The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-04-01
THE BIG HDRs EXPEDITION.
Interesting Review Of The Campaign
4nd 1Gs EesaItsL

From gentlemen connected with the
Big Horn expedition and who arrived
in Cheyenne yesterday. we have
gained some very interesting facts con-
corning General Crooks recent exps-
dition against the northwestern In
dians. Not waiting for a decisive
action upon the part of the troops, the
savages opened the ball early in the
campaign by night stampedes and
attempted surprises. and by even pas
sing the command and committing
depredations upon our frontier. Pay
ing no attention. however. to these
minor demonstrations of the enemy,
the gallant little army made its way
northward, at every step finding
further signs of the foe and field it so
eagerly sought.
In proceeding from old Fort Reno
in q northerly course to Tongue river,
thence down that stream to a point
some ffty miles beyond the Montana
line. the command passed over the
sites of numerous Indian camps, all
showing by the comparative ~lateness
of their occupying them That a gener-
al move had been made toward the
mouth of Powder river. A thorough
prospecting of the ground for twenty
five miles ahead by the scouts resulted
In the conclusion to cross from a point
on Tongue river near the mouth of
Otter Creek over to the Powder. This
was effected by a march of some fifty
miles, the greater portion of the dis
lance being accomplished by one of
the most arduous night marches ever
undertaken.
Early on the morning of March nth
the scouts brought back the gratifying
intelligence OF an Indian village of
over one hundred tepees long. snugly
nestled under q commanding bluff
on the banks of the river a few
miles Distant. The command was ut
once hailed. plans made for an imme,
date attack, and the two attacking
squadrons ordered to their positions.
Captain James Egan was detailed to
make a charge through tho villnge
with one company and Capt. Moore to
enter from the opposite side with two
companies of dismountcd men. to eff
f~ectually cut off the retreat of The
savages. The charge was most gal
lantly made, and the brave little COM
pany was not discovered until IL was
within 20 rods of the tents. The In
dams sprang up with wild whoops,
grabbing their arms. and broke for
cover. Then commenced n scene of
destruction. After charging through
with their little force of only a. men.
and arriving on the opposite side of
the village they expected to find and
make a junction with reinforcements.
but there were none to be seen: vet
this jauntless little band did no give
up, though Indians surrounded them.
and when they saw the inferior force.
they rallied. Capt. E,tn dlsm uitcI
his men and told them to charge
ahead OH foot, which they did driving
the Indians forward into the rocks
and trees. The engagement lasted four
hours. The village, with all its cor
tents, was destroyed. Mayor Moves
had orders to round up the stock.
which he did and drove it outside.
Col. Stanton, chief of the
scouts, took charge Of it and drove il
20 miles away. The troops then en-
camPed for the night, highly elateL
with their victory. Before morning
report came that the Indians were
running off their ponies which were
left outside the camp. This report
proved true, the Indians succeeding
in getting away with 500 out of the 700
ponies captured.
General Crook was. not in the en-
being % miles away at the
time. He turned the honor ove- to
General Reynolds, to fight them after
he found them; at the same time be-
lieving an attack upon his little force
imminent.