The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-11-12

On the left OF this branch Was a very
high ridge, commanding the whole plan
Of the field, and distant from the ra-
vine q few hundred yards. This WAS
covered by Indians.
SITTING BULLS TACTICS
The plan of the Indians, il appeared
now, was TO get the Fifth regiment 10
pass the main force and thus become
entangled in the rayines and low ground
while by browning the surrounding
heights they would be enabled to pour a
concentrated fire on the mass and re-
peat the Custer butchery. General
Miles was not the man to be thus en-
trapped, and by Captains Carter and
Casey's moves defeated the first part of
this programme. His plan was as per-
feet as its execution was complete.
THE FIGHT.
The line was now moving out of the
rayine and up the precipitous knobs,
the Indians giving way gradually and
easily in front, not yet firing a shot, the
armistice apparently restraining both
forces. The line now moved out of the
ravines and up the precipitous gravel
buttes in the following Iprder:-Captain
Casey, with Company A; Bennett, with
b; Lymans, with /; Butler, with G.;
Carter, with X. In the line Lieuten-
ants Pope and Rosseau, with III; Forbes
with G.. In reserve, Captain Snyder,
with L, in charge of the Rodman gun,
and Mcdonald, with ID, in rear of the
train. AS the line approached the sum-
init of the height the Sioux began their
wal dance in our front. This was the
first hostile demonstration. Many might
have been killed by the Rodman gun,
l..t llAA ~. 1tulsl-A - L.. G.rk - l-~.I~
the armistice prevailed with General
Miles. The Rodman gun was pushed
forward on the right and all was NOV
ing forward in good order when 4 shot
from the rear passed through Lieuten-
ant Pope's company, and was at once
returned by the eager men, who were
tired of waiting. This company was at
once ordered to clear the ravines and
knobs whence the shot came from. Lieu
tenant Rosseau, with company X, was
ordered to take the left and Carter the
right ravine. AT the same time the
main line advanced rapidly, in the main
front the Sioux dashed in circles along
the front delivering a rapid fire and
then disappearing behing the swells.
Their riding was magnificent, but the
fire was quite ineffective. While this
was taking place the flank movement
advanced apace. Company E soon clear
ed the ravines, Carter and Lyman do
ing the same on the right, where they
encountered heavy firing in passing
through what had been the
CAM OF SITTING BULLS BAND.
Meanwhile the gallant Rosseau, worthy
of his great brothers. reputation, moved
straight up the lofty height under a
rapid fire until he reached the summit
and secured the key of the field. 1t
was handsomely done and without loss
of life, aided by the booming of the
Rodman. The Sioux, now driven from
every important point, fanked and foil
ed, made wide circles, and many came
around to the rear or flank and rear of
Company E, which had been ordered to
remain with the train until it was out of
danger. These Indians in the rear took
possession of each height, and dismount-
Ing, did some close firing. Here Ser
geant McPhelan Company +, was
wounded severely from a shot. The In
dams now fired the prairies in front, and
amid the lurid flames the fight contin-
ued until no Sioux remained to oppose
the advance. Company L was then d.
rected to clear the ravines on the left
rear, where-water was to be found, of
the few Indians collected there, while
the command moved back and camped
on the high ridge.
LOSS.
In this action only two men were
wounded, this being due to the fact that
the fire of the Indians was so well kept
down by the new arms and good marks
men. Sergeant McPhelan, shot by a
sharpsh0oter in the rear, and one pri-
vate of Company l was the total loss of
the Fifth regiment. OF the number ac-
tually engaged or the loss incurred on
the side of the Indians it is impossible
to speak with any certainty. The Fifth
had 1903 all told, and the Indians GER
greatly outnumbered these. Sit
ting Bulls forces are estimated at 600
on the field, but many did not take part
in the fight.
FRUITS OF VICTORY.
1t has since been heard that there
were three bands, in all 1900 warriors,
of which only few took part. Six dead
Indians were seen lying on the field, but
as they had full opportunity to carry off
their dead before they could be reached
by the troops it is reasonable to believe
a great number were killed. Whatever
tnelT loss III killed. may nave Deen, ilnOre
severe was the loss of several tons of
dried buffalo meat and a large amount
of camp. equipage. For this they had
fought, and by the loss of the fight the
prestige Of Sitting Bull was diminished.
His punishment for the destruction of
a gallant band of cavalry was accom-
plished by infantry alone, not a cavalry
soldier or officer being on the field in
this engagement. General Miles dis
played that superb handling of troops
that so distinguished him during the
war on the Southern plains. The i'm
portance of the above engagement and
pursuit will finally appear in the fact that
this day the whole of the M~inneconjous
and Sans Arcs have surrendered and
given five of their principal chiefs-Red
Skirt, Black Eagle, Sunrise, Sitting
Eagle, White Bull and Foolish Bull
to General Miles as hostage that they
go at once to the Cheyenne Agency. |
They give the number of their lodges as
1900, but this is considerably overes-
timated.