New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-11
BLACK HILLS EXPEDITION.
PREPARING FOR THE START.

bblDlEK-toSl OF liE ENftDilioN'4
lFRoM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUsE.1
Fort ABRAHAM LINCOLN, ID. T., June 3D.
This fort is eminenty adapted for Guetude. Situated
the west bank of tho Missouri River, some 500 miles
west OF st. Paul. it is far removed from the turmoil and
activities OF civil life, and especially from its
tonaties Bismarck, which lies Hat the plain
on the other side OF the river, does not
materially alter the situation IL Is only little
dot the wide rolling green, scarcely notice
able In the great solitude But just now Fort
Lincoln OF the busiest posts on the register with
coo cavalry and several stirring trumpetcrs con-
stanty quartered hore, at time is 1t very sluggish
There is lively activity about cavalry quarters when
does pertain TO those of tho more easy-going IN
fantry. Now, when a general order from the depart
ment headquarters has turned eyeryb odys aspirations
toward the Black Hills tho usual activity Is doubled
but 1t is an orderly activity, without hustle or coniu'
sion. Everything by order before IL moves III
fact, and when tho orders are well dovetalled ana
ointed to at into each Other the plan Of an expedition
like this is soon realized.
TIE FORT AND ITS SURROUNDINGS.
word in passing about Fort Lincoln itself Ny part
ing impression of it last Fall not pleasant one.
II was here the cold raw wet close OF September that
the Yellowstone Expedition, having accomplished its
mission suffered sudden and official collapse Every
thing at once became dsjonted Men. horses, mules
wagons did not look new as when they started out
Debris was a natural result OF disntegratiOn. Rem
nants OF expedition scattered in every drec
ton and 1t looked II it would take geological Pc
Rod TO clean things up The quarters for the cavalry
we're just then building. which added to the confusion
Nine months have produced great change. The only
yestges of the old expedition found in the grass
grown trails which still be tiaced over the hills
The reservation grounds are as clean ana resh as nc"
pasture cavalry stables granaries aud store rooms
and quarters for the officers and men are disposed
on the bottom arranged TO bound large rcctangu
lar space about 400 yards long by $50 wide
Everything looks neat, trim, and clean. The officers
quarters are models of convenience; the apartments
for the men are comfortable and roomy The stables are
large well ventilated provided with wells for Winter
use when the river and kept sringently clean
They arc situated outside OF the rectange about loo
yards in of the company quarters The interior
OF the rectange thus formed BY tho buildings Is laid out
in a large parade ground bounded by avenues broad
enough for a column of cavalry TO march in review. In
front OF the officers quarters is what promises during
the Summer TO become broad green lawn. The parade
ground which is intended for dismounted movements, Is
also sown with grass During the Spring rows OF cot
tonwood trees were set out along in front OF
the quarters aud afford prospect OF good shade
large post garden has been laid out and is strcnuous
cultivated and il the mutitIes of grasshoppcrs which
have lately appeared will only spare 1t and give 1t
chance the garrison may rejoice in good crops.
Three quarters OF mile up, the hi, stand the in
fantry barracks the hos pa, magazine and other build
ipgs which, until last Fall, comprised all there was OF
Fort Lincoln. The view from the hill is really delight
fuI Radiating from the observer for miles and miles,
the open landscape has secrets from his eye North
east south and west ad under tribute for the pano
rama Nor is simple expanse. The broad stretch OF
country-for it rather anomaly TO call 1t plain
is nodded crimped and corrugated into hills and hill
locks wales and mounds, never prominent or broken,
but always varied At the foot OF long slope dvldng
the circle OF the horizon flows the broad swi suhpuf
nished Missouri through tredcherous banks heavily
crowned with cottonwood. The river has hayward
course and is deeply dyed with stolen soil
IL Is one of The most ncOnsant rivers IN the world. lis
channel is in one place today in another tomorrow the
day after in third place. 1t is the puzzle and trial OF
pilots who must trust to theif wits and experience TO
guide them. pilot last Summer came up the river
The channel had c nged. and botheredhi He thought
he would mark II by buoy 10 help him on his return
down stream. He did Two weeks aftcrward he
came down the river, and there his buoy high ami
dry OH a sand bank while the river had cut ont new
channel Of uncertain depth. Let man fall into TINS
river with his clothes on, and he mas tte prospect vi
coming out. lie may be good swimmer, but the sahd
soon Ills his and clothes and he sinks inevitably
This was the unhappy fate of a cayalrymln Who' III
watering his horse yesterday ventured out too for His
horse plunged in the water He slipped of, was carried
down by the current, and was lost The horse freed
from his rider, made his way to shore.
PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE.
Few who are unacquainted with the minutie OF army
organization aware OF the labor II Involves III Is
not fighting even in time. but eating ana moving
viii CHI absorb the most time, labor, and expense IN
the army arran cement Mobility in an army not less
necessary than courage and skill An army needs legs as
well as arms 1t recognition of this fact which has
led recent English military writer to declare that in
the army OF the future only mounted men would be
used simply to secure greater mobility.
1t is the want OF adequate transportation which has
DELAYED the expedition several days. Legs ana wheels
are in great demand Let few Indians make raid
on the post within ten or fifteen minutes after the
sound OF the trumpet the men who have been playing
ball. or fishing loungng around the quarters are in
the saddle in hot pursuit. two or three days march
across the country does not present much difficulty
either; but when 1t comes 10 two months, thon visions
OF mules and white bOneted wagons rise at once before
the eyes OF the cOmmadeS. To meet this want IN the
present case acquisitions Fave been made Fort Aber
crombie Fort Rice. The personal baggage of officers
and men mas reduced to the lowest quantity The
horses and mules will be put on minimum amount OF
forage and every expedent be tried to weight The
trains have now arrived and will be loaded as
possible The blacksmhs busy shoelng the horses
carpenters and wheewrights repairing wagons and
the sadders are mending harness and equipments One
car load OF horses has already arrived and another Is
expected tonight to supply vacancies In the complement
Not only on march, but in the preparation OF such
an expedition this the versatility OF the American
soldier well illustrated. II there be any trade pur
suit that is not represented the army 1t would be
item ~ news 10 find ont what 10 s And there scarcely
one OF these trades that IL not called into redustiOn
either in garrison campaign life. An officer who
furnish the raw material can have most anything made
that he wants, from saddle TO set OF furniture
There lack OF carpenters blacksniths, machinist
talors shoemakers cabinetmakers mOlders. and musi
clans. 9TH Cavalry Band is made entirely of
listed There plenty Of material for good clerks
nd fha taHI In m.
ranks | have a graduate OF the University OF
Edinburgh acquainted with SIX or seven languages,
tbOror gy read and excellent ability the ranks OF
the re GUAR army During the such instances were
of common occurrence but to-day. when there IL little
motive except the pay and that would