Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-11-08

f. oessfully attempted TO eject them, mos,
of his men being badly frozen but
they were subsequently captured by
: Captain Mix, Second Cavalry.
This depression has almost caused
me to forget further mention of tn,
: movement before alluded to- and o.
: which | have just informed you by
telegraph (the nearest station of the
Black Hills line being only nincteer
miles from Custer City, Tomorrow
morning Colonel Merritt, Fifth Caval
ry, accompanied by the greater portion
Of his regiment, commanded by Lieut.
Col. Carr, and battalion of the Sec
ond and Third Cavalry, under Captain
Van Vleet, will scout in the direction
Of the forks of the Cheyenne river, and
probably toward the Little Missouri
Great secrecy has attended his prepara.
tions and destination, but your cores.
pondent is assured that this iniorma-
tion may be relied upon, Ten days
rations are to be carried, the means OF
transportation being pack trains; and
the lightcst possible marching order is
directed: When two or three compa.
mes shall have been destroyed in one
oil the fearful storms OF this latitude,
such limited provision as is consistent
with ordinary comfort will be made,
even at the sacrifice of little celebrity.
Lieut., Col. Royal, Third Cavalry, re-
mains IN command OF the main body,
which, 1t IL understood, will march to
inc Cheyenne river or Red Cloud
Agency by easy stages, uniting, at
either point with Col. Merritt The
mouth oil the Belle Fourche is an lndi-
an thoroughiare for parties passing
between the Missouri river and South
ern agencies and Gen. Crook, who
sun remains at Fort Laramie, has
probably obtained such definite inform
, ation OF the presence OF Sioux in this
vicinity as 70 iully warrant such hostile
detour. Hls last courier was chased
by thirty warriors, but succeeded in
cludlng them,
This demonstration will practically
end the Big Horn and Yellowstone ex.
pedition, which equipped and organized
last Spring at Fort Fetterman with
such brilliant anticipations and pros
poets, although other measures must
necessarily be inaugnrated for the
prosecution of the terrible Indian war
that has ensuod. In view, however, Of
the changes that must result in troops,
IN dispositions, and in policy, It may
not be unreasonable to briefly review
past events before future ones obliter.
ate, if they do not eclipse them. 1t is
no difficult task TO criticise campaign
or battle that may be ably conduct
cd, and this gallantly fought and won,
with remarkable ease--in retrospec-
tion. Your correspondent, however,
has uniformly confined himself to o
simple and truthful relation of facts,
believing that greater impartiality and
justice were to be secured thereby, and
that time would more accurately de-
velop and elucidate any benefisjs! con-
clusions to bo derived from tie Issues
OF the seasons hostile opcrati ms
The campaign assuredly Ma not
been a successful one, although at the
same time il would be unfair il pro.
nonnce il failure. At the Rosebud
had Crook been accompanied by his
pack train. and hence provided with
sufficient rations, instead of four days'
allowance, or, being but fifteen hours
march from permanent camp. had he
returned with the wounded, and, freshly
supplied, attempted TO follow the re-
treating Sioux, in all probability the
villages upon the Little Big Horn
would have been first struck by him
with his thirteen hundred troops and
Indian allies. Custer would have re-
enforced him, and subsequently Terry
and Gibbon; or else combination
might have been formed by the almost
simultaneous advance Of these several
admirably equipped columns, which
would have terminated in one bloody
and decisive conflict this useless, ex-
penslve, and inglorious struggle. Ter
ry's advance up the Yellowstone was I
admirably devised and executed but
the gallant Custer { Req,,iescdt in pace y |
was brave to the exclusion Of that other
soldierly virtue-cautlon. His disas.
ter, like scar over a closed wound,
cannot be effaced. The belief forces |
itself upon us that il might have been
avertedby cooperation. Sitting Bull
however, contrived TO fight us IN detail.
and the country was annalled bv his
mastery defense and the butchery' that
followed.
Rono wos roliovod hr, ho ono,,,,
to rot;ro nnmoIos,od Mi,
nnr ,roo,,s no,nnaoa - '''9l. a. .L"I. VII. W.