The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-07-20
Col. SIerriIrs Official Report.
The Cheyennes Driven back 10
the agency, ,E

CHICAGO, July 19.-The following Of.
fetal report OF Colonel Merrill was re.
ceived at military headquarters to-day:
RED CLOUD AGENCY, July ls,W),
VIA Fort LARAMIE, July i9. J
As indicated in my dispatch, moved
by forced marches to the main northwest
trail on Indian Neck. In thirty.fye
hours my command made about seventy.
FIVE. miles, reaching the trail Sunday
evening about 8 o'clock. The trail show.
ed that no large parties had passed north.
AT daylight yesterday l saddled up to
move on the trail toward the Agency, and
at the same time party Of seven Indians
were discovered north OF the command
moving with the intention to cut of two
couriers who were approaching Sage
creek. A party was sent to cut these OF,
killing one OF them. The command at
once moved out. Other Indians were
seen in this direction. We gave chase,
but they escaped, leaving four lodges and
several hundred pounds Of provisions be.
hind. After securing the country thor.
oughly in our vicinity, we moved at once
towards the Agency. A distance Of
twenty-five miles TO the northwest Of
the Agency the Indians broke camp, SO
that we did not succeed in catching any
Of them. The trail was much worn, and
the indications were that 100 Indians were
driven in by our movement. From re.
peated reports which cannot give in
this dispatch, l was certain Of strikingl
the Cheyennes. To accomplish this i
marched hard to get on their trail, taking
the infantry to guard the wagons and TO
fight II necessary. The reports received
from this point led me to believe that
many OF the Sioux warriors were with
the Cheyennes. I am now satisfied that
the number OF Indians leaving the agency
are exaggerated in the report, and l am
certain that not hundred Indians, or
rather ponies, have gone north on the
main trail within the last ten days.
The Cheyennes whom we drove in yester.
day took refuge on the reservation to.
wards Spotted Tail. II they leave again
I think il. will be to 60 south OF the
agencies, as they seem thoroughly fright.
ened out Of a northern trip. Our ap-
pearance on the Indian and Hot creeks
was complete surprise to them, but those
farther in were informed by runners so
that they got out OF the way. Ihaye just
received your dispatch Of the 18th. l
will move without delay to Fort Laramie
and as soon as possible move TO Join
Crook. Ny men Snd horses are very
tired but few days reasonable marching
with full forage will make them all right.
Gen. Merit has taken mp the line OF
march for Fl. Laramie thence TO join
Crook as early as possible. Four com.
panies OF Gne cavalry are here now and
will leave for Ft. Laramie in few days.
whether they will join the regiment and
60 north or remain to guard the settle.
ments and watch the agency Is not yet
fully determined.
MURDERER CAPTURED.
. James Mccoy, for whom a reward Of
81 500 had been offered by the miners OF
Deadwood district for murder, was
brought into Fort Laramie this evening,
and will be taken back to Deadwood.
A report reached Fort Laramie to-
night that thirty Indians were seen this
evening twelve miles below that
place on the Platte river. Captain
Eagan with his company started
to hunt them down. Loyalbly was
killed near Pawnee Springs, Nebraska,
while returning to the North Platte from
the South Loop with an OK team. He
was shot twice, but 1t is not known
whether it was done by the Indians or
not.
CROOK ENDORSED.
A number of Eastern papers having
published q statement accrediting the
officers Of Fort Laramie with having de.
nounced the conduct OF General
Crook in the late action, a
meeting was called at the post to-
night. Resolutions were adopted deny
ing the charge, but, on the contrary, up
holding and applauding the Generate
action, characterizing it as wise and
prudent, and that any criticism thereon
would be unsoldierly.