The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-06-29
THE INDIAN WAR.
Desperate Battle Between Gen. Crooks
Command and Sitting Bulls Warriors
Numerous Casualties on Both Sides.
BIG RoRN EXPEDITION, IN CAMP on

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ROSEBUD CREEK, NJ. T., June II,
via FORT FETTERMAN, June %, 1876.
On the morning of June Is, Gen.
Crooks entire command, except about
100 men, under Mai. Furey, Qu4rtermas-
ter, and Capt. Russell, Chief of Trans
portation, left the wagon train
IN camp on Goose creek, Wyoming
Territory, to strike the Sioux In
dians, supposed to be on the Yellowstone
river, near the mouth of Rosebud creek.
They made forced march yesterday of
forty miles and camped In the fork of
the Rosebud last night. Fresh Indian
signs were discovered by our guides and
the Grows and Shoshones with the ex-
petition, but no Sioux were seen. This
morning we broke camp at an early hour
and moved down the Rosebud five or six
miles, where we made halt. Several
small bands of Sioux stumbled on our
scouts, and shots were exchanged, but
without injury to either. Below, where
the command halted, the creek valley
narrowed, and around where the troops
rested were high bluffs that command
ed the stream and surrounding uplands.
When the firing began, only lew Sioux
we're in sight but few minutes Later
the ravines and heights on the left bank
of the Rosebud were swarming with In
dams.
At $50 o'clock the engagement COM
menced, and continued with varying i'll
tensity until after 1 in the afternoon.
The attacking force came charging
down the heights and ravines IN front
and or both tanks before it was appre-
ciated that Sitting Bulls warriors were
within a mile Of the command. For q
time it was believed the firing was from
Grows and Shoshones, our allies and
scouts, as they had been hunting good
deal, and such firing was not unusual on
the march. The charge OF the Sioux,
who appeared on every knoll, was
checked by skirmishers, cavalry and
infantry, who moved out to the left
center and right center, while Grows
and Shoshones, especially the latter,
made a gallant Charge on the right
and succeeded in turning the tide that
threatened to annihilate the entlEe COM
mand. The fusilading became general,
the Sioux firing volley after volley into
the troops, and then disappearing only
to reappear at some other point. The
cavalry not engaged in the first skirnlsh
were ordered to horse and made gal
liant charge CT over mile, in which they
tiislodged the attacking force and drove
them from their best offensive and de-
fensive position without loss to the
troops, except a few men slightly
wounded, while several Sioux were OBJ
served to tumble from their ponies, but
were carried from the field.
This fine charge was made by bat
TALON of the Third Cavalry under Col.
Mills, and consisted of the following
companies and officers Company A,
Lieut.. Joseph Lawson company E,
Capt. Alexander Sutorious and Lieut..
Won Lrlitturtz, Capt. Andrews and Lieut..
Foster, and company NJ, Lieut.. Au-
gustus @. Paul and Lieut.. Frederick
Schwatka. This dash sent the Sioux IN
disorder from position from which, if it
had been held, they could have raked
the troops and their Indian allies. On
reaching these hills the companies were
advanced as skirmishers, and made the
temperature too high for even Sitting
Bulls forces. It was evident at this
stage of the fight that the Indians
were endeavoring to divert the attention
of the command from some object,
when some of the scouts came Oh the
field and pointed to where the Sioux vii
lagos were located. The infantry, under
command of Col. Chambers, did some
excellent skirmishing at long range, and
the other troops not enumerated were
either skirmishing on the right or held
as reserves. The Grows and ShoshOnes
we're in front of the right, and succeeded
in annoying and diverting the Sioux dur
ing the progress of the battle. While
the engagement was attracting attention
in the center and left center of Col.
Mills battalion, all but Company |
were ordered to make retrograde
and, in conjunction
with Company B, Capt. Mein.
hold, and part of Capt. Noyes' battalion
of the Second Cavalry, to march rapidly
for the Sioux village, supposed to be a
few miles distant. While en- route
through Deadwood canon, the order
was countermanded, and the troops re-
turned to the original theater OF the
strife, where the hardest fighting OF the
day was in progress. After run OF
about seven miles, and the dlsappolnt-
ment OF not discovering the Y1Ilage, we
and found the battle over, the
Sioux retiring, and the field in posses
sion of our troops.
Sitting Bulls force is estimated at not
less than 1900. All were well armed
and equipped, and bold in their attack
to desperation. They were favored
in the selection of the field
by their knowledge of the coun-
try and overpowering numbers. Their |
arms were fine, long-range rifles, and
their ponies the feetest. The Grows |
and Snakes were active throughout the |
fight, and carried off twelve or thirteen
3calps. The battle is summed up as fol- |
ows: We lost ten killed, four mortally |
one officer and ten men dan
yerously wounded and about thirty
slightly wounded. Lost sixteen horses