The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-27

The Hide and Seek for Sitting Bull.
The letter which we publish to-day from
the camp of General Terry, on the Yellow
stone River, dated June II, will be found full
of interest to the general reader, and OF great
value to those who have followed the course
of the contending forces in this new Indian
war, as developed in the dispatches OF q
week past 1t, however, leaves, we are sorry
to say, no certainty that the War Department
plan for the punishment of the hostile Sioux,
headed by Sitting Bull, will be crowned
with success in the near future. The columns
headed by Generals Gibbon and Terry
have formed a junction, as we surmised, on
the Yellowstone. and will henceforth CO.
operate. But before we examine the plan OF
operations, which have by this time probably
been carried out, it is necessary to recall
some events, Of which General Terry has,
we suppose, remained in Ignorance until
perhaps day or two ago.
The battle in which General Crooks forces
received complete check on the 18th inst.
Creek, or about seventy miles from the yell
lowstone River. The forces of Terry and
Gibbon were encamped on the 18th, the
former on the right bank of the Yellowstone,
at the mouth of Powder River, and the latter
on the left bank, at the mouth Of Tongue
River. These positions are respectively
about fifty and eighty miles from the mouth
of Rosebud Greek, on which river there is
now no doubt the great Indian village of
Sitting Bull was situated up to the time of
the battle with Crook. The retreat of Crook
southwark after the battle left Sitting Bull
free to choose the future seat of his opera
tions, making him very unknown guam
tity" indeed. The plan of General Terry in
volving delay of a week in sending scout
ing party of six companies of cavalry and
Gatling gun on search for Indians
where they are not likely to be met in force,
is very regrettable with our present intelli-
gence, but probably commended itself TO
that commander from the fear of leaving the
valleys of two considerable streams IN
searched. This scout would not allow
General Terry to put his main plan in action
before the 10Th inst, by which time Sitting
Bull had probably got well out of his
way. We should, indeed, much prefer this
to have taken place than that the redoubt-
able Indian, with his three thousand war
riors posted in chosen position, should fall
in with either of the flying columns into
which Terry proposed to split up his COM
mand and seek the Indians on the Rosebud,
although one was to be led by the gallant
Custer. Custer, with nine companies, after
scouting up Tongue River, was to strike across
country to the Rosebud, where, about the
21st, he would first learn of the fight of the
18th. Terry, with seven companies was to
march to meet Custer, and if they have sue
oeeded in making junction there will be
some chance of coping successfully with
Sitting Bull should they strike his trail
Until we learn the result of the splitting
of Terry's command we must await the
news with anxiety, not unmingled with
trepidstion. When Crook, with thirteen hun
dred men, was unable to follow up fight
with Sitting Bull we may well be anxious
over the fate of either of Terry's detach-
ments, numbering less than seven hundred
men, if they should meet the Sioux single
handed. If Crook, with even his pres
emit forces, could be sent forward to the sup
port of Custer and Terry it might, although
still at great risk, end the difficulty. Rein
swiftly hurried forward.