The New York herald., 1876-07-12
EXPERIENCE OF A VETERAN.

fFrom tho ST. Louis Republican, July 81
Republican -eportv called Colonel Nelson Cole
to learn his tnrcgaid the Custer massacre,
and the Sioux country IN the Powder river and Big
Horn region, OF which be has had q sad experience
II is known few forgotten by many more that
Colonel Cole led military expedition into that coun.
try and the starvation aod privaton endured by his
men has not been exceeded the celebrated sx-
pedi.ion of Aruold up the head waters the Kenne-
beck and the Chaudierre through the wilderness Of
Name and Canada to Quebec whcre for days the only
subsistence soup made from the leather Of the
soldiers shoes. Colonel Cole In 1865 commanded the
right column Of what 10 known the Powder
Indian expedition and his report which is inbued with
. detail OF
ruRIILNc HORRORS
the march and Indian battles mover saw the light,
and owing the overshadowng battles OF the reoel.
msn, whsrr 4 sill sumSers Colonel Cole !" now
engaged In an absorbing pursuit, employing large
force Of hands ana reporter had TO wait until his
return visit to bank where he has daily
actions, before he could gain short interview Colonel
Coles expedition among tho Sioux bands the
largest and he penetrated their country farthest
OF any commander years before Co cral Harney
thrashed out the Sioux Al Ash Hollow, but that battle
ground within the limits OF civilization, and but
. short distance north Of the Platte RIVER Military
surveys had been made across the country by Lieu
tenants Reynolds and Warren, and General Sully al
forced to dsbsnd his men and return TO the MS
River without accomplishing the objects Of his
expedition
THE RxpRDrrfoS
Colonel Colo, at the head OF his column, composed OF
his regiment Of light artillery. mounted and equipped
cavalry, and eight companies OF the Twelfth Mis-
cavalry numbering ali 500 men, started from
Franklin out IN the Pacific Railroad aud left Omaha
on the LIST OF July. Tho command marched up tho
Platte 10 the mouth Of the Loupe Fork thence across
the plains up the latter Its head. Then crossed
the Niobrari, The White Earth and Little Missouri
rivers skirtsd the eastern base VI the Black Hills,
where hs vas ioinsd By the csltrs column, composed
OF . Kansas regsmsnt from Fort Laramie. who came
onel Colo assumed command Of both columns The
command then struck north westwardly the Bad
Lands 70 the valley Of shs Powder River and sending
ders under which they acted from General Dodge then
commander Of the Missouri Department, at 81 Louis
was 20 XII every male Indian over twelve years OF age
II is well to bear In mind that Dodge had been and
was subscQuent TO the Of the States, chief en-
gincer Of .he Union Pacific Railroad which was in
tested by the Sioux and n was important TO him 10
feed them, and they had 10 feed grass 2f browse
on willows and cottonwood. They soon tel I'm tho
in the iastnesses bordering the Powder u1rsue and
Big Horn rivers On the bth o. septsmbt knnsy had
oee "a. .sss ssa's, ss. q s.s:
s1Ied xiii and the estimated loss Of the enemy 700 70
commenced With one company Of the Twelfth cavalry.
which had crossed the river and were met w The In
dians and driven back into tho river The Indians
pressed forward in mass and meantime two eompa-
MES with section OF artillery which had been posted
in the timber, opened nre 90 she Indians At short
ranks The river bottom vas covered With their
dead skirmishing continued ali day. and %
the stn tnere was another sevsp engage
ment Meantime shs command was dfivsn 70
the extreme OF starvation. For vSo ve<gs the
men had 20 subsist on the flesh Of their hor&cs aud
mules The weather became intensely eold, apd one
night norther struck them. freezing 70 death 100
horses and mules The fcsh Afforded subsisterce TO
the mcr and subsequently. as they moved forward.
they killed fresh horses as needed. which saved the
men from starvation until they reached Fort Reno
They were IN the old Grow reservation. In the immc-
date vicinity of tho present Indian hosttscs bed By
Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull
Colonel Cole says tho country Is worthless ahd bar
rem With the exception Of the narrow valcys on the
streams Regarding the disaster Gener Cus\cr. ne
L. oil opinion from reading the accounts Custer
underrnied his opponents and struck . camp nilcd
with ~arr ors wnen he ouiy expected 10 lack an
dinary Indian village. composed the ord AIRY pdpu
lation
Colonel Cole says that he would no, be surpriscd
that this will lead 10 regular Indian var. and that
We shall next hear that the exasperated sioux have
swept through the mining camps Of the Black HiA