The New York herald., 1876-09-30
Crooks Failure to Meet with
Terry's Forces.
MYSTERIOUS MANGUvRING.
a Detailed Account of the Movements
of the Army.
CLOSING CHAPTERS OF THE CAMPAIGN.


stopping at Philadelphia to take hasty farewell of my
wife, proceeded via Chicago and ST. Paul to Bismarck,
where purchased an OUTFIT, pony and pack mule.
At that time there was certainty TO where the
army was II had LETT the Rosebud and news had
been received of its movements. determined to 60
mp the Yellowstone as far as ! could by boat and
then take to the country with my pony
and pack mule. l took the Josephine
the evening of the 18th of August and started
on our journey in company with another boat, the
Yellowstone General Wister our boat with
two companies OF infantry and another on the Yellow
stone. His the my own, to learn
the whereabouts of the army, II possible join It.
We moved up he river as far as Fort Buord, where
arrived on the 18th There learned that the In
dams had fred into the boat which ahead OF
few miles below Buford, on The Missouri River. There
was great excitement among the people there They
had run oil woodchoppers' stock and created
great alarm Nothing could be learned Of the where
abouts OF the army hero The first got
was the goth, when met some
half dozen soldiers in a small boat, from whom
learned that Terry's entire command ut or near
the mouth of the Powder River within twenty miles
OF us. This was good news, and we ict well over it.
but things changed when learned further that both
sdes OF the river were lined with Indians They had
not however, fired into the soldiers We continued
our journey without disturbance and tied up that night
without any preparations for defence except tempo
rary guard protect the pilot 1t fortunate
thought for bullet aiterward struck the pilot house
and would have killed him but for the protection it
afforded. The next morning got shore
10 follow some deer that had run to
IN island. and found fresh Indian
trails Coming out Of tho timber went the open
sand bar, and got there just in time vocy
fired the Yellowstone from the opposite side of
the river. She about quarter OF mile from
boat, and coming toward u.s. was directly in range
OF tho firing from the other shore, and could the
bullets skipping along the water She moro than
eighty hundred yards from the shore, and could
see the smoke curling up from the high blun banks OF
tho river Other Indians We're discovered little fur
ther below and tho Josephine. ran to the brush
and made my way hurriedly back to her There
SO much noise and hustle board that they had
not heard the firing. On my way
Indians side of the river and had to hasten for
fear being or Just as got aboard the Yellow
stone up nssde OF US and reported what had
happened There man lying dead on her deck,
and several bullets had passed through her The In
dsus soon made their appearance again on the blum
immedi tey opposite, not than 800 yards OF and
sent volley into them from both boa,s that drove
them oil. No more OF them were seen on our sde and
hasty hrelstworks thrown up around the boats
W sad no means OF estimating their numbers. Two
more at ume might be seen riding, aud head or
two would look out over bank, but that waa
all some of the soldiers reported that they saw
Later reports showed that large village had been
canpcd behind the bluG We remained behind for
three .our hours, III all OF them had disappeared,
and IL steamed up the river short distance aud
campeG or tho night The next morn ng, SIX or eight
miles further up the river, we picked up a wounded
man and n small boat lying on the shore. The man
bleeding and exhausted. he was barely able TO
TEL he story, and proved 10 be dsserter from Terrys
command lie and u companion deserted together,
and the evening before became separated in chase by
some Indians During the night he returncdto find his
friend when he body ped and pieces
10 I'D
from Terrys old camp near the mouth OF the Powder
River she reported that Crook had LETT the day be-
fore and Terry that day, moving southerly drec
ton Dispatches were at once sent from our boat to
Terry. lie reported back. ordering all further move
mems OF boats and wagons stopped His command
up the next day, the 24ih and crossed over TO
us Crook in the meantime Was to follow the man
toward tho Lltle Missouri Alter remaining two
days in camp Terrys command marched OF nearly
northwest from the Yellowstone River, and, after
making big delour. arrived again at Glen Dive,
the river about nalf way between Buiord and the
mouth OF tue Powder River, expecting to meet Crook
there or encounter the lndiars he might drive to
the Yellowstone. Colonel Rice, who was in
trenched at Glen Dive, reported that no Indians had
been for several days and nothing had been heard
Of Crook, who we confidently expected 10 meet We
remained several days In camp but could learn nothing
OF him Colonel Reno took command and commenced
march down tho Yellowstone, with the general under
standing that We were gong to Buiord Terry
and his stan, after remaining with US during the hrst
uay's march, went by boat When within thirty
five miles Of Buiord courier reached us with de-
spalches that the hostile Indians were crossing the
Missouri VOLTS Point about $50 miles northwest
otus We turned aud marched aher them. When
within nity miles of the place turned to the
and went the rest Of the way by IL, arriving at
Wolf Point about eighteen miles below Fort Peck, after
hard march Two miles below W of Point We found
fresh trails and bull boats which the Indians had used
for crossing the river The boats had been taken back
the from which they crossed and le here rs II
others expected TO follow About halt mile
farther below, before 30 the boats and trais,
Indians appeared on shore and made signs OF
peace. They said they saw the large moving column
and came TO see what u was tearing
were hosties and IN that case not wishing 10 let
They were, doubt, runners for the hostes
spy out our movements, because runners leit Ba-
ford the moment movements became known there.
They uns uccessluly pursued by lieutenant and
two scouts, aud the two We met were very hkey from
Buford. From traders and friendly Indians at
VOLTS Point we found that Long Dogs band OF twenty
three lodges had crossed the river several days before
aud making Tor Cypress Mountain, near the Can
ada line. Thcy acknowledged at Wofs Point that at
time were SO close 10 Them that they we're COM
PEELED y with bare ponies and guns, leaving every
thing else behind them When found out this u con-
frinea a belief had al time that we were near
them While making the detour 10 Glen Dve
head of moving bunaloes
and began a promlscuons firing on them. An old
Montana scout named White and myself won't oil some
distance to have shot by ourselves. Pretty soon !
took down COW and calf at about 100 yards range
and WAS about TO SO aud secure some OF the meat
when ! became suspicious, Tor what reason could
hardly say but taking glass, saw two spccSs on
White what thought and he stood guard wnio ran
IL secure some Of tie meat which was determined 10
hurying back, found the Two specks had
disappeared Ins convinced me | was right
and We Mastered 10 JOIN the command ihey
had moved some distance but mounting hHl, we
caught sight OF the column aud made Tor u with all
speed Al oicer who, ike ourselves, bad been some
distance from the column saw two Indians riding
GDout II ~e had fred upon them when We saw them
We would only be blamed tor disturbing friendly In
dams frightening hostiles away; couldn't do
anything. Tho ndiansuwhcn they arrived at VOLTS
Poat, we're well armed, but evidently short OF am
nuni,oh. They refused any supplies, and said
they would 20 where they could get them. Sioux
agent who wished their camp on forcupne Creek, not
lar from VOLTS PonI, reported them a. very bold and
inpudeut They searched his belt for ammunition and
offered TO trade pony for 100 rounds They furtser
promised TO return ia tho spring when they would
have fresh supplies, and Gght the soldiers plenty"
Tho with tbem number OF cavalry pistols,
suCh used by CGsers men, and which tney
wtre ANXIOUS TO trade OF as they had no ammunition
Tor HON The follow No incid nj Will show how bod