The New York herald., 1876-08-19
MEDICINE CLOUDS SINGULAR STORY
TERRY's EXPEDITION, August Il,
Via BISMARCK H. r AuQust IA lS7G

movement the Fifth infantry made one OF the most
dinlcult and remarkable marches ever made by In
fantry troops.
A DIFFICULT AND REMARKABLE MARCH.
The Fifth had just completed fatiguing march Of
sixteen miles, when they started the one Of
thirty-hve through the binding dust and darkness
OF night over a rough and difficult country covered
with cactus thorns, and made forty-three miles in
twenty-four consecutive hours, equal to a march Of
sixty miles over ordinary country. Every oflcer
and man appreciated the Importance Of the move
ment and worked with enthusiasm, arriving at the
Yellowstone at one p. NJ. on the l1th inst.
SCOUTING PAETy ORGANIZED.
General Miles embarked with his troops and
dropped down the stream, reaching Tongue River
at nine A. NJ and Powder River at noon 18th inst
He organized strong scouting party OF cavalry and
Crow allies down the north side OF the Yel-
lowstone in conjunction with Generals Terry and
Crook In the movement east. Every disposition
possible has been made to prevent the escape OF the
Indians
THE END OF THE BEGINNING.
II Is bceved tnat small noStlle lOrce mas already
gone north. making an effort to reach the British
Possessions. The rest are now we'll enclosed and
will either be destroyed driven to their agencies.
The next few days will develop the result Of this
summers campaign.
THH SENTIMENTS AND OPINIONS OF SITTING
BuL1-HE DID NOT SEEK HosTILITIss WITH
TIE wH1rEs-oErr1No OLD AND IN NO
HUMoR Fos FIoHTINo-rHE INDIAN LOSS AT
THE LITTLE BIG HORN.
BISMARCK, d. T., August is, 1876.
In May last the agent at Fort Peck, Major Mitchell,
of Quincy, ILL.,, sent message to Sitting Bull, invt-
ing him to come and make q treaty. Sitting Bull
detained this messenger till July 81, when he re-
turned with Sitting Bulls answer, which indicates
his understanding OF the case for the war and gives
the terms on which he is willing to surrender. The
following Bismarck Tribune special from Fort Peck,
dated August l, gives full account OF
MEDICINE CLOUDS EXPERIENCE AND OBSERVATION
and throws new light on the battle and the immcdi-
ate cause which led TO the massacre, the shooting
Of the nag Of truce sent out by the Indians for talk
before the battle, together with Sitting Bulls mes
mencement Of hostilities some apprehension has
been felt that war party might arrive from the
hostile camp, and owing to a large, dilapidatcd and
struggling fort protected by the few men allowed by
thu for IN mir
much trouble, and Major T. J. Mitchell Indian
Agent here, has been busly engaged in erect
ing small but strong blockhouse In
order to have one building which was at
verify belief that should have visitors OF this
character till about ten days since, when party OF
twenty more mounted Indians were seen at some
distance across the river making hostile demonstra
rising in the same direction. The following day two
Indians VINO had left the agency In the spring crossed
the river with several horses, and one OF them,
very good gray American horse, was branded U. S.
c. The Indians averrcd that they had been in the
vicinity of the fight when 1t occurred bat had taken
no part in 1t, and that the gray horse they had
purchased came from hostile Indians Little
information was extracted from them fur
ther than they, with many friendly Indians
visiting their relations had been prevented from
leaving the hostile camp and we're threatened with
death In case OF dsobedience. Medicine Cloud and
his party, belonging TO the Fort Peck Agency whom
Major Mitchell had sent to Sitting Bull with a mes
sage the 2lst OF last May, was of the number de.
srous Of returning. but they doubted his ability to
do so.
A LONG AND INTERESTING TALK.
Yesterday, however, he and his party arrived at
the bank OF the river opposite the FORT and during
the day crossed in safety. They had n
large number OF horses with them, including
another gray, branded 'U s. CO.. AS soon as pos
sble Major Mitchell had long talk with
him, making every inquiry possible In order not
only to discover the intentions and policy OF his
visitors but the result OF the mission upon which he
had despatched Medicine Cloud and to learn also all
that he could OF the particulars OF the battle on the
Little Big Horn and the movements OF the hostile
Indians at the present time. The message sent by
Major Mitchell to sitting Bull was in effect that he
desired him to come and visit Fort Peck hoping
that such step would result In his returning on a
reservation and ceasing from hostiltics against the
whites.
A REMARKABLE STATEMENT.
Sitting Bull replies July 2,:--"Tell him I'm coming
before the fail 10 his post 10 trade. Tell him
did not commence the war; that