The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-08-10
THE SIOUX WAR.
Interesting Information from Crooks
Commend-Lifo In Csmp-speculations
as 60 Future Events.

interesting Information from Crooks
Command-Lifo In Csmp-spscaiations
as 60 Future Events
Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune. !
Bio HORN EXPEDITION, CAMP ON
NORTH GOOSE CREEK, W. T., July 23.
Each wing Of our frontier army has
had its battle. The Sioux have been so
well felt, and in n case so disastrous.
ly, that the epoch of recuperation, of
forming plans to suit the emergency,
and of m~arshaling forces for q fresh
start, has arrived in this campaign, a.
1t does in almost all others. While
newspaper correspondents and Second.
Lieutenants are generally making and
%unmaking records of commanding Off
GERS, l will indulge in a little outside
gossip. Now that we have undertaken
the war, 1t has suddenly developed into
an affair of amazing proportions. The
Sioux, in their own chosen country,
number ove 5000 warriors. Their
fortresses are wherever they happen to
stop for the night, because of the pecu.
l~iarities of the region. Their commits.
sary is overlooking, and their ponies are
in the best of flesh and vim. 1t is
settled that no light cavalry
can ever compete with them. Our
cavalry is ponderous and unwieldy,
and our infantry is slow. As for the
Indians arms and ammunition, tn,
former have been proven equal to IL
own, and often superior; while the lat.
ter has. in view of the approaching con
test, been gathered together for a year
past by Sitting-Bull's shrewd emissa.
ries. These are briefly some of the ad.
vantages possessed by the enemy. Now,
in reviewing the struggle, we need not,
speculate upon success toe freely aud
the fight this column will be expected
to make will be merely one with the
odds all against tall except the known
courage of III troops, and the judg
ment and uncxcelled ability of com.
mander for such work. The following
will constitute our strength-all, bu,
the eight companies of the Fifth Cav
airy, and fifty Utes, now being here
Ten companies of infantry, 400 men;
t~wenty-three of cavalry, 1,4O0; Sho.
shone scouts, 200; Uutes, 80. Total,
1850.
CANT LIFE IN THE "FAR WEST"
Although impatiently waiting, this
command is far from lying uselessly
idle. In order to receive better grass
for the stock, camp is moved about
three times a week and, whether we
travel 2 miles or 20, the effect is about
the same. just as we become acquaint
ed with the dozens of narrow streets
and by.ways, and have commenced to
feel at home, the order comes to
"move." Then there are as much bus.
tie and preparation as though we were
starting for the Missouri; while, when
the days march is over, we settle down
with the same care as though the banks
of that muddy stream had been reached
Then, beside the usual inspection,
guard-mount, retreat and muster, thu
entire cavalry and infantry force goes
through the lively "skirmish-drill" for
an hour every day. "Deploying,"
"rallying," "sham-fghting," etc.
often on the "double quick" through
thickets, over rocky bluffs, and across
level plains, make our surroundings
look like n vast training-camp. We
have no fresh meat, and n dependency
upon the country for this necessary ar.
ticle of diet makes numerous hunting
and fishing excursions absolutely indis
pensable. A courier leaves or arrives
about once in three weeks; and, wheth.
er sending or expecting news, every
n marks halliday as n new
epoch in his life. The
hostilcs visit us at night
enthusiastically, and then the excite
ment super-induced by screaming bull
lets and savage wir-hoops lasts a good
many for three or four days. But Il
short time ago, the emissaries of Sitting,
Bull encircled us at midnight with
prairie-fires; and then, no doubt, in the
morning chuckled in savage glee at our
hasty evacuation of camp. Paymaster
Arthur came up with the wagon-train
recently to disburse the regular BIZ
monthly wages of the troops. Now,
money floats around as loosely as in a
new mining-camp; and the most alb
sOrbing question with many is what to
do with it. Our Shoshone allies always
absorb q great deal of attention and
interest. During the day they scatter
all over camp, or engage in hunting
and fishing. They will banter almost
any ont for a game of poker or a horse
race; and, If you accept either propo-
%-ition, the chances are you will be left
"ufuily behind. Toward evening they
'wilj' their horses, and gather up
any amount of imaginary courage for
the coming contest, by going through
reckless feats of riding. and by keep
ing up a terrific whooping, chanting,
and dancing far into the night. OF
course, there are constant alarms of the
enemy's approach by excited sentries-
ludicrous scenes always occurring when
every man hastily starts for his gun.
After a scattering fusillade had been in
dulgedin for an hour or more M night,
and the camp believed to be thoroughly
aroused, a brawny Irishman, yet asleep,
was suddenly awakened by a stray shot.
Jumping as though himself hit by the
bullet, he broke the momentary still
ness by yelling territically, "Hip, thur,
byes! Wake up! WAKE UP! The En-
iunS is here!" The soldiers, who had
been formed in a hollow square around
the outer edge of camp, and were lying
on their arms quietly awaiting a more
determined onslaught, understood the
situation Instantly, and more than one
bursting laugh had to be depressed. In