Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-05-15

closely. The Indians all re.ire from View
break camp AID travel over the ro.l'"2 mus
which are intersected at intervals with patcnes
of pine timber making the road wino'". !"
its course. leaving these hills anu trasei'ns
easterly the country becomes more open )
water is very scarce and game nowhere 20 oe
found. This country has been suo)ecsed 10
the action of fire to great extent.
We finally core to some large table p'uiis
running in succession for many mics VII"
narrow passes between, and one OF these
passes is chosen to pass thrJ'gi, great care
being taken ia commanding the bluffs De-
tween which We pass. Emerging from these
bluffs an open. rolling country presents 'tsei'
with good grass tut no water. we hoai'y
reach the Rosebud river, narrow stream,
muddy and sluggish. It isheavliy tmDercd
with hard wood timber, and plum trees IN
abundance A good crossings found ana on
crossing, large, open Bottom Is discovered
running parallel with the river. On Its east
side, about one-llalf mile from the river. are
extensive table-lands running as above. upon
ascending the table-lands large lodge'pole
trails, made recently, are found in great num-
bers. Camp is made on the edge OF this
tablc-land overlooking the bottom and timber
below. Two small ravines on the south sioe
Of camp, running from the bottom TOWARDS
; the hills and about fifty yards from the rifle
pits at their mouths, are overlooked on ac-
count of the nature Vi the ground on the OPP
posite side OF camp. No Indians are seen
.soh nnp
and all is quiet. bnt about o'clock a. m. two
of the pickets alarm camp by firing into
body of twenty-five Indians in the timber be-
meath, aud about twenty minutes afterwards
the Indians open heavy fire on camp from
the timber. The darkness pevents our men
returning the fire to any effect. The firing is
kept up by the Indians until daylight gradu-
ally appears, when some of our men get IN
some pretty good shots, making several OF
the Indians bite the dust. The artillery Is
puc in position aud begins to shell the timber
below. when the Indians leave it quickly, aud
open fire from another point. A simultanc-
Gus fire is opened from the ravines above men,
toned, with effect, killing few Of cur horses
which stand outside Of the corral. The
spaces between the wag ms expose the horses
after daylight, but previous to it the Indians
shot too hish-tEcy are beginning to get bet
ter range. when the men become restless to
drive them from their stronghold; they hav-
ing taken possession during the night of all
favorable po.lts Of attack. A charge being
determined upon, twenty-five mel led
by the Adjutant, under cover OF the artillery
and terrific fire Of small arms, a small patch
OF timber on the opposite side Of the mouth
of, the rayines and protected by point of
tablc-land, is charged, the men coming upon
the Indians before they can retreat. Seven
Indians are killed on the spot, and great
many more severely wounded escape til! 0ugh
the brush to die u lingering death. Another
charge is made Immediately afterwards on
the north side of camp. the Indians sharing
endorsed anu as quickly carried off by their
comrades. Fifteen head OF horses are cap
turcd by US and a great many buffalo robes,
five brcech loading guasa'l nve IT,
.r,n during Cne Hgnt and til. Ind any h l.Ss
- o.-. n,groups on the surrounding hfiIs
-~..t of range. A large Number of them re-
naming In the timber, about one-half mile
ABOVE camp. strong skirmish line is thrown
o"t' the artillery opening upon them. The
men approach under cover ii the hills. when
within range the Indians retreat to the other
side OF the liver, and i. is evident tl,ey limo Or
In the timber to aid their fallen comrades
Two dogs belonging to H.nry Wilson and
A. Mcdonald are killed and eaten bv the
Indians during the night.
Breakfasts prepared and all partakc of It
with = Keen relish; the herd Is tn, ned ont tn
iced; the men hunt around for what they can
ind, scalpiug the Indians wherever they are
lound' picking up bows aud arrows. mecca.
sins and war flags. Our loss il twelve horses
AMI two oxen killed and four horses wounded
camp Is trokcn mkt day and we travel IN
llons the liver as the country on the east
rom camp seems impossible. A good roa,
found as We advance.
The muller of Indians estimated to have
'een in this figh: is between 900 and 500 war;
Tors, and i is evident we are now in the
'eart Of theSioux Nation, as nothing but Tn.
nan camping grounds and burial places are
DC found. Along this river some very
'ood land is met with at intervals, but no sipn
game is visible. The grass in this region /
anhot De excelled, Several small streams i
&c crossed with some trouble. The river has {
DC crossed several times to avoid the b
Orupt termination OF the bluff; on either a
de. The forks OF the river are sighted. and 1
'ort'y afterwards we go into camp on them. b
Few old fifie-pits are perceptible, said to n
ave oeen made by Lord Gore in 1856. y
arty OF twenty-eight men go out to look nm v
loaa up the LEFT fork, but they return aud
port 1t impossible for wagons. On their II
turn they come upon some buffalo which 81
9 quickly despatched, packing their horses a,
~ footing It to camp. The right hand fork
CHOSEN as the route, a good road he;no A..
una. Coping to dividing ridge between :. :.
waters Of the Rosebud aud the Bic Horn -
'ers lew rolling country is seen running ~
an easterly direction aud we'll watered. ~
rye neros OF buffalo are In sight. Camp ~
ground Is very difficult to find with fight :.
purposes IN view. as 1t is nothing but a -
ies Of low, rolling hills and gulches. Our ~
'te rom the above ridge lies due east on -
south side Of the mountains. This ia = -.
ehdld grazing country. On the evening -.
the 1lth OF April the Command 70 into -
up on top OF one Of these hills, beneath ~ .''
ich runs small stream of water snf1ciant az
all purposes. Small patches OF brush ..o
Nv here and there. covering the stecp ~ ~
hal