The New York herald., 1876-07-13
IN CROOKS CAMP.
Realizing the Significance of the
Battle on the Rosebud.
INEXCUSABLE LAUNDERING.
The Sioux Informed Of All
Crooks Movements.
A Map and Typographical Descrip-
tion of the Field.
THE FIGHT ON THE LEFT OF THE LINE
Exciting Incidents of the Battle-The
ValOr of Whites and Reds.
4 PERILOUS RETREAT.
BarbaritieS by the "Friendly" Indians on the
Body Of a Sioux Warrior.
CROOKS FORCES HASTILY EQUIPPED
Effect Of Rumored Peace Movements
U pom the Commander.
Effect Of Rumored Peace Movements
Upon the Commander.
A STRANGE HUNT FOR GOLD.
Sioux Spies Watching the Camp
on Goose Creek.
HAVE THE SIOUX ATTACKED AND CROOK AWAY? I?
MILITARY CAMP ON GOOSE CREEK,
Wunl.,,n.r Torritoru Luna ID 1919 Z

Wyoming Territory June %, 1876.
Tho battle Of the Rosebud Hills, June II. was Of
greater importance and significance than at that time
appeared to tho persons engaged in it, excepting
bhe brieadier general commanding In the haste Of
aespatching my telegram letter shortly afterwsrd
twas unable embody in them all the details, which
Jorm either integral concurrent parts Of II and
essential to Its complete comprehension brief re-
view Of the scout, weaving together the odd
ends Of narrative, will be proper and interest
ing, illustrated by the accompanying maps,
carefully prepared with the assistance Of Lieu
tenant Charles Norton Of Colonel W. B. Royals
staff, whose intrepid presence in the most dangerous
portion Of the neid qualities him for the tash Of
sketching its natural features 1t there that Cap
tain Henry's battalion and Captain Andrews company
OF the Third cavalry bore the brunt of tho bodest and
most destructive saes of the Sioux without the sup
port from the main portion OF the command. most Of
the time unengaged which they sorcy needed, until
too late to prevent the sacrifice of nine soldiers who
were killed ana nineteen VINO were wounded. All Of
the losses sustained tho left excepting the
abling of threo nfantrymen by chance balls the
high bun In the middle Of the field.
THE SIOUX ATTACK.
Tho bivouac OF June 1G must have been under the
observation of the Sioux spies from evening until
morning hollow square, marked by the lines Of
burning piles of cottonwood iagots lit by the soldiers,
exposed the position of each he lay arms in
tired alumber Pickes were stationed on the sur
rounding hills but their presence would have pre-
vented the enemy from creeping through the dark
canyons, which ntersect the ridges and approaching
within bowshot OF the fires Their forbearance from
attack signinsd eller purpose. The discovery of
deserted wcky lately occupied The halt i-burned
buffalo meat lying on the ashes showed reported by
the Crows the previous day, was sign that they
warned OF tho approaching force. 1t is probable
t,tx tkattt had lrlo
the 10th of June and that every warrior tho village
Rosebud cleaned his gun and nled his belt with
cartridges in the evening, expectant of onslaught
upon tho white soldiers on the next day. There is no
doubt that deliberate attack was medtated Tho
Indians conceived that by occupying the strongest
positions in the region through which the advance
would lay had 1t been continued, they would be able
to surround the whole command, and perhaps annihi.
late it before 1t could have extrcaed itself from the
natural trap. II any portion of had escaped they
could harassed It's until had reached
Fort Fetterman, through distance OF 225 miles There
is believe that they had at the commence
ment OF the Gght preposterous confidence in their
strength and superiority as warriors, the result
of the prccipitate withdrawal of the expedition of
last winter from their country. Tho village near
which the battle OF the 11th occurred doubtless
contained nearly all the lodges belonging TO
Sitting Bulls band, although it is believed that
smaller exists the mouth Of the Tongue
River
THERxoPYL.x.
Long ago a frontier scou, named Hank Clifford, who
had taken q squaw from the nation said that he
had often heard them declare that the autagon.
lam between them and the whites grew to final strug
gle there country in the north where
they could take refuge and could never be conquered
or disiodged. They would wait there to receive the
force sent againss them, and could hope to destroy
before could escape. This region they described as
extremely rough, where steep ridges, precipces and
necp canyons formed chaotic surface upon which tho
force nrst possession could fight successfully three
times their number Clifford believed that It was
the Rosebud Mountains TO which they referred they
IRE nearly impregnablc to invader on the morn.
ing the second day alter leaving the supply camp on
Goose Creek, the command halted to res, the valley
or the Rosebud II was then only In the foot hills o,
the mountains. Had the Crow scouts performed their
duty Oh the previous night they would have been
passed In darkness for had General Crook known OF
the proximity Of tho Sioux village. the Richmond of
his hopes, he would have ordered forced march IN
order to elect surprise
ALARM
The Sioux having watched the bivouac through their
spies until morning dawned, and seeing the
preparations for the march, concluded ,ha, the
Sroops would move toward their stronghold during
,he day. They massed their warriors on the lofty
rrests commanding deep and narrow canyon, two
niles distant from the stream; but which the key
,f the descent into ITS broader valley below. where
Undoubtedly stood the 500 tepees OF Sitting Bulls
,and. There at least 2, 500 OF them. They
,cctcd great victory harvest OF whi,o scalps and
heir freedom from dependence on tho Great Father.
The day bright and keen, perfect calm pervad-
NJ earth and arr and the dark pine biu in she north,
tho near extremity Of tho Rosebud Mountains,
.i. ,f.f.rtp .lAor. ha1a
veloping them. The command had marched but ten
miles, When, about eight o'clock, Crow reported to
General Crook that he had the Sioux herdng their
ponies tho hills, and that their village must there
sCre be The scouts were ordered to so again
Spon the upauds and endcavo TO cspy the topccs OF
Biting Bull Meanwhile all the animals were unsadded
and allowed to sraxs The greatness Of the impending