The Lake County star., 1876-07-27

the Sioux appeared to construe it into
retreat, and doubtless supposed they had
inflicted very severe loss upon us.
From every ridge, rock, and sage-bush
they poured upon these four companies,
encumbered with led horses, most gall
ing fire. They were in front, in rear,
and upon both fanks. They seemed to
spring up instantaneously and by magic.
Other casualties had been comparatively
slight before, but now they were quad.
rupled in very short time. The ground
traversed was such that it was impossi-
BILE to withdraw and protect such move
ment.
Colonel Royal therefore sent his Ad-
jutant to General Crook requesting as
sistance; but before it was furnished,
perceiving the terrible fire to which his
men were exposed and having only a
single brook, although wide and deep
and difficult of passage, to cross, he gave
orders to mount and dash rapidly over
this obstruction. Promptly as his COM
mands were obeyed, five men fell dead
and as many more wounded before the
opposite slope was reached. In the con-
fusion several led horses unfortunately
escaped and galloped up the hill, leav-
ing their owners dismounted at its foot,
and at the mercy of the savages. Two
companies of infantry had been directed
to occupy an adjacent crest, which they
reached in time to prevent any mutila-
tion or scalping of the dead by the In
dians, and to save the wounded from
such fate. About two hundred Sioux
swarmed in the ravine. Many of them
appeared to be without ammunition. for
they used bows and arrows, and spears.
One of the wounded, who was subse-
quently recovered, relates sad tale.
Separated from their horses and saddle
pouches, in which their extra ammuni-
tion was carried, and that in their belts
having become exhausted, several of
them, led by Sergeant Marshal of Com
pany F, Third Cavalry, clubbed their
carbines and fought bravely until the
last.
One poor wretch, young recruit,
with an insane idea of salvation, or be-
cause he preferred fatal bullet from his
own piece to the torture of being pierced
by spears and arrows, calmly surrendered
his carbine, handing il to the nearest
Sioux, and Immediately his skull was
broken by blow from loaded whip or
tomahawk. Captain Guy V. Henry,
who had constantly exposed his life
during the preceding fight, and who was
brevetted brigadier-general during the
Rebellion for gallantry, now fell with
bullet through his jaws. He was assisted
upon his horse, and, with remonstrances
against leaving his men, hurried from
the field. The last to come up the slope
was Lieutenant Colonel Royal, of the
Third Cavalry, an old soldier of the
Mexican war, who has since seen con-
stant and hard service in our army,
principally upon the frontier. He rode
up the hill calmly AID without precipi-
tatiop, the bullets whistling around him
and raising cloud OF dust about him
self and horse. He was, of course,
chagrined at such an unfortunate issue
to his withdrawal; but he obeyed his
instruction under very difficult circum-
stances. And those instructions were,
doubtless, the only ones that should
have been given at the time. The Sioux
had evidently made every exertion to
cut off and annihiate his battalion, and
after witnessing its escape from such a
tate. they quickly retired.
Captains Moves and Miles meanwhile
had received orders to return, as General
Crook feared that, isolated from the re-
mainder of the command, they, too,
would be overwhelmed by superior num-
bers. The Indians were not believed
until then to be in such large force; but
the command being once more assembled
the march upon the village was resumed
for the distance of several miles. Here,
however, the ground became go much
broken, that its ravines doubtless being
filled and its ledges lined with Sioux,
our guide, Frank Gouard, assured Gen
eral Crook tha6its passage during the
day would be impracticable. So he re-
luctantly returned to the field of battle
and went into camp with the intention
of making the projected march after
dark. This, however, was also aban-
doned, principally on account of the
wounded. We had also exhausted half
of our rations and ammunition, and the
Crows and Snakes having been disap-
pointed in their hopes of plunder, and
suffered in wounded and killed, refused
to 60 any further. Yesterday morning
we stated upon our return to this point,
the wounded being carried upon litters
between two mules. The
journey was an exceedingly rough one,
for them particularly. Last night we
camped in sight of the Little Big Horn
River, which was too much for our
valorous Crows, and shortly after dark
they left us, much more quickly than
they came.
The Snakes accompanied us here, but
will probably return to their country in
q few days. Meanwhile it is decided
that the command encamp in this vi
cinity until the wagon and pack trains
can go to Fetterman and return with
supplies. General Crook to- might makes
report to General Sheridan of the en-
by special courier, and requests
a company of artillery and several field
pieces and Gatling guns. Five more
com panics of infantry are expected.
1t is estimated that two thousand war
riors were engaged. in the attack, and
that the casualties OF the Sioux in killed
and wounded were at least fifty. Six
whole scalps were brought in by our In
dian allies, and two more were subse-
quently obtained. During the fight
they were seen to recover their dead and
the former by lassoing them
and dragging them off attached to ponies,
three or four at time. None of our
men were scalped, and the killed were
all buried in camp, a fire being built
over the spot to destroy all evidences of
their interment.