The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1875-07-28
Lost Army.
ny EDWARD B. HEAToN.

partnent into n region Natefeu Dy
the Yellowstone and its tributaries.
The plan of the campaign and COM
Soand Of the troops were intrusted TO
Brig. Gen. f p. Conner, OF Utah, n
General already famous in Indian
varfare,a s having utterly oyerthrown
the Shoshones in January, 1863, in a
hard fought battle on' the banks Of
Bear river. An officer nor comPe-
tent could not have been selected. and
with a large and choice body of cav
airy, the success Of the expedition
seemed certain.
The plan of the campaign wasa as
follows: Two regiments Of Missouri
cavalry under Col. Cole, were to start
from Columbus, at the foot OF -Loup
Fork of the Platte, and ascending
that stream, cross over the country
by way of Bear Buttes, cross Powder
river some hundred miles from the
Yellowstone, aud form a junction
with Gen. Common on Tongue river,
where 1t pierces the Panther noun
tains. They were to punish and de-
stroy all hostile savages on their route.
Guides were furnished them at the
Pawnee village.
The second column, consisting of
the 10th Kansas cavalry, Lieut.. Col.
Walker, and a detachment of the
18th, comprising a light battery, were
to leave Fort Laramie, and, striking
the Black Hills, pass through them
and form q junction with Col. Cole
somewhere beyond the head waters
Of the Cheyenne, and with him reach
the rendezvous. They were to pun
ish the Sioux and Cheyennes, and
guides were provided them at Fort
The third column, consisting of the
California, Ohio and Iowa cavalry,
O company of Omaha and one of
Pawnee Indians, were to follow the
eastern tanks of the Rocky noun
tains as far as the head of Tongue
river; from thence to the rendezvous.
There were also some Michigan cav
airy to be used in garrison at a fort to
be built at the crossing of Powder
river. This fort was named by the
War Department in honor OF General
Reno, n of the fallen heroes of the
Army of the Potomac. This third
column was under the immediate
command of Gen. Connor, and con-
sisted of about 500 men. A drove of
cattle and upwards of 100 wagons &C
eompanied them, carrying supplies
for the rendezvous. The guides for
the General were the famous James
Bridger, Rouleau, Janise, two French
Canadians, and a young mountaineer
by the name of Brannan.N
1t was confidently expected that
this arrangement would pen the saw
ages and put IN end to the Indian
war with all its horrible atrocities.
The troops were in motion in the
latter part of July, and the first days
of August found Gen. Conner on
Powder river. The writer of this
was attached TO his headquarters.
On the 18th work was commenced on
Fort Reno. Leaving the Michigan
ders busy on the stockade, the Gen.
eral pushed across the country in the
direction of Tongue river, the route
being along the base of the Big Horn
mountains However, a party of
Sioux returning from a raid on the
Overland route, were annihilated by
our Pawnees before starting NOT a
soul escaping, and another dispersed
after suffering loss.
On the slopes of the Big Horn the
trail of the tribe that had perpetrated
the massacre at Platte Bridge the
month before was struck and briskly
followed. AT the junction of Pineau
creek with Tongue river the trail
detected to the left. A party of
Pawnees were sent upon it, while the
column continued down the river to
the head of the canon in the Wolf
mountains. A Pawnee overlook us
at dark with the report that the hos
tile village was discovered. 1t was
the northern band of Arrapahoes.
The next morning Conner attacked
thCm, killed a large number of war
riors, took some squaws and papooses
alive, destroyed the village, and cap
tured nearly 1000 head of horses, po-
MES and mules.
We continued down Tongue river,
expecting ever day to hear from the