command
fore the river island located about the middle OF
the channel difficulties in the way of crossing
here began volume OF water and the entire force
Of the current 10 he encountered Between the
island and the opposite bauk the current here rushes by at
velocity about miles an hour, while the depth
of water was such that horse attempting TO
Gross would be- forced 10 swim several hundred
wards Sill. ~ we knew the Indians had
not discovered pursuit, and were probably
within easy striking distance OF the river, IL was most
desirable that crossing should be effected. To accom-
psh this Lieut. Weston 7th Cavalry, with three
accomplished swimmers from the command, attempted
10 cross log raft carving with them cable made
Of laiIats. The current strong that Lieut.
westOns party unable to effect landing, but were
event the river nearly miles, and then forced
60 abandon the raft and swim TO shore. Lieut. Weston,
with characteristic perseverance and energy, made
reated attempts afterward 10 carry the cable
ever; bni. although succeeding in reaching
the opposite bank person, unable 10
ronnect the cable with the shore. Almost
the entire day spent these unsuccessful efforts
finally crossing in this manner had 10 he abau
doned then caused some cattle TO he killed and oy
stretching the hides kind Of basket Frame
prepared by the Crow guide, made what are known
among the Indians bull boats" With these hoped
10 he able to connect cable with the opposite bank
daylight next morning. But just at sunset small
party uf Indians 10 rde down TO the bank
opposite and water their ponies They discovered
onr presence and hastened away. or course it
wac useless to attempt a surprise. and the ineu-
tion 10 cross the uVer the following morning
abandoned.
THE BATTLE OF The BIG HORN.
Al early dawn the day the llth ns the Indians
appeared IN strong force bank opposite U.S.
and opened brisk fire from their rifles. No at
tenfIou was paid TO them until encouraged by tins.
they had collected al several points in full view and
stbD range OF rifles, when about thirty Of best
marksmen. having posted themselves along Che bank
opened well-directed fire upon the Indians. and
drove them back to cover. In the time strong
parties Of Indians reported by piekets be
crossing the river below u.s. their ponies and
themselves being accustomed TO the river as TO render
this operation quite practicable for them Capt French
commanding the right wing, directed to watch the
parties crossing below, while Col Hart commanding the
feft wing posted force to discharge the duy with
Eard 70 parties crossing above 1t would have pos
be perhsps for to have prevented the Indians from
tnectiDg crossing, at least where they did but
xat not only willing but anxious that many Of them
should were so disposed. They were sOou
reported AZ moving the bluffs Immediately ~
Of us the river. Lieut. Brush directed TO
poy his watching aud reporting their tnOve
ments, q duty he discharged in a thorough aanner
While this trsnspiring had mounted my command,
and formed IL in line close under the bluffs fscug from
The ryer where We quietly waited the attack OF the
Indians front The sbarpshOotng The Tver
s continued the Indians having collected Of their
best shots apparently armed with long range rifles
Snd attempting 10 drive our men back frop the
waters edge was this time that my standing
Derry, Private Tutle OF Troop, 7th Cavalry OF the
hest marksmen in command, took sporting spriug
Geld rife and posted himself with other behind
cover the river bank and began picking of the
dams they exposed themselves the opposite bank