The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-07-11

FFrou shs l<ew yovk lEer.AA ~ - - = ~
Tho first regular battle between The
United States forces and the hostile
Sioux Ina resulted IN what looks very
like defeat of tho solLisrs. From what
We learn that after o rapid march from
his supply camp on Gfoose Greek Gen.
Crook with one thousand three humid
red mounted men aud two hundred
and fifty friendly Indians, came upon
a force of Sioux warriors, two thousand
i've hundred strong. under the COM
mand OF Sittitg aBan. near the head
waters Of Rosebud Greek. a tributary
OF the Yellowstone River. The attack
by the Sioux, who rolled back the In
dian scouts on the main body. We
Judge that the friendly Grows and
Snakes precipitated the fight before
the troops could take position ia their
haste TO attack their traditional foes,
the Sioux. The latter, who appears to
have acted bravely, and to have been
superbly handled, soon repulsed this
Indian rush, and then took up COM
manding positions on the larger ridges
above Rosebud Greek, from which
they were disloged only at great ex-.
posure 10 the troops and retreated on
ly to take better positions on the high
er ridges. In thus driving the indians
the troops had become dangerously
separated and in danger of having their
hAnks turned, nacessitatipg o recon-
centration in the face of q gallant fire.
Tho trenuous effort made by the Sioux
To prevent this junction OF the seperat-
ed forces shows that their leader thor
l.. hn art of TAI N,
warfare; and, although his warriors were
finally dislodged from their highest
points, the absense OF pursuit, and the
fact that his prompt attack on the
column saved the great Sioux village,
proclaim him the victor. That he was
able TO cope successfully with such a
force OF rsgual troops-backed by Indian
allies and 10 march off free to chose
his next battle groud marks ont Sit
tins Bull as favorable foe. There is
no necessity to lay blame ut present
TO General Crook, whose decision not
TO pursue the Sioux into q dangerous
country was probably the best under
the circumstances. Whether he blund-
cred in the fight We do not presume to
say until hs had been heard from ut
length.
While Crooks forces have been prac-
tically brought to standstill for three
weeks at least, he having returned to
his head quarters On Gross Greek, and
Sitting Bull ia free TO move his village
OFF where it may take two months TO
fnd him, ve must revert TO the other
two bodies OF troops moving against
him under General Gibbons and GenI
Terry. 1t has been reported that Glib
bons vas checked in his attempt 10
cross the Yellowstone by probably
detachment of the same band that
stopped Crook. General Terry at last
accounts was in bandsry on the Lit
tie Missouri river, WHITTIER he went 10
seek Sitting Bull. and although he may
have effected or established communi-
cation with Gibbons il seems extreme
ly Doubtful that he even now knows
ia what direction 10 seek the Sioux.
The best fortune we can hope for is
that Terry shall find Sitting Bull and
prevent his running East, so thus by
the time Crook ia ready to advance
thore may be n chance OF 90 operating
with him, the war now looks as though
il would be protractsd, bloody and
very costly. Ten killed and twenty
wounded on our side against thirteen
Sioux scalp is not an encouraging be-
ginning. a-l .. a-f