New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-04

passcd their camp tai morning about 10 miles from our
own and found hnd-quarter awaiting the General IT
was frozen hard found that cut In thin slices and
broicd on the Goals. It very delicious. The party
camo in this evening, and reported finding recently
abandoned camp OF about 60 lodges at the forks OF the
Tongue River The deep that they could not
tell which way the Indians had gone Wood Is plenty at
our camp here but the water is alkaline, and the grass
DOOR, The country so far, absolutely worthless
for tho uso OF civilized men.
SATURDAY, March 11.--At o'clock this morning tho
Thermometer marked % degrees below and as that
was the fun capacity OF the instrument had
OF telling how much colder it Notwithstanding the
severity Of the weather the animals fed all night on
such grass they coud from under the which
thin and poor at best They remained free until
O'clock and then the packers began loading the mules
By 10 O'clock, the hour OF starting the weather had
moderated several degrees. and the march was down
PraiieDog River to Tongue River four miles, and down
this latter stream four miles further, where good grass
and plenty OF wood found and Gen. Crook decided
go camp and give the animals chance to gTazo
the remainder Of the day.
SUNDAY, March 12--Ths morning the coolest we
have yet experienced the mercury In the thermometer
dropping into the bulb-the same experience yester
day-but the air much sharper, AMI Dr. Mum dc
cded that the degree of cold would be properly ex-
pressed by 80. The command marched at $50 a. m,
and proceeded down Tongue river. Five miles out
Tongue River canon entered and we Travelled IN 1t
throughout the day. until p. when camp prepa-
ratons were ordered. Fifteen miles OF the 20 miles
marched to-day down the canon, which is narrow
irregular foil OF sharp elbows, and has walls Of red
sandstone and conglomerGc $50 to 500 feet IN hight
We crossed the river 10 times on the ice, and the
entire command marched for considerable distances
down the river its thick LEY covering. About
midway IN the canon found piece
Of buffalo skin stick with note which ran thus
Cup to right bufalow." The scouts had killed an enor-
nous bull bison and stripped all the best part OF the
flesh from him. and packed it their horses so there
flo gaffyv flfV cf
with his party eleven half breeds sent over TO
Rosebud this morning to look FOR Indians and Ben
Clark with Frank Dronard the KemakO and about twenty
others went down river about fifteen miles below our
present camp reconnoitcr near the mouth or hanging
Woman Creek Both parties returned late III the even
Ing, having seen sign OF Indians.
MONDAY March 13-Thermometer stood at zero this
morning with q cold northwest wind, end about four
inches Of Left camp at O'clock and continued
our march down Tongue River. Passed several lately
abandoned Indian encampments and at p. IN captured
nhandsone mule which had evidently strayed from
some village not far ahead OF us. Many indications
served satisfy that not far from Indians
and we went into camp $50 p IN. under some small
bluffs having marched 10 miles Scouts sent three
miles further TO waylay the trail Of the
mule and instructed to kill any Indian who might be
following up. AT dark the scouts sent down the
river reconnoiter with instructions TO follow It, II
necessary, the Yellowstone, about 80 miles distant,
and report what they may find. At the mouth OF
killed one Of them, the meat Of which was distributed
through the camp. We also passed cave which had
been excavated into the blk by the Indians to get red
clay paint Crossed the river times on the ice
and at camp find plenty of wood, principally dry
cottonwood. Tho Indians have cut down enormous
quantities of this tree, almost destroying the principal
timber these valleys afford The bluffs each side have
dark irregular fringe OF scrub pine, cedar and juniper
and grease-brush 1ourishes N the bottom The guides
relate there innumcrablo trout in the Tongue
River and many OF the soldiers have been endeayornS
10 ence nny deicaces to bite at bait suspended
through holes cut in the ice. have not heard that
sh has been caught yet Our food all frozen hard.
and has to be thawed before it be eaten. Much OF
the time the column looks like procession OF santa
Clauses 30 heavily are boards and mustaches covered
with ice To march into battle with banners flying and
drums beating to the artillery and the rattle Of
rnusketry does not call for half the and
determination that must be daily exercised TO pur-
sue mile after mile in such inhospitable weather
over wild and rugged country, savage foe, whose
presence is likely TO first know Of by fatal bullet
The scouts are well into and do good work But
there Is conceaing tue fact that Of them who
have Indian wives, not half to encounter
the enemy when they were at Fort Fctterman
As each mile brings them to the hostile savagcs
their courage seems TO wanc. Among these towards,
however are not such men as Clark Frank Dronard
LOUIS Richard Little Bat Baptist Gagncr, and others
They display the qualities Of courage, judgment, and
GOODNESS that highly recommend thcm and Gen. Royn
olds finds their Of great value The weather in
this region, 400 miles north Of Cheyenne, seems 20 be
utterly unpredictablo, and would certainly puzzie
etereO!Ogst VIC go bed AZ night with clear sky
and bright moon, generally awake III snOw-stOrm.
TUESDAY, March 1f.-snOwing this morning lightly,
and has continued ali day, with thermometer 80.
Broke camp o'clock, and marched 10 miles down the
river camping near the mouth OF Otter Creek, small
stream cmptying into the Tongue Riycg the south
side Crossed the latter stream five to-day Saw four
bualOes at head OF the column, and 50 badly wounded
one that detachment sent out to overhaul and
bring him in. Gen Crook, who is crack shot Killed six
piuailed grouse is we into camp with his Spring
field musket taking of the head only il each Camp
was pitched In a grove OF dead cottonwood and ash,
which make splendid fires, and tho find fair grass
on bluffs overlooking the river. though they have TO
get it from under the best they The Little
Panther Mountains extend along both sides OF the river
and consist Of high tower-shaped and casteated hills
crowned with dark fringe OF pine trees The forma-
ton consists exclusively OF red and yellow sandstone,
far rs We discover, quartz, granite or
other paeOzoic rocks being visible. Evidently
this is godbearnG region, the cheap maps TO the
contrary Notwithstanding. The soldiers found frozen
arm in camp, chopped oil at the elbow The flesh
perfect and showed number Of bueksho: holes AI-
parently had been long detached from the Indian
who had worn IT, Ono OF the guides thinks II Crow
Indian, killed BY the Sioux with whom they are contin
ualy al war; and he also it the custom to muate
the bodies those they take kill in battle on boh
sides Our scouts, out last night to thoroughly
pore tho lower part Of this Rosebud have
not yet returned, and will wait to hear from them
before moving the command further
WEDNESDAY, March 15.-Scouts returned this evening,
having accommodated tho lower portions OF tie valleys OF
the Tongue River and the Rosebud TO the Yellowstone
without finding Indians The signs seemed to indicate
that all the villagers have moved 10 Powder River,
and thither accordingly shall take up our march to-