The New York herald., 1876-11-09
ON THE YELLOWSTONE.

EscoRTIxG coNvoYs THROUGH THE INDIAN
SHIPS OF THE SOLDIERS LIFE Ao0RA.
vArKD BY WANT or FORESIGHT ON THE
PART OF THE AUTHORITIES
CAxr NEAR GLEsprvx CREEK NJ. TIL
Oct IL, 1876.
A wagon train OF nearly 100 wagons. accompanied by
an escort OF tnroe companies OF the Twen,y-second
infantry and Company OF the Seventeenth infantry
under command OF Captain Miner, were attacked py
abou, SEQ Indians the evening Of tho 10th inst The
train and escort had gono into camp and everything
was supposed to be safe for the night Indians
had been seen during the day.
srAMrspE
About ten o'clock p. ". shots fred into the
camp The command soon out aud skirmish line
formed but the enemy withdrew and all soon bocamo
quiet again. About three o'clock In the morning the
camp was again aroused by the yelling and firing Of
Indians skrmsh liEcc were Immediately thrown
out and the enemy driven back. not, however, until
the firing and yelling OF she red devils had frightened
the mules that about ity broke their corras and
picket ropes and escaped stampeded by the Indians.
The enemy kept up brisk fire until about four O'Clock
A. NJ, when they withdrew. The train was thcs
organized and the march began.
COMPELLED RErIKE
About o'clock the Indians made another at
tack. principally upon tho rear guard, Captain McAr-
thurs company of tho Seventeenth infantry and kept
up firing for about hour when they again
Withdrew for time, but kept firing shots from under
Of the hills from ravlncs, until finally II was
decided that the safety Of the train depended upon its
turn to Glendive Creek. Tho Indians, however, con-
tnucd 10 narass the train by following it and firing
into IL until within tow miles OF Glendlve, st which
place tho train arrived about nine o'clock N. on the
11th inst
CASUALTIES
The shooting was Wild on both sldef. Not man OF
the command HIT nor is It thought that any Indian
One had his gun hit and tho stock splintcred.
Several mules hit Tho train lost altogether fifty.
two mules Tho train Will be newly organized as far
practicable and started out again in couple OF days,
but considerable fear IS entertained tnat will not hs
ablo to get through, us signal 1res were seen all
OF tho success which had attended the operations
against the convoy and no doubt the numbers Of the
enemy will be greatly increased, while thero arc NO
troops to enforce the escort
SITUATION
It's generally known that troops are to be wintered
on the Yellowstone, the command to consist OF the
Fifth infantry, under General Miles, Companies G and
G. OF the Seventeenth infantry under Major Sanger,
and six companies OF the Twentysecond infantry, un.
der Colonel Otis The Fith Is stationed at the new
post beng built at Ton1ne River, the Twentysecond al
Inc depot OF supplies Glendivc Greek, thu Seven
tecnih on escort duty with the wagon train transfer
ring freight Tongue River. All supplies and building
material have to be transferred oy wagon from Gien-
dive Tongue River through country over which
General Terry considered It dangerous TO travel With
l. 500 men only few weeks ago. Tho route is dan.
gcrous and difficult ono at best, but with the small
escort at hand doubly the trail leading over ra
vines hills and passcs the train In many places hav.
ing 10 20 in single file and extending several mice
10 length rendering utterly impossible with SO fcV
men defend IL against vigorous attack. The com.
panes do not average over thirty men 10 company,
while the Indians arc in hundrcds
scAsTIr.y CLAD
Tho two companies of the Seventeenth have been ont
all summer, of them since last March, ana are
nearly destitute of clothing; consequently tho men
suffer great deal from the cold which is already So
vercy felt nights and mornings.
WANT FORESIGHT.
The summer expedition disDands without accomplish.
ne anything and this small ssquad" Is required to por.
orm the dangerous duty OF escoring train which u
was thought necessary to guard with cavalry artillery
and infantry few weeks ago, through country where.
in many places, Indians FIRE from hills and ravnea
upon with perfect safety to themselves, there being
no cavalry pursue them other means OF dtslodg-
ing them 1t very casy matter for officers TO SIT 10
their comfortable Offices in cities and Issue orders 10
build posts transfer freight &c, while those subject
to their orders exposing thor lives to Inc ambush
OF the willy ana victorious sayages.
THE STORM.
Tho time Is upon when w0 VIII have ans
other enemy combat, the cold winter storms OF lati-
tude forty EIGHT degrees north II operations were 10
be continued troops should not have been Withdrawn,
but remained out at least until She expedition had ac
complished something II nothing more than protcct-
ing the wagon trains In transferring the freight 70
build tho long talked OF posts. 1t would be very dit
object TO accomplished but when only lot Of saw
ages DC subjugated The question Is placed IN
different light II this duty is To be continued cav
airy should be placed in the neld when operations
could be carried with greater safety to both the
troops and the property Of the United States