Yankton daily press and Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1875, 1875-07-30

the 18th work was commenced on
Fort Reno. Leaving the Michigan
dcrs busy on the s,ockadc, The Cen
eral pushed across the country i'll the 4
direction OF Tongue river, the route
being along the base Of the Big Horn
mountains. However, a party Of
Sioux returning from AFRAID on the
overland route were annihilated by
our Pawnecs before starting, not a
soul escaping, and get another. dis
persed after suffering loss:
+ Onthc slopes of the Big Horn the
trail of the tribe that had perpctrated
the massacre at Platte Bridge the
mouth before was struck and briskly.
followed. At the junction Of Pineau
creek with Tongue river the trail de-
-Accted to the left. a party Of Paw
necs were sent upon it, while the col
umn continued down the river
to the head Of the canon in the
Wolf Mountains a Pawnce over
took us at dark with the report tlna,
the hostile village was discovered. II
was the northern band OF Arrapahoes.
The next morning Conner attacked
them, killed large number of war
|,riors, took some squaws and papooses
alive, destroyed the village and cap
tured nearly 1000 head of horses,
ponies and mules.
We continued down t0ny11r- rirrr,
expecting to hear every day from the
other columns.
When within fifty miles OF the Vel
lowstonc camp was formed. until a
junction could be made, and dctach-
ments were dispatched in different
directions. Ono, under Major Mar,
shall, of Ohio, To the Yellowstone,
one west to Rosebud river, and the
Pawnecs eastward TO Powder river.
The whites returned without news.
But the information brought by the
Pawnecs was both startling and NOR
tifYingg.-l4ttr 4ttrit,g-tteif. absence Sc
we're storm of rain had fallen in the
valleys, which on the hills was snow
and slcet. North, the Pawncc Cap
tain, reported that he struck the trail
of Cole and Walker in the valley OF
Powder river: and, following it, had
come upon deserted wagons and
several hundred dead cavalry horses,
which had evidently been
pistoled while fastened to the picket
ropes. lie was prevented from COM,
municating with the whites by the
entire Sioux nation, who were follow
ing the troops and harrassing them at
every moment.
A second effort was made by two
companies of whites, and the Paw
nccs, which also failed.
Meanwhile General Connor waslrc-
4urning with all speed in the direction
Of Reno. The wagons forbade any
attempt to leave the valley the noun
tains were impossible for wheels.
AT. last four mcl1 two whites and
two Pawnces, undertook to reach
Goto1rrt- -eotc. BY dint Of hard
riding and desperate courage they
succeeded, and were received with
vocilcrous cheers by the harrasscd
4 troops, who, until that moment, were
ignorant Of their whereabouts. Great
was their Joy on learning of the prox-
unity Of Fort Reno.
i That night the Sioux left in the
4 directions 81 the Little Missouri.
i In the midst of abundant game
J. these troops had subsistcd on rations
J, Of mule meat. Their guides were ut.
terly ignorant Of the country. Onc Of
these had gone inland. wandered of,
and was lost. Ignorant of Indian
\ warfare, the commanding officers
failed TO improve one Of the finest op.
{ portunitics ever presented Of punish.
ing the savagcs OF tie plains. Gen.
cral Connor would have. regarded
himself as eternally disg raced had he
knowingly permitted a hostile Sioux
to camp within lsenty miles. Will
his column alone lie would have
}, fought the whole Sioux conlederacy.