The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-06-27

able account Of Gen. Crooks first
fight With Sitting Bull. After speak
ing Of the morning march, etc.. he
says;
Our whole force, including the In
dams, RAJ in the neighborhood Of
1,200 men. We had been halted
about one hour, our horses unsaddled
and grazing, when at $50 this morn
ing
THE REPORT OF FIREARMS
was distinctly heard from behind the
northern bluffs in the direction of
the canyon. Soon afterward the
Snake and Grow scouts came run
ming over the hill to inform Crook
that Sitting Bull, with his whole
available force of Sioux, was adyan-
cling in quick time to attack us right
in camp. Two companies of the I'd
cavalry and the same number of in
fantry were ordered to deploy as
skirmishers and support the Indian
pickets. Hardly had they reached
the crest when volleY after volley
from the Sioux announced that the
fight had commenced in earnest.
From u camp we could see the
enemy swarming in crowds upon the
higher range of bluffs in every direc
ton on a line of at least two miles.
They yer all mounted, and fired
with wonderful rapidity. Maj. Ran
dali, u chief OF scouts, aided by
Lieut.. Bourke, rallied our friendly
Indians and led them to attack the
centre of the Sioux. The latter re-
ceived them with successive volleys,
and after a gallant fight Randail's
redskins were compelled to keep
within shelter of the lower range Of
hills, the number of Sioux opposed to
them being overwhelming. Observing
this state of affairs, Col. Royal or
dered the first battalion OF the Sd
cavalry, consisting of A. E, l and
NJ companies, under Col. Mills, to
advance, mounted, and charge the
central bluffs, SO as to drive back the
enemy in that direction. This order
was executed with a brilliancy and
CELEBRITY seldom equaled, under a
sweeping hostile fire, which made a
volcano of the plateau between the
lower bluffs above u camp and the
higher ones occupied by Sitting
Bull. The battalion charged at full
gallop with fierce ringing cheers,
halted for a moment to pour in a
whitening volley, and then galloped
up the ascent to the crest Of the
ridge. Despite their great numbers
and splendid position the Sioux cen
tire broke and ran like a pack of
wolves, taking shelter on other bluffs,
1900 yards behind, for this battle
ground is a succession of ridges for
miles on miles. The battalion then
dismounted and deployed as skirm-
ishers along the position they had
carried. While this was being done
on the centre and right, the second
battalion of the Sd cavalry, consist
ing Of companies B, D, Il, and |,
under Col. Henry, was ordered to
attack Sitting Bulls right, which
they did, driving it back even with
the Sioux ceutre and left. The third
battalion OF the same regiment, COM
panies G and NJ, under Col. Van
Welt, was ordered to occupy the
northern bluffs to our rear, SO as to
checkmate any attack from that
point. The fight now became gen
eral, and continued until past noon
almost without interruption, the
Sioux proving themselves the best
fighting Indians that ever fred a
shot. Beaten on mi ridge they re-
tired behind another, SO that we were
compelled to keep following them up,
exposing u line all the time. Fir
ing from their ponies, their shots
were generally a little toe high until
late In the action-a fortunate thing
for us. At a quarter past IL o'clock
Mills battalion, excepting I COM
pany, detached after the first charge
to support the left, was ordered to
vacate its position on the right CEN
tire, and make eastward first and then
north, down Rosebud creek, through
the canyon, at the end of which,
seven miles distant, was situated the
Sioux village. To enter the canyon
the left of the hostile line had to be
forced and Mills ordered company E
of the 3D., under Capt. Alex. Sutorius,
to charge up the bluff and carry the
position, which was speedily accom-
plished. The Indians, however ex-
cellent as skirmishers, have not yet
learned the art of standing q cavalry
charge. Mills then moved down the
canyon rapidly toward the village,
according to orders. His place on
the bluffs above the camp was sup
piled with only a few infantry, as the
I'd cavalry were detained to sustain
his movement. Crook now deter
mined to charge along this whole