The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-24


The first regular battle between the
United States forces and the hostile Sioux
has resulted in what looks very like defeat
of the soldiers. The graphic despatch from
the HERALD correspondent accompanying the
expedition, and who witnessed the fight, will
be found elsewhere. From it we learn
that after rapid march from his supply
camp on Goose Greek General Crook, with
one thousand three hundred mounted men
and two hundred and fifty friendly Indians,
came upon force of Sioux warriors two
thousand five hundred strong, under the
waters of Rosebud Greek, tributary of the
Yellowstone River. The attack was begun
by the Sioux, who rolled back the In
dian scouts on the main body. We
judge that the friendly Crows and
Snakes precipitated the fight before
the troops could take position, in their haste
to attack their traditional foes. the Sioux
The latter. who appear to have acted bravely,
and to have been superbly handled, soon
repulsed this Indian rush, and then took up
commanding positions on the lower ridges
above Rosebud Greek, from which they were
dislodged only ut great exposure to the troops,
and retreated only to take up better positions
on the higher ridges. In thus driving the
Indians the troops had become dangerously
separated and in danger of having their TANKS
turned, necessitating q recommendation in
face Of CALLING fire. The strenuous effort
made by the Sioux to prevent this junction
of the separated forces shows that their
leader thoroughly understands the art of
mountain warfare F; md, although his war
riors were finally dislodged from their highest
points, the absence of pursuit, and the fact
that his prompt attack on the column saved
the great Sioux village, proclaim him the VIC
tor. That he was able to cope successfully with
such force Of regular troops backed by In
dian allies and to march off free to choose his
next battle ground marks out Sitting Bull
as formidable foe. There is no necessity
to lay blame at present upon General Crook,
whose decision not to pursue the Sioux into
dangerous country was probably the best
under the circumstances. Whether he blum
dercd in the fight we do not presume to say
until he has been heard from at length.
While Crooks forces have been practi-
cally brought to standstill for three weeks
at least, he having returned to his head
quarters on Goose Greek, and while Sitting
Bull is free to move his village off where it
may take two months to find him, we must
revert to the other two bodies of troops
moving against him under General Glib
bons and General Terry. It has been re-
ported that Gibbons was checked in his
attempt to cross the Yellowstone by prob
ably detachment of the same band that
stopped Crook. General Terry at last
accounts was in quandary on the Little
Missouri River, whittier he went to seek
Sitting Bull, and although he may have
effected junction or established commune
cation with Gibbons it seems extremely
doubtful that he even now knows in what
direction to seek the Sioux. The best for
tune we can hope for is that Terry shall find
Sitting Bull and prevent his running East,
SO that by the time Crook is ready to adj
vince there may be chance of cooperating
with him. The war now looks as though it
would be protrncted, bloody and very
costly. Ten killed and twenty wounded on
our side against thirteen Sioux scalps is not
an encouraging beginning.