The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-04-11

@AN( So
Rosebud ETeek this morning 10 look
for Indians, AMI Ben Clark with
Frank Gruard, the Kemoka, and
about twenty Others, went down the
river about fifteen miles below our
present camp to ~reeonnoiter near the
mouth of Hanging Woman Greek.
Both parties returned late in the
evening, having seen no sign of In
dians.
Monday, March I3.-Thermometer
stood at zero this morning, with a
cold northwest wind, aud about four
inches of SHOW. Lett camp at nine
O'Clock, and continued our march
down Tongue River. Passed several
lately abandoned Indian encamp-
ments, and at 3 p. IN. captured a hand
some mule, which had eyidently
sirayed from some village not far
ahead Of US. Many indications serv-
ed to satisfy US that we were not far
from Indians, and we vent into camp
at 2:3D p. m. under some small bluffs,
having marched 10 miles. Scouts
were sem three miles further down
stream to waylay the trail of the
mule, aud instructed to kill any In-
dian WHO might be following it up.
At dark the scouts were sen down
the river TO r~econnQiter, with instruc-
tions to follow it, II necessary, to the
Yellowstone, about so miles distant,
and report what they may find. At
the mouth of Hanging Woman river
to-day we saw six buifalnes, and kill
ed one of them the meat Of which
was distributed through the camp.
We also passed n cave which had
been excavaied into the bank by the
Indians to get red clay for paint.
Crossed the river seven times on the
ice, and al IA camp find plenty OF
wood. principally dry cottonwood.
The Indians have cui down enormous
quantities ofthis tree, almost destroy
ing the principal timber those valleys
afford. The bluffs on each side have
a dark, irregular fringe of scrub pine,
cedar and juniper, and grease-brush
flourishes in the bottom. The guides
relate that there are innumerable
trout in tho Tongue River, and
many of tho soldiers have been
endeavoring to entice these fnny
delicacies to bite at bait suspended
through holes cut in the ice. l have
not heard that a fish has been caught
as yet. Ourfood is all frozen bard,
and has TO be thawod before it can be
eaten. Much oftho time the column
looks like a procession of Santa
Clauses, so heavily are boards and.
mustaches covered with ice. To-
march into battle with banners flying.
and drums beating, to the oar of
artillery and the rattle of musketry,
does not call for half the nerve and
determination that must be daily
exercised to pursue mile after mile
in such inhospitable weather W. b
Wild and rugged country, a savage
foe, whose presence one IS likely
L first know of tby a fatal bulle'.
The scouts are well Into harness
and do good work. But there is no
conceaIing the fact that some ofthem,
who have Indian wives, are not half
rs eager to encounter the enemy ow
as when they were at Fort Fetter-
man. AS each mile brings them
nearer to the hostile savages their
courage seems 10 wane. Among
these towards, however, are not such
men rs Ben Clark. Frank Gruard,
Louis Richard, Little Bat Baptist
Gagnier), and others. They display
the qualities Of courage, Judgment,
and GOODNESS that highly recommend
them, and Gen. Reynolds finds their
services of great value. The weather
in this region, 400 miles north of
Cheyenne, seems to be utterly un-
predictable, and would certainly
puzzle Il metereologist. If we go to
bed at night with a clear sky and
bright moon, we generally awake in
Il snow-storm.
Tuesday, March 14.-Snowing this
morning slightly, and has continued
all day, with thermometer 81 below
zero. Broke camp at 8 o'clock, and
marched 10 miles down the river,
camping neal the mouth of Otter
Creek, Il small stream einptying into
the Tongue River on the south side.
Crossed the latter creek five times
to-day. Saw four buflaloeS at head
of the column, and sc badly wounded
one that n detachment was sent out
to overhaul and bring him in. Gen.
Crook, who is Il crack shot, killed six
pin-tailed grouse as we came into
camp, with his Springfield nsusket,
off the head oily in each case.
Camp was pitched in Il grove of dead
and ash, which make
splendid fires, and the stock find fair
glass on the bluffs overlooking the
river, though they have to get it
from under the snow ia best they
ran. The Panther Mountains extend
along both sides of the river, and
of high tower-shaped and
castellated hills, crowned with n dark
of pine trees. The formation
consists exclusively ofred and yellow
sandstone, rs far as we can discover,
no quartz, granite or other paleozoic
rocks being visible. Evidently this
is not a gold. bearing region, the
cheap maps to the contrary notwith-
standing. The soldiers found a frozen
arm in camp, chopped off at
tho elbow. The flesh was per-
feet, and showed a number of
buckshot holes. Apparently 1T had
not been long detached from the
Indian who had worn it. One of the
guides think it was a Crow Indian,
by the Sioux, with whom they
are continually at war, and he also
SAYS it is the custom to mutilate the
of those they take or kill in
battle on both sides. Our scouts sent
out last night to thoroughly explore
the lower part of this stream and
Rosebud, have not yet returned, and
we wait to hear from them before
moving the command further.
Wednesday, March l5.-Scouts re-
t,,r,ol MS avanipr hnyipn rpp,n-