New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-15
THE SIOUX WAR
GEN CROOKS MARCH.

DISAPPEARANCE OF THE LARGE INDIAN iAhib-
RATIoNs FOR THREE DAYS LEFr-THE MARCH
TO THE BLACK HILLS BEGUN.
FrRoM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSsl
CAMP ON LITTLE Missouri, d. T., Sept. A.
The information doubtless TO you that when Gen.
Crook left his wagon camp on Tongue River 81 days
ago. he purposed following the fleeing Sioux Indians until
he overlook them ascerained their destination; ana
that II they broke up parties Of smaller SIZE he
would break up his column and still follow them
He determined to push ahead TO accomplish
that purpose IL he had to +" live on mule
meat" These were his words when he started
Originally the pack trains were large enough to supply
the command with provisions for twenty days march,
but the addition of 9th Cavalry and four companies
of infantry almost doubled the demands upon that i'm
portant arm of the service; that it is only by packing
four DAYS rations on the cavalry horses that fifteen days
provisions can carried for this command The entlrc
command ia now 20 miles from Fort Buford, on the
YellowstOne 125 miles from Fort Lincoln, on the MIS-
souri, or $50 miles the Black Hills settlements
and only three days rations are left The wagon
train is $50 miles away, II it is in existence
Gen. Terry and Gen. Crook separated on Aug. 90 the
latter taking the south side of the Yellowstone on the
line of the old TRAIL and Gen. Terry the wagon ROAD
across the Yellowstone Terry expected to put his
infantry and march his cavalry down the north
side Of the river far as Gendive Creek That Is the
last we have heard Of his force.
place searching country pretty thoroughly for signs
of hostile Indians On Sept. 2, at Beaver Creek,
branch Of this stream Crook became satisfied that the
sayages had scattered but still heading this way
and he sent note for Gen. Terry at Glendye Creek 10
that effect and marched on here, where the iran
appears more broken up than ever though In some par
tcuars more fresh. For instance, last evening, late,
small hand of scouts under Rchaud and or eight
Sioux came together and exchanged Shots the former
killing one pony There is plain evidence OF party OF
Sioux Of $50 lodges having been here within the past
two days Their trail leads south, or uo the river Alto
gethcr the situation Gen. Crook seems unsatisfactory
He talks Of sending courier to Fort Lincoln tomorrow,
and It is believed II this IL DONE that the pack train VIII
follow next day from the head Of Heart River for ra
tons but how the troops will snbsis in the mean time
remains to be seem II the scouts report Indian trails
tending south IL Is unlikely that the Black Hs VIII
be the destination OF the expedition Unless II DO iound
that the Indians surrendered In large numbers at
the agencies this is but tho beginning Of the end THIS
leads to the conclusion that two departments OF the
army should have consolidated and the department
OF the Yellowstone created the Platte department
ought to have extended az least TO the Yellowstone
River which Is the natural base OF supplies OF cam
papu against the hostile Sioux. Gen. Crooks operations
have all been outside Of his department 80 Iar
The troops Of this command and all connected with II
have already suffered considerably account OF limited
bedding clothing, &c. Cool nights have prevailed In
terspersed with good many wet ones. Fortunately the
members OF the expedition were only drenched win I'D
but one night since leaving the Yellowstone Today now
ever cold set in, and II promises TO hold out
Many OF the left their overcoats In the wagon ran
and nearly every OF the command brought no chahge
Of Undertaking. and soap 10 wash what they had.
There il less sickness than ten days and the com
mand il In good health The diet Of bacon and hard tack
and sugar and coffee IL monoonous aud most every one
says hunger Is not appeased thereby however uch
he may eat. The soldiers there Is dspToporohae
amount of hard bread-not enough Tor the bacon-and
that the army board should remedy the matter The
Little Missouri Valley plcases ALL a. there Is large
ouaptity OF ripe choke cherries and buffalo
barries-the latter not unlike red currans IN
looks aud tastc-and big mess Of these things VIII serve
10 fend of scuryy, which occasionally crops out Inc
pasturagr Is all the horses and mules could DESIRE and
40 far as that Is cuncern been all the time through
40 called d" had landso and all Wood Is not always
pentifu or convenient; the main streams there IL
no nartieular want. The Indians had burned the
grass east Powder River for fifty mies ana as VIDE as
Tho eve could see. Doubtless they Thought no troops
would follow them II may be useless To speculate upon
WHY the Indians fed but IL Is reasonable TO presume
was not because OF lack OF food much a. to avoid
agbt with so large body OF troops. In the light OF
present Indications march OF Gen. Terry and Gen
Crook in company was the farce of faces The Sioux
possess about four fighting men In comparison
with this expedition and the choice OF ground ana nav
ing this advantage, except that complete surprise nc
is too extensive AMI valuable TO be gwen over longer 10
such a worthless set OF yagabonds as the Sioux.
IPosIscRIrTl
HEADwATERs HEART RIVER, Oak, Sept o-Aiter q
long and dis1greeable march from the ltte missouri
through cold drizze, the Kaleidoscope campaign has
taken another turn This column has swung around the
circle 40 far since Aug ., 200 miles Now Gen. Crook
has deed led 70 20 10 the settlements OF the Black HIS
and this morning the orders went out 10 20 on hair
ratiops This would give the command six days SUD
stence and Il ought not require more than day or
two longer 10 reach supplies OF kind with the game
that NAV be killed on the way. All the Indian signs lead
10 the conclusion that they have scattered In the direction
OF the Hills and may be lowering about and hariss
ing the people there, that the situation
usthes Gen Crook In taking this step To go to Lincoln
and march back again, either taking the pack train OF
sending Il thther and awaiting its return VIII Involve
more hardshps than will be encountered In marching 10
the Hills Meantime word will be sent to Fetternan Tor
the wagon train as rapidly s possible IRON OIu
Reno by the route toward custer Clty II psu
Cronl falg 10 meet the enemy the march, II IL MS
uurpose ~ return late In the Fall HIS command can be
divided into three effective columns, ana oy marching
scattered bands ana iu1ict some punishment lhe
Indians glide over these grassy meadows ana leave pc
hind them as few as Mother Cafys chlcRens on
the ocean. They YeFtable children 81 the lllst,
AbOut o'clock party OF twenty or thirty sioux were
discovered 20 right by some OF the scouts iheie
about ten warriors the rest Wee women anu UI,
soon out OF range although IL ~ reported thhI L.dle
Bat OF the scouts shot one OF tue warriOrs lie
direction OF savagcs 20 cOufrm tue general I'M
nrcssion of their scattering toward the Black HIS
with a good base OF supplies on tue leuo"stone ihu
ample force end the SoHX war before next sprlng
or Summer But for the present lhiB cOhlihanu WIZ
"pee down for the HIS aud be of early tomorrow.
GEN. sUERIDAN'S MOVEMENTS.