The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-04

Pleasant Valley Lieutenant Colonel Dodge WIZ
endeavOr as lar as possible, 20 render TINS survey
complete In war with the SIOUX lnuIans , ms as
would be very valuable to the government as
they would undoubtedly use the Black HIS anu
the Big Horn country as asylums for their women
and children and depots Tor supplies ana annu
milton.
still remains absent from the camp Two men
were sent IN at the end OF ten days for renewal
OF rations and reported their camp as IN the
valley OF spring Greek, where they were In tne
mldsi OF a most lovely country, but mad iouhu
TIE GLORIOUS FOURTH
The Fourth OF July was not passed here WITH
out noEorng the birth OF our national indePen.
dence. The day was gloomy and threatening OF
storm and the evening was covered WIZ q pau
OF the most intense darkness very little IN
dugence in target shooting aud much 1mDlOatlOn
from "the lowing bowl' marked The lapslng
hours Of the afternoon gliding with leaden pace
into an om1nOus twilight. Then the camp gradu-
ally became Illuminated, ana put on an appear
ance OF wlerd ordnance. A hundred 1res Dazed
M 'front.' OF the long white lines OF rents aud
seemed extraordinarily bright III contrast with
the sullen SKY. The soldiers early began 70 in
duse In nIlaTity Shouts and choruses filed the
ear. On the north side OF the valley, on the low
hill occapied as headquarters an old defuncJ pine,
winch sun retained the erectness OF its prime,
was set nre to after dry poles has been piled up
against It's trunk In pyramidSl fashion. 1t burned
nercely, with loud cracking, ana very soon
there stood waving against tue black canopy, as
Al to cut the h1ck gloom. great sword OF lame,
with br1llancy that could De seen aiar on. Or
IL might be called pillar OF IRE, an obefsk to the
Evil One who Numbering leiL according TO MIL
ton from the height OF the angels. Flooded with
filful waves OF varying hight, whose hues and
shades were as many as the flames by which IL
was shed, the camp, valley ana woods assumed
vague picturesque and Wierd aspects by turns,
and occasionally the silent mountains, towering
far above the cliffs and ridges at their rect, would
be suddenly revealed In sort OF grim grandeur
enveloped IN mystery, and as suddenly be again
yelled in the darkness that Rugged the earth.
Confused anc distinct sounds falling upon the ear
eomplemented the strange impression wrought
upon the brain through the eye. AT one point the
men tossed each other aloit In DanKets, amid
grun merriment. AT another songs, emDodylng
every KIND OF sentiment, were sung Win the
strong, hearty cadence or masculine voices.
Home, love ana country, the three themes OF
noblest human emotion, were begulling the hour
officers had collected at Headquarters, and, IN
order TO crown the illumination, IN
tended to discharge some signal rock
cts. Two were fred and pierced the
vault OF heaven with a sounding rush like that OF
q shell on the held OF battle. They were greeted
with loud cheers from the camp AS the first rocket
assembled, however, several horses larlatted on
the glade broke loose and commenced galoplng
madly ABOUT in ciIcles. Finally they huddled to-
getner in a group and stared fXedly at the fire
rom which tne rockets were lighted as If fascl-
mated. The discharge OF the second rocket was
followed by an emphatic unbllng sound, caused
by the cattle III the corral, VINO were greatly
frightened ana were attempting to jump
over the sides. The herders saddled their
horses quickly in expectation OF giving
chase. Tne cavalry animals at the picket
lines also grew excited ana stamped the
earth heavily Alarmed 1T these manifestations
the commanding officer forbade the further maui
gence OF an eXuberance OF patriotism by the drlng
OF rockets. The rude carnival OF tue camp was
continued until midnight. An improved manage
RE stalKed through the avenues OF tents IN stately
procession ana excited great laughter. us prln-
clpal feature was an elephant, mounted Oy
darkey Arab who poured out volumes of gibber-
ish, and was preceded by two men with naming
torcnes. Curiously enough 1t was observed that
the four feet OF the elephant were clotned in stout
cowhlde boots, evidently OF the army pattern. SO
passed the anniversary Of the Declaration OF In
dependence In the Black Hllls.