The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-06
RATTLE OF THE ROSEBUD.
rrII DET4TLs OF GEN CROOK'S
rom WITH THE SIOUX.

v.,lev ot the x MISUNDERSTANDING from Crest
q. crest How the Crows aud snakes
Fousht-A Desperate War on Our Hands
C,Mp Sorru FORK, TONGUE RIVER, w.
p June l9-On the morning Of the 10th Inst
,bs ntire command Of fifteen companies Of cav
.ry and 1--WE Of infantry, mounted upon PACK
mules. with about two hundred and ATTY Crow
and sn Ike Indl ms and detachment OF the pack
,rs org nized as special scouts and sharpshoot-
arr, under chief Packer Moore, In all, shout
tbnteen hundred men, left this camp aud
marched about thlrty-nve OF forty miles to the
Rosebud river In Montana.
while EN- route several large herds Of buffalo
we're seen; and "a they appeared TO be driven,
our Indians concluded that they were being
hunted by Sioux. They halted Immediately,
nd began their war dance and song while sew
waI braves were dispatched to scout and ascer-
tain II the enemy was near. They returned
pnortly, and reported signs Of tipt so fresh as
70 indi ate that our api roach had been discov-
ued by Its occupants, ana that they h d fed
orecipit ltcly. Buffalo met was upon the fire,
burnt TO crisp.
Upon receipt 81 this intelligence dance and
song were az In in ORDER and the mettle of war
ponies was tested before we could persu'de
them to resume the march. Nothing further
hapueniug n nun Der Of bun 10 were killed. nj
camp titc1ed IN the shane OF Hollow
sou &c IT the Rosebud. We carried tour dNs'
cooked rations upon our horses. and were AZ
lowed no other transport ation-co ffespondents
hring in respect to b. gage the same ~ tue
ire 10 ,-,-,. -- - ,,-,
IN TO the couu and reported fresh sisns OF
Sioux, and, aw lung additional intelligence. he
Command. when II d been marching down the
X sebud. was permitted to halt and unsadde
upou its banks. white the Indians dan ed and
sung themselves into uroper condition Of
bsliig renew Perhaps thirty minu - ell psed,
when We were suddenly alarmed 10y the report
o. sever FIRE rms, at which both Crows and
Snakes dashed vi Idly AN with yells ~ den nee
40 the neighhorins hills. The packers " ere sent
fOrw I'd. and the infantry and comp MES OF the
Second Cav. lr,, deoioyed IA line Ut skrmisi ers:
n, we'd ra toy to the front. The companies Of
The lhird Cavalry, having been elaved Dy cross
Ing the river. and finding themselves already
under fire from the adj cent cfests. deployed
and charged, oriving the Sioux before them.
SEVERE FIGHTING.
The highest ridge now occupied bv the
Ind MS Our line comprised Capt Nili-'s tat
n yes's battalion, Second Cavalry, upon the
rsht centre. the Infantry under Major Cham
GU led the left centre with which we're Gen.
Gro and ST o. and Capt. Henry's battalion,
THIRD valry with which we've Lieut.-Col
Royal and ST ~, the extreme left: sever-l
com pdries Of the third Cavalry had been or
iered TO mold some Bluffs ON the south side Of
The river. but being recalled. were sent to
nrengtnen the centre, being under the imme-
date command Il Major Evans. Third Cavalry
of course the different portions OF our line were
more or lie $ advanced At first the fghting was
most severe az the centre but the Sioux giving
say. occupied commanding points of the main
very heavy IRE. Col. Royal had inst uctions to
push forward slowly, as Capt Noyes would
charee the sioux upon their left Hank, awaiting
which movement he occupied ridge almost
parallel 10 aud nearest that origin Nv IN the pos
nh manGuvre which placed us under an en-
iladng hre, which was checked by brilliant
lharge with platoon Of his company by Lieut.
Foster I'd Cavalry. He was. however. forced
iorrtre ~ overwhelming numbers, a liue Of
kirmshers being RAPIDLY de loyed to cover his
eturn and oppose further progress upon our
Meanwhile Gen. Crook had received informa-
81 Capts. Moves aud Mills were despatcued to
q supposed site. our infantry and Indians held
N check. and tue lett ordered to with Iraw-tne
object being to move with our entire force upon
HE village. Nothng had been accomplished by
,ur repeated charges beyond driving the Sioux
rom one crest TO Immediately reappear upon
he next Casualties ensued among tb-m, of
,ourse, as with Us; out beyond a probably con
inued equalization Of them, nothing further
vas TO tie gained. We had won crest, but
40 especial advantage was TO be obtained by &C.
