The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-07-10

cry of gold on the western border of the
Sioux reservation aud the intrusion of cur
people thereon have
NOT CAUSED THIS WAR,
and have only complicated it by uncertain
ty of the numbers to be encountered.
The young warriors love war, and fire.
quently escape their agents to go on the
hunt or war path, their only idea of the
object of lfe The object of these military
expeditions was 10 the interest OF the
peaceful sort of the Sioux nation, sup
posed to embrace at least nine tehths Of
the whole. and not one OF these peaceful
treaty Indians has been moleeted by the
military authorities. The recent reports
touching the disaster which befel part of
the 7th regular cavalry, led by Gen Gus
ter in person, are believed to be true.
For some reason as yet unexplained, Gen.
Custer, who commanded the eth cavalry
and had been detached by his commander.
Gen. Terry, at the mouth of the Rosebud
to make wide det0ur up the Rosebud, IA
tributary to the Yellowstone, across to the
Little Horn and down it to the mouth of
the Big Horn, the place agreed on for
meeting, attacked en- route a large Indian
village with only part of his force, hav-
ing himself detached the rest with view
to intercept the expected retreat of the
savages aud experienced
AN UTTER ANNIHILATIoN OF HIS MINED
late COMMAND.
The forces of Gen. Terry and Gibbons
reached the field Of battle next day. and
rescued 80 wounded men, buried 26l dead
men, including Lieut. Col Geo. A. Custer,
Caps. Custer, keogh, Yates, Lieuts. Cook,
Smith, Mcintosh, Calhoun, Hodgson, Rem
ley, Porter, Sturges, all of the eth cavalry,
and Lieut.. Crittenden, of the Goth infantry;
Lieut.. Harrington, Assistant Surgeon
Lord, and Acting Assistant Surgeon De-
Wolf are missing. The wounded were
carried back to the mouth of the Big Horn,
in the Yellowstone, which is navigable,
and where were two steamboats,, one OF
which was sent down the river to Fort Abe
Lincoln with the wounded and to com
municate the sad facts. Gen. Terry is
therefore at the mouth of the Big Horn,
reftting, and will promptly receive
reintorcements aud supplies, and will re-
sumo his operations Immediately. In the
meantime Gen. Crook has also advanced
from Fort Fettermen, and on the 18th of
June, eight days before Gen. Clusters at
tack, had encountered this same force OF
warriors on the head of Rosebud, with
whom he fought several hours, driving the
Indians from the field, losing nine men
killed, one officer ard twenty men wounded.
Gen. Crook reports his camp as on Tongue
river, Wyoming.
REINFORCENIENTS AND SUPPLIES
are also en- route to him, and every posi-
bic means have been adopted to accom-.
plish a concert Of action between these two
| forces which are necessarily separated, and
are only able to communicate by immense
distances around by their rear. The task
committed to the military authorities is
one of unusual difficulty, has been antici
pated for years, aud must be met and &C
cOmplished. 1t can no longer be delayed
aud everything will be done by the depart
ment to insure the success which is neces
sary to give even an assurance of compare
tive safety to important but scattered in
terests which have grown up in remote
and almost inaccessible portions of oul
national domains 1t is again earnestly
recommend that the appropriation asked
for repeatedly by Gen Sheridan Of 5000 00(
be made to build two posts on the Yellow
stone. at or near the mouth Of Big Horn
and Tongue rivers.
Enclosed please find copies Of Gen
Terry's report, just received by telegram
since the preparation of this letter. You
Obedieut servant.
J. D. CAMERON, Secretary of War.