The New York herald., 1876-11-27
THE INDIAN CAMPAIGN.
March Of the Powder River Expedition
Under General Crook.
A COUNCIL WITH THE INDIAN ALLIES.
An Early Termination Of Hostilities
Looked For.
Attack of Redskins On a Sup.
ply Train.

ply Train.
ON THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AGAINST
THE REDsKrNs-sUccEss OF THE TROOPS.
GLExDSE CREEK, Wy. T., Oct %, 1876.
During the last campaign or the summer, CON-
mercng August S at the mouth OF the Rosebud and
ending al this camp on the 9th OF September scarcely
a wild Indian The season OF operations was
ordered 90 before October Is. and troops
ordered DO cantoned Tor tho winter tho mouth
OF Tongue RIVER The Fifth infantry was sent
there 10 commence building so that the troops aud
stores might be protected from the winter cli-
mate. and time to be lost. Six companies Of
The Twenty second infantry were left at this point
receive the from the boats, which could go
further up the river and convoy them to Tongue River
Aicrward added 10 this force two companies OF
tho Seventeenth infantry. These all small
panies, numbering about trirty-hye men each They
had performed the escort duty, making nearly
three trirs each month with train Of 100
wagons without moicstation from Indians, until
the last trip. On the 10TH inst, at noon, the
srain left hero and that night cainped on Spring
Greek, fourteen miles out Tho next morning they
were surrounded and attacked by large number of
Indians ana in tho skirmish a number Of mules were
wounded, which caused u stampede and some loss Of
animals. The escort harasscd hat they were
compelled TO either abandon several wagons and some
property else this place. the latter
they prudenty pursued, arriving late tho evening
of the 11th. The train rsdttcd and started again
the l4th, tho commanding officer Of tho station,
Lieutenant Colonel f. s. Ots taking command OF the
escort, which consisted Of companies and G, Seven
tecnth infantry, aud G. and X, Twenty-second In
ranry, being force of eloven officers and 1s5 mcn.
The roster Of officers ioiiows:-
Lieutenant Colonel Otis, Twcniy-second infantry,
commanding
First Lieutenant Smith. Twenty-second infantry,
Battalion Adjutant
Acting Assistant Surgeon Gibson. Surgeon.
company G, Seventeenth infantry, Captain Near
thur; Second Lieutenant Nckcrson
Company G, Seventeenth infantry. Captain Sanger.
Company q, Twenty second infantry, Captain Miner;
Company II, Twenty Infantry. First Lieuten-
ant Conway Second Iheutenant sharpe
Company X, Twenty-second infantry, Captain Hor-
ton; Second Lieutenant kelL
At ten o'clock A. M the escort and train moved out
gayly. The day was beautiful. and every was in
good spirits, feeling that they would the enemy
before returning That night tho camp was made IN
the beautiful bottom of the Yellowstone eleven miles
away. Early in tho evening a ihieving party OF In
dams approached tho camp, and worc fred upon by
the scntincs. They beat u hasty retreat leaving a
pony with all OF Its trappings and log broken There
were alarms that night and at daybreak the
four lines and surrounded by tho escort, which was
disposed OF as foows:-Advance guard, Company H.
Twcnty-second infantry advance right and left flank
ers, Company c, Seventeenth infantry: right flank,
rear Company G, Twenty y-second infantry loft flank
rear, Company G, Seventeenth infantry; rear guard
Company X, Twenty second infantry. 1t was Sunday
morning, and pretticr ono never broke forth. Upon
gaming tho entrance to Spring Creek three miles from
camp. three men joined the train, who proved to be
from General Miles, command at Tongue River
STORY OF THE SCOUTS.
They were en- route, four in number, from Genera
Miles, with dispatches from Gcndine Greek on Sat-
urday aitornoon they we're attacked at Spring Creek
by largo number Of Indians; ono OF their number
was killed and all Of their either killed badly
wounded, and the remaining three mon were driven
in,o the bushes whore they kept tho Indians at bay
until tho OF night lot them escape and they
were thus enabled to Join troops The body OF the
dead scout found and buried. He NOT at al |
nutilated and his gloves wero on evidently the In.
dians had not found him, but his gun and ammunition
could not bo found About this time the Indians
made their appearance on tho lett and in 'front.', and
opened nre Jackson and Sergeant Kelly
Company r, Second infantry, who were mounted
and Ia advance. They had run into large party OF
Indians and, after discharging their rifles at them
they fell back, closely followed by about thirty
their clothing being literally riddica by bullets,
but their bodies entirely unharmcd. These two
men did great deal Of scouting coming in close
quarters several times with The Indians and
showed a great deal Of pluck and bravery.
The numbers OF Indians kept ncrensng the LEFT flank
advanced and tho ADVANCE guard charged them, open
ing the way tor the train, which was enabled TO
ascend 10 tne high tablo land Then 10 our front
signal smokes were raiscd. which Immediately
answered by many vast ones or toward the Yellow
tons until the train surrounded by from 400
500 During this time We had gained the ridge and
hills leading down into Clear Creek and here Inc
enemy had taken position expecting 10 prevent our
progress, out skirmishcrs were sent ahead and tho
road was cleared, SO that We gained the creek and
water.d the stock in ful view OF tho foe But they
not dls they collected on the further side and
set lire 10 the praire expecting to burn US out ard
advance under cover OF tho smoke and signay
answering the Indian yell, and drove them in all
directions, so that tho train could move on, though
IL had 10 pass rapidly ever the line OF burning
grass. As soon MS the top land reached beyond
Clear Creek The enemy came IN strong forcc against
parts al the escort. There eighty six wagons
TO guard, but they wero in four lines and surrounded
by our sk:rmishcrs. The prairics burning
the smoke was suifocaing. and the enemy hurled ms
whole force with desperation, against the tram, bent
upon itscapturc, so that nc would DO we'll provided
with food and ammunition, but they were Kept ut
distance by the advance upon them OF the skir
mishcrs and not shot damaged the tram. The foar
OF musketry was terrific. There was artillery, It
was SIMPLY an infantry tight. They were repeatedly
charged IN iron, by G (Scvcntcsnth) and Twenty
second companies, and In the rear, which was the
most pressed by company G, Seventeenth, and X,
Twenty second infantry. Company q, Twenty second
innpiry, curing all this time had CALLING flank fire
upon them This was kept up until near i've O'Clock
-
tram corralled for the night, and shots st
exchanged unit. seven r. whom IL became dark
to In this struggle number OF Indians
knocked from their horses many OF the latter werc
killed and NUMBER were running wildly around rider
less. Tneso Indians had never before close
range OF infantry or been subjected to such musketry
Are. Il expected that they would the next morn
ina, be upon us again. but moved quietly from
camp. Alter going mile or more shot
sionally hrcd About this time q note from Sitting
Bull written by half breed Frcnchman, found
stake near the road demanding reasons ior travel
nsover the road and soaring The buaocs and ordering
the troops back, tci'1g them 10 leave nations and
powder or he would hsNt them again. and signed
''yorR y.,kyD. SITTING BrLf- ~
"Please write soon. - No attention paid to the
letter and alter the troops had crossed bad Route
| Creek, seven miles from the nights camp two
| came forward bearing nag OF truce. They
| were allowed TO enter tho lines and were
| found be Indian scouts frtm standing Rock
! ngency with dispatches IRON General CarIin. they
had been ordered TO visit hostile camps business