The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-10-16
ADVENTURE IN TIE DACOTAH
TERRITORY.

In the autumn OF 1871, an expedition was
organized to explore the almost unknown
region of the \ Yellowstone Valley, and re-
port upon the possibility of lo"a,ing pro-
posed crossings over the Missouri. Tie
party consisted of General R and
staff of about twelve engine ,rs, with team
sters, cooks, ETC., aud escort under the
command of General W, Of several
companies Of U. S. Infantry, some Gatlin
guns, and a company Of Indian scouts (Dd-
cotahs or Sioux). The country t. be trav-
ersed was unknown, and full of Sioux In
dians, profeSsedly hostile to the proposed
railroad, and determined to oppose it, on
, the valid ground, that the hunting, their
sole means Of sustcHance would be evidently
spoiled.
Owing to a peculiar circumstance. though
only having been a very short time in tue
United States, | had the offer of an appoint
mcnt on General Rs engineer corps:
and such an opportunity Of seeing the
country rarely presented it-elf, I gladly
availcd myself of it. 1t was hardly my frs
experience OF traIe, as had already visited
many parts, including Agstraa~ bat
this was a new experience, and having III
youth. like most Eng.is boys, had In
tense desire, incucated and iostered by tie
marvellous books of Copper, Mayne Reid
and others. 10 sec the noble savage In his
own domain, was delighted with the OPP
portvnity.
Three guides who profeSsed to know the
country were engaged; but they were OF
little use indeed, a. General R OBJ
served If we had scared the services of one
or two more. we should have been hopeless
" lost; as it was. their peculiar ayocation
seemed 10 be to inis,ead us, and malign each
other. and it was found that, by putting
two under arrest, and then ignoring the
other, we facilitated our movements con-
sidcrably.
We rend ezvoused at Fort Rice on the Mis-
souri-as the troops were dIated in compa-
MES from the different frontier forts and
marched there. or came up or down the
river. as the case might he, in fatboats-
and left September 8, 1871. The great
object was to prevent surprise, as with our
forces, unless TIE Indians were able to con-
centrate their bands. we were tolerably safe
from open assault; so on the line OF march
we had skirmishers constantly thrown out,
and beyond them, riding up every eninence.
a Gordon of scouts to give notice OF the
slightest Indian signs. For several days we
saw none. bat knowing the facility with
which the redskins hide, and the secrecy
of their movements, we never could be as
sured there were none about
MANY of the officers, and particularly
General W. had been selected on ac-
count of their having seen service on the
frontier. and being acquainted with Indian
wiles and stratagems and after the days
march was over, sitting in the mess tent
after meal of antelope steaks, that would
have produced dyspepsia or dissolution in
many and over the inevitable and invalua-
bIe pipe, many a story was told OF Indian
warfare. and cruelties of the late Minnesota
massacre: till, Notwithstanding the triple
line of sentries and outposts necessary in
deed. but not always efectual to prevent
surprise). the first impulse OF any one, 1t by
.nv chance he did wake up in the night,
uas 70 carefully feel his head, and ascertain
the safety of his scalp. Once or twice In
dian signs were palmer and fresher than
usual: the prints of horses no +, denoting
that one of their scouts had been around,
/ ~ :, one or two cases, the ashes OF
s,oo,I6erinp fire, showed how closely we
/ had come TO a small party, but still no living
redskin had been seen by any one. Game
was nlentiful; and any quantity of antelope,
h,act and white tailed deer and elk, were
l;led by the skirmisiers and mounted
+ 80. hut no one seemed much inclined
70 stray far from the main body knowing
tbe tendency of the enemy to pick OF ssrag-
glers. "a. 49, a;.ar
One day General -, with the engineer