The New York herald., 1876-07-07


character Il is very dncut make an accurate es'r
mate Of the force Of hostile Indians as the row.
ing tribes have never been numbered but should say
that they bring forward from 1000 70 10 600 war
rors This number, you see, 10 enough 70 DO vast
amount Of damage TO the country up there. Already,
as hear, there is general apprehension and alarm
among the settlers and they ocking into the forts
don't think that any Indinn war, no matter how
serious will prevent people from rushing to the BLACK
Hls According reports there 10 continual stream
Of people present moving into the mining regions,
and the prospects indicate increase a. the
weather grows milder 4"
Such was the opinion Of our most renowned Indian
fighter to the aud It's causes. II must be re-
membsred that it chiefly owing TO his own reports
OF the exam Of the Black Hills region that the
public became fired with the gold fever and II there
quite clear that he recognized the OF
the Indian outbreak
RUxoRs
On February II a despatch from Omaha says:-"It Is
stated the most competent aud reliable official
authority that the Sioux Cheyenne and Arapahoe Ind
ians have beeu and yet making the extensive
preparations possible for an outbreak in very few
weeks They have been purchasing large quantities OF
ammunition and arms wherever they could get them,
going far south the Indian Territory for this pur
pose 1t has been known Tor some time past that the
best fighting had deserted the agencies and are
rowing in the Big Horn, Powder River and Tongue
River countries concentrating and arranging forces for
this war;
As setoH against the above the following despatch
from wsner Neb. dated February "a, shows that the
OF the Black Hills continued without inter
ruption:-.
Seventeen double mule teams, with sixty eight men,
well equipped left hero to-day Tor the Black Hills, via
tho Elkton Valley route Parties arriving daily
Another ,rain will start inside Of ten days Small
parties start daily on foot hauling handcartsL"
Here evidence of deliberate disobedience of the
government orders without the least attempt at
cealmcnt
ACTIVE HosrILIrIEa
The garrison OF Fort Pease the Yellowstone, and
located Sitting BULBS camping ground, had been
closely bcsieged by the Sioux as described In the
HERALD OF March and April g. 1876. but rescued
by small party OF soldiers under the command OF Col
oneI Brsbn, who, with the garrison, were forced To
abandon the tort and hight their way back Fort e.
ot through the encrcling enemy after losing in the
sioge and killed aud eight wounded Follow
ing the announcement Of this event despatch from
Omaha dated March /. describes the departure from
Fort Fetterman Of large expedition under General
Crook against tho hostile Sioux The selected
fer this expedition was via Forts Reno and Phil Kear.
airy, Of Infantry twenty Eve $50 team
sters and packers, with rations for six
weeks, conveyed in eighty wagons and on
400 pack mules The plan Of action Of the column was
to depot tho provisions and park the wagons At
point little north Of Fort Reno, under the charge of
the infantry and for the cavalry push in search
Of the Sioux by series OF rapid marches. This plan
General Crook carried out with the loss Of two men
while marching to Fort Reno, from whence he ad.
vanced north and struck Crazy Horses village at the
mouth Of Little Powder River This he destroyed, to-
gethor with large supplies Of material after which
he returned to Fort Reno.
General Sheridan, after describing the probable rich.
gold deposits in The Black Hills adds the following
to his request for appropriation mill
tary posts the mouths OF the Big Horn and Tongue
rivers:-
"Military operations have now been commenced
against the hostile bands of Sioux by request of tho
Interior Department, and this appropriation
necessary that especially request imnediste
ont
MISSOURI COLUMN
This force, which organized tn march from Fort
Lincoln Westward and operate with Crook column
from Fort Fetierman marching northward, and with
General Gibbons column from Fort Ellis marching east
ward, all the lines of route converging the upper
region Of the Yellowstone Valley, originally inten-
ded to operate under the command of General Custer;
but that gallant officer having offended modern
Casar In some way was superseded by General Terry
and reduced 70 the command Of his own regi.
ment OF cavalry. This dsgraceful piece Of Executive
spleen probably settled the tate OF poor CUSTER for
had he been in chief command orig naly intended
his life would not have been sacrificed in an Indian
massacre which he certainly was experienced enough
TO avoid. General Terry who succeeded Custer in the
chief command, lett Fort Lincoln, Dakota on Nay II,
and his force was, fully described in the HERALD
special despatch Of that date published May 49, com.
posed ofthe following full regiment Of the Seventh
cavalry, under command OF General Custer; detach
ment OF Indian scouts under Custer three comps
MES OF infantry and battery OF Gatng guns train
OF $50 wagons and 200 pack mules, and thirty days.
provisions aud forage for the march due westward TO
the Yellowstone River, where the converging columns
before referred to, to be by steamers contain
ing further supplies for two months.
THE PORT Kills COLUMN
This column organized under the Immediate CON-
mand Of General Gibbon but subject to General
Terry's orders, and was ordered to move eastward
along the line Of the left bank OF the Yellowstone
River. from Fort Ellis in Montana, toward the depot
point Of concentration referred to- The object Of
this movement twoold First, to reinforce Terry
or Crook, whichsvor was frst met WITH and second,
to prevent Sitting BULBS retreat the Yellowstone
and TO the westward in he found himself over.
matched by the eastern and southern columns Gen.
eral Gibbons force comprised six companies OF infantry
and tour Of cavalry force too weak cope with si,
ting Bull the deld, or to obstruct his be
desired to make one.
SITTING BULLS ARMY
Indeed this force really deserves the title Of army
both on Of Its strength and the consum
skin with which its leader handles in the face Of
three strong columns Of regular troopa General Gus
ter estimated sitting Bulls available force At from
5000 70 warriors but there decidedly strons
reasons Tor believing that than Of
number are In the neld under his mediate lead
ershp although 1t is probable that fully 5000
are held in guarding their villages He ha.
been pghtng interior lines to defend his large wi
lase which, the HKaALD correspondent states was To-
Gated along the valley OF the Rosebud River. He thus
presents his full force all times each OF the three