The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-19
THE INDIAN WAR.
General Terry'S Column Moving Toward
the Yellowstone River.
SLOW PROGRESS and RAINY WEATHER.
The Organization Of The Expedition and the
Personnel Of the Staff.
THE bad LANDS PROVING FERTILE.
A Cavalry Scout Under Custer Returning
HE bad LANDS PROVING FERTILE
A Cavalry Scout Under Custer Returning
to Camp Without Result.
THE EFFECT OF THE WAR.

May 80, 1876.
Tho expedition organized at Fort Lincoln to operate
against tho hostile Indians under Sitting Bull, aud
which lett that the 18th inst arrived at this
point to-day, having been marching thirteen days.
during which has travcrsed 1876 miles an aver
age OF little less nan thirteen miles per day. This rate
OF progress would be likely to bring in contact
with hostile Indians wachful and the alert us they
supposed to be- but the obstacles which have been
met. and which have tended to render progress
slow aud uncertain, have been sufficient to furnish
reasonable excuse for rapid rate OF marching
In this latitude it can be calculated with almost mathe
matcai certainty that during the months Of May and
Juno tho rainfall will be excessive scarcely day pass
ing without its drcnching shower. The character Of
the soil such under frequent rains the entire
country becomes almost impossible for ordinary
laden wagons.
This is contrary to tho published theories and opin
ions Of class OF which General Haxcn, or the army
is fair representative, and whose object Is TO describe
this country seldom visited by rain and devoid OF
moisture to be incapable OF producing vegetable
growth In fact being but little better than barren
desert. II Hazen and those who think with him upon
this subject could have accompanied this expedition
and obtaned for the first time probably, glimpse OF
the country which they have criticised in such I'M
measured terms, they would have ridden large
Of the grazing land that desired
and have useful grasses of different varieties grow
ing in rich proiusion along entire route, while
al the timo wild flowers OF the varied beauty
and color were 10 be at almost every step of
progress Not only this, but in passing through the
much abused bad lands tho cavairymen rode for hours
time green sward Of RICH nutritious grasses
the height Of the latter extending to their hors,s'
knees Much OF
THE COUNTRY
we passed WINS tar superior to some Of the best
IF fho aid opAoo lad s,f tl,a Ea.t
The inquiry frequently made in jocular man
ncr, the troops marched along the beautiful
green velvet carpet, interspersed with deli
cately tinted flowers s'Wherc Is Hazcns tral--cer-
tany not here" Some one suggested that bunch Of
grasses selected at various points along our route
should be prepared and transmitted to General Hazen
fair specimen OF what nature produced from those
lands which he publicly has would be
worth "a penny an. acre. The blue grass regions of
Kentucky cannot produce luer grazing than much of
that over which this expedition has just passed
This expedition attracts no little attention from the
public prior final organization departure from
Fort Lincoln from the fact that the President
usual manner took such special interest designating
what officer should 20 IN command. correctly
stating H. in designating what officer should not go in
command. The result was that General Terry
chosen to lead this column. The General arrived ut
Fort Lincoln few days before tho departure OF the
expedition, but did not command until tho
troops were about to take the field. General Custer
who commanded the military district, Of which Fort
Lincoln is the headquarters, exercised tho immedato
command until the formal assumption OF command by
General Terry
Tho following outline OF
ORGANIZATION THE coLuxy
may be Of interest :-Gcncral Terry, commanding Is
accompanied by his three aids Brcvct Lieutenant Colo
mel Edward w. Smith, Acting Assistant Adjutant Gen.
eral Brevet Major Robert r. Hughes, Lieutenant Eu-
gene b. Gibbs; Assistant Surgeon John w. Williams
chief medical officer; Lieutenant Edward Mcguire, OF
tho Engineer Corps Captain Ohio L. Miehaelis of the
Ordnance Department; Lieutenant Henry J. Nowan
Seventh cavalry, Chief Quartcrmastcr; Lieutenant
Richard f. Thompson Sixth infantry Commssary Of
Subsistence.
The troops composing the expedition consist OF the
entire Seventh cavalry embracing twelve full compa-
enics; battery OF Calling guns commanded by Lieu.
tenants Lowe and kinzc, Of tho Twentieth infantry;
two companies OF the Seventeenth Infantry, under
Brcve, Major Louis IL Sanger; company OF the
Sixth infantry. commanded by Captain stephen Baker,
and detachment of Indian scouts commanded by
Lieutenant Charles A. yarnum, Seventh cavalry
Accompanying the troop is OF $50
wagons loaded with rations and forage sufficient
to last thirty days. before at the end Of which
il is expected the Yellowstone River will be reached,
with and provisions for both men aud horses
With the steamers viii be three companies OF the sixth
infantry from Fort Buord undor command Of Major
o. II. Moore These will also be added the effective
strength Of tho expedition after junction has been
effected on the Yellowstone II will thus be seen that
this force, considering the dimnutivc OF the on
tire army, Is quite formidable one, numbering up
ward OF 1000 hshiing men, and II opportunity occurs
viii no doubt render good account OF itself under the
leadership Of the hero OF Fort Fisher the tort that
Big Bethel Butler OF bottle fame did take. General
Custer is second IN command under General Terry lie
immediate command OF the twelve companies
of the Seventh cavalry and the detachment Indian
scouts strange 1t may unm,ltary ears, It
that Is tho rs. instance nineteen years. OK
ccpt during the war; OF entire regiment OF cavalry
serving together in command
THE LINCOLN
to this point has been an almost due direction
and for the benefit those whose geographical know
ledge may require brushing up our present location
may be given about miles south Of the forty
seventh degree OF latitude and midway between the
103d and 10llh nerdians
Thus far progress has been almost unmarked by
any incident evidence going show that We are in
hostile country in country inhabited by hostile In
dams. In tact,
THE TRACES INDIANS
thus far discovered been and ndstinct that
If We had other facts 10 Judge we might regard
the rcd man having belonged 10 prc-existcnt race
Twice only have hunting parties accidentally come across
the half expiring cmbcrs OF small fires which had
evidently been built by small parties OF Indians
within easy watching distance OF our camp. These
parties evidently being engaged In observing our move
menis but to this date not Indian has been secn
anything Indicate are TO be favored with
asght Of even o. these brooch cIoulcd warriors
The country over viii ch wc havo pasead - MA an
tirely unknown, course having led us along
tho surveyed line Of the Northern Pacific Railroad
THE scgxERy,
while partakIng OF the general character Of that OF
tho Plans, sufficiently prevent mono ony
Here and there threaded way lcsurcy across
the green grassy surface could spy in The distance
rising mp Ike ship upon the bosom OF tho
ocean, and projecting Itself against the hori-
zon. . high hall or succession OF hills, serv-