The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-21

BY special telegram to the HERALD from
the military camp on Goose Greek, Wy.
T., we learn that considerable body
of friendly Indians, made up of warriors Of
the Crow, Nez Perces, Snake and Piegan
tribes, have joined the expeditionary column
now operating against the hostile Sioux IN
der the command Of General Crook This
auxiliary force will exercise an important
influence on the issue of the campaign, be-
cause it supplies the necessary element
which the regular column really needed in
its scouting after the skulking enemy. The
advance of the troops is necessarily slow and
uncertain, because they are feeling their
way through country filled with cunning
foes, who become visible only when mani
them of success.
The officers in command of the military
columns now conyerging toward the sup
posed place of encampment of Sitting Ball
are men who have tho reputation of being
experienced Indian fighters but we are of
the opinion that all their skill will be needed
to entrap SO wary warrior MS the chief of
the Sioux, especially if their further advance
is made in the fashion now adopted. Gen.
eral Melas complained during the early
Napoleonic campaigns that the young leader
Of the republican armies knew nothing of
war, and that he made frightful mistakes in
tactics which were very annoying to his
accomplished opponent, who, by the way,
was always beaten by the ignorant blum
dering of Napoleon. The officers who are
endeavoring to reconstruct the Sioux are
liable to fall into the same error as General
Melas, and by strict adherence to military
forms be led into traps by the willy Indians,
whose tactics are simple, being to attack
when they have the advantages of numbers
and position and to run away when they
have not. Two important facts are pre-
scented in our despatch, and one of these
goes to show that General Gibbons was en-
camped near the Yellowstone River, only
short distance from large Indian village
under the control of Sitting Bull and Crazy
Horse, the noted Sioux chiefs There is
some reason to believe that General Gibbons
was not aware of the immediate presence Of
his dangerous enemies, and if he was
he deemed it prudent to wait for rein
forcements before disturbing them. On
the other hand, the Indian chiefs were
certainly cognizant of the presence of
General Gibbons, but felt themselves strong
enough to await attack. The other impor-
tant point is that, in attempting to cross
river, General Gibbons lost a large number
of his horses, and the Sioux captured the
ponies of his Indian scouts. This would
indicate both activity and daring on the part
of the Indians and augurs badly for the
success Of the campaign. The movement
of General Crooks column northward from
Fort Fetterman is likely to result in n failure
to accomplish its object, which is to inter-
unless aided by the Fifth cavalry, which has
Just been ordered to move north from Fort
Laramie along the Powder River trail, for
Sitting Bull will probably give it the slip
before the junction of the three columns can
be effected in the Yellowstone Valley, and
tho summer season will be consumed in fol-
lowing that entcrprising warrior oil over
the Western Plains.
OLD HArsEED PARKER begins to loom up.
1t comes out as part of his record that lie
is one Of the best judges of turnips on the
Jersey coast. Farmer JOEL would sound
we'll in the canvass but SO would Uncle
SAMMY"