New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-04
MARCH TO THE ENCAMPMENT,

IN CAMP. Tuesday Night, March 7.-Juse
after dark the ten companies of cavalry which comprise
the active OF this command moved out OF the camp
on Crazy Woman River followed the old roadt0 Fort Ph
Kearney for three miles, ard then took course quo
north All tents except shelter tents for the men ana
tent flies for the officers had been left with the wagons
10 be sent bac. to Powder River. Cooking outfits had
ben surreudered extra bedding and clothing had been
hacked I'D and left and nothing but the
most absolutely necessary articles were retained.
The ration itself confined 10 The essentiasI
that IS to hard bread bacon, sugar and Gomez, ana
half rations Of Capt Coates of the 4th Infantry
was n1sted with the duty OF taking the train back TO
the Powder River Goodbyes sald and We were
OF The moon shone brightly, and the night was warm
and pleasant The great Big Horn range was yi-lDie
from our line OF march Cloud Peak especially towering
above all its comrado the giant OF the mountains.
The column wound its way snuousy across the plans
and looked like an immense black serpent.
WEDNESDAY, March S.-The march lasted I'LL D a. m'
toIay-lO hours-during which time the column marched
35 miles the packtrans being close up when the hnai
halt was ordered. The camp was pitched on the Gear
Fork OF Lodgepole River, tributary Of Crazy woman
River This has its sources In the mouhtabs'
and the water therefore clear and excellent The bed
is about 40 yards In width. Very little wood could
be found and this from willow and box elder trees
The grass was much better than at our last camp,
and our animals cropped the brown punches eagerly.
hour before reaching camp the air MAO been grow
ing colder and a keen north wind bad sprung up.
Scarcely had the horses and mules been picketed ana
sentnels posted when officers and men threw themselves
upon ground with the hope Of Wrestling little sleep
from the last hour OF the night This attempt was
complete failure, the air kept growing colder every
moment, and a cold northeast snOw-storm swept down
from the great mountain ridges into the valley Not an
officer or man had enough bedding TO make him even
passably comfortable and 1t not cheerful to walk
through the camp and them ing the ground With
baod. and bodies covered while their feet, enCaecd
boots were sticking out in the storm At 10 o. M tho
command moved five miles further down the stream 10
its junction With Pney Creek. The two streams arc
thence known Lodgepoe. The weather remained b-
telly cold, and the animals having only half forage It's
effect on them was very obvious. Wood was also very
scarce here aud it was difficult get enough to cook the
food and partially the soldiers. Places under
banks where BLANKET could be spread and some
shelter secured searched for actively aud as night
fell one could not have told anything lie heard but
that the troops comfortable ana conehted as
they had been best garrison quarters The ridges
along the valley Of Lodgepole River almost assume
the magnitude of mountains, lacking however ,heir
rocky character They to parake OF the bad+ahd
features common in this country aud show htes from
which visible red aud yellow arenaceous Gays WIN
outcroppngs OF coal and Ignite, aud here ana there
layer of lime stone The low temperature OF tne a'hoS
phere and the probable proximity of Indians were ou
sidered sufficient reasons for not making an enoi'"
n these hills possess any fossiferous deposits
THURSDAY March 9.-Ths morning broke WIN sn'"
falling fast little camp IN the "nlo"'' " -,
der the banks looked anything nut cneeriui' Inv
was so dark aud the air full OF snow that inc nisn
ridges were shut out. and nothing cond De seen Jun
dred Yards distant The work OF loading the paeKmues
was NOT completed until 10 O'Clock, and go severe WIS
the cold and storm that work difficult 10 accom-
plish at all At 10 a. the command moved OUT, anu
again faced the storm. Crossed the PIney foiN h'ei
four miles from camp, and then bore north over NIX"
and terribly rough country for 10 mles, bringing Us
small stream called by the Indians Prairie Doc Cek'
where we found wood and water enough ior
csmp which was accordingly pitched at p. m
The snow ceased falling about noon, Dut tne Hit ren"
bitterly cold The was foot deep III many paoes
and travelling very exhausting 10 the animals uo
ernst on the old being too thin 10 bear them up
and making the journey exceedingly tlresome work.
.h,t o camp ON the side OF the mountain, the fall OF
snow WAS much lighter, and the grass was OF exceent
ouaty Instead OF half ratons Of forage, find we only
have about onesixth full forage, and shall In few
days be entirely dependent grass for the susenance
OF the animals.
FRIDAY, March lO-Dayllght found still falling
and the AIR very sharp, the thermometer mark
ing 20 below zero. Moved out at $50 q. m,
and followed tho creek % miles 10 near Its juno
ton with Tongue River, and went into camp
at 5 p NJ. though the pack train did not come In
uutl an later The north hlsides and banks we're
covered with Ice under the so that horses and
mules frequently FELL and sometimes slipped from the
top OF hill to the bottom We have lost only one AMI
NAL as vet however, that being mule, which fell down
steep hillside and was found at the foot literally
smashed pieces About the sun came out and We
could see Big Horn range left some 20 or 30
miles distant. Our march is nearly parallel with
that range so far. and usually In northery
direction Today's march makes 80 miles frYm
our camp on Crazy Woman River. Scouts sens
out Yesterday to 20 the forks OF the Tongue River
10 miles west of where We are now killed piaoHssu
deer about dark. and Immediately went into camp "