TERRIBLE FIRE.
In obedience to Instructors. Col. ROYAL now
ordered ClYt. Henrys battalion to retire upon
Gen. Crook, the men being dismOunted and
their horses led from one crest To the next and
under shelter, their wlthd rawa bsiLg constantly
covered by a line OF skrmishers gradually retir-
lng. Il Al the moment this movement was com
menced. the sioux tppeared to construe II into
areire I, aud doubtless supposed they had iu-
ridge, rock, md sage bush they poured upon
these Tour companies. encountered with led
horses, most CALLING IRE. They were IN front,
In rear. and upon both tanks. They seemed to
spring up IN tantan-ously and BY magic. Our
casualties mad been comparai i,ely slight before,
but now they were quadrupled IN a very short
time. The ground traversed WAS such that IL
wa, IMPOSSIBLE 10 withdraw aud Protect such
Col. Royal therefore sent his Adjntant TO Cen
Crook requesting assistance tut before II was
furnis perceiving the terrible fire to which his
men were eNIOseu ana having only single brook
although wide and deep and difficult Of passage
10 cross, he gave orders to mount and u0sh
rapidly over this obstruction. Promptly as his
bis commands were obeyed i've men fell dead
and as many wounded before the opposite slope
was reached. In the confusion several led
horses unfortunately csc ped and gaoped M
the bill leaving their owners dismounted at Its
companies Of infantry had been directed TO oc-
cupy an adj cent crest, which they reached in
time to prevent any fnutilition or scalping II
the dead by tie lna aus and To save the wound
ed from such fate. About two hundred Sioux
swarmed in the rayine. Many Of them APP
peered TO be without ammunition for they used
bows and arrows and spears. One Of the wound
Cd, VINO SUI sequently recovered, relates a
SD tale. Separated from Their horses ana sad
die pouches in which their extra ammunition
was carried. and that In their pelts having be-
come exhausted. several Of them, led by Sergt
MAI hal 4 Conf any i, Third Cavalry, dubbed
tueiT caroines and fought bravely unil the last.
FATE OF YOUNG RECRUIT.
One poor wretch-a young recruit-with an in
sane IDEA Of salvation OF because he preferred
fatal bullet from MS own piece to the torture Of
being uierced 10y spears aud arrows, calmly sur
reLuer"d TAI, cariine, handing II to the nearest
BIO =, ana inut Ciately his skull was broken by
oloN from losued whip or tomthawk. Capt.
Guy '. H-hiN, who tad constantly exposed MS
HE during tue preceding h-ht, and who was
prevented ltr -adier-GeneTai during the rebel
non Tor lianiry, now fell with bullet through
his Jaws. lac wa assisted upon his horse and,
WIN "Reminiscences against leaving his men,
hurried IRON the held. Inc last 10 come up the
slope was Lieut.-CO. Royal # the 1nird Cayal-
~ an old soldier OF the Mexican war who has
since seen Z nstant and nara service in our
ARM, Principally upon the iron ier ii rode
10 the mn calmly aud without DrecipitatiOn,
ue outlets Whlstiing around him and raising a
elouC ui aust ABOUT himself aud morse. He was,
81 course chaerintd al surl an uufortuaie issue
10 us WITHDRAWAL; but he oleyed MS instruc-
tons under vcry difficult circumstances. And
10 go lu-ttuclnu were doubtless the only ones
lnai -hould nave hern giv. q al the time The
r. uN hiu evidently uadr every eYerttun 10 cut
on dui annihi ate lis battalion; md after Wit
e,-Iug It's escape from s.cI f.te, tley quickly
feured.
C.uts Moves and Mis- meanwhile haa rereiy-
81 orders to return, as Gen. truok feared That
4 lfle4 from the REMAND Of the command.
they, too would be uverw helmed uY superior
nIubtr-. The lnulans were not believed until
then to be IN such large force but the com
tHu1 teilg once more as embed, the m Tcu
upNi {. Village was resumed for the distance
vi several ulr-, Here, however, the ground
b"H me- -H tuu"n brO ken, that its rayincs doubt
Ie'r cIns Oil ed and it, lodges lined with sioux,
o4r guIr, Fr Ia Gpnlrd assured Gen. Crook
INA IFS pa,ad-e duung the day would be tm-