Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-08-06
Crooks Expedition.


CROOKS EXPEDITION IN CAMP
ON SOUTH ToNGUE RIVER,
WYOMING, July q.
Our Snakes, who scout the country
every day, report that the mountains
are all on fire down by North Tongue
river, and that the Sioux are going to
defend themselves IN those tremendous
ranges, full of canyons, boulders ard
woods, where an army would be melted
away in useless efforts 10 disiodge them,
II it comes down to bu5hwhacking, am
willing to bet ten to one that the Sioux
will
GIVE Us THE BEST WHIPPING
ever q command OF this kind got. II
we can get fair, stsndup fight out OF
them, away from any trees, why then 1
think we have some show OF success, al
though the Indians must number at
least double our present force, and that
is a,mOderate estimate OF their strength.
Four Grow Indians came through via
the Big Horn mountains and Ash creek,
from Terry's command, two days ago.
They report the Sioux still in the neigh
borhood of Little Big Horn river, with
hunting parties down on Tongue river
and among the mountains. The saw
ages
MUST STICK TO THE GAME COUNTRY,
where the buffalo is not scarce. There
fore, their present stronghold is in the
famous buffalo range between Tongue
river and the Yellowstone. In my esr-
Iier letters 1 told you that game had al
most ceased to exist between Forts Phil
Kearney and Fetterman. This explains
why the Sioux had left that part Of the
country comparatively free rom their
ravages. II is OF no possible use to them.
While the buffalo lasts Sitting Bull will
last. When the bison is exterminsted,
good. bye to Indian resistance.
THE REDSKINS CoMNIIssARIAT
marches on the hoof Moral: Extermi-
nate the buffalo, and give Lopgiellow a
chance to write newer and truer HiG-
UdthG. We may have, according to
some theories, more erasshOppers, but
We shall have less Sioux. The daring
raider of to-day will be the starving beg
gar of to. morrow. The stomach is a bet
ter civiiizer than the sword. The Crows
report numerous Sioux dead in the coun-
try through which they passed; the saw
ages doubtless fell before the rifles
of Major Reno and his men.
Crook set out from Goose
creek to thrash Sitting Bull, and gave
himself four days in which to do the
job. Sitting Bull sweeped down on
Rosebud to meet Crook, and to all ap-
pearsnce, gave himself only an hour or
SO to finish the whole command, la
Custer. There was fight-that much
am cure ef-the Indians were
REFUSED AT EVERY POINT.
An unlucky blunder in retiring bat
TALON for strategic purpose exposed US to
unnecessary loss, but the Indians were
even then driven bacs. Crook did not
use his entire command in the battle.
Sitting Bull brought up most Of his men,
and judging by recent reports, moved
his village while he engaged Crook.
Then he f'Iit out" bag and baggage.
We were short OF rations and
of ammunition, and could not, with
any degree of sanity, have followed
him up. When all his achievements
shall have arrived, Crooks command
will be very fine one. 1 do not say it
by way Of dispsrsgement when 1 OBJ
serve that it will be Crooks last chance
Should we be checked or defeated there
will be cIy raised against our present
leader, and every eye will turn to Phil
Sheridan. He will Re called upon.
Crooks pet re giment, the Fifth cavalry,
us, Sheridan says that the eight COM
panies muster over five hundied men.
He ought to know, but it is fact
DIsGRACEFUL To THE WAR DEPART
MENT
that our companies are shams and our
regiments skeletons for the most part
Only think Of our infantry averaging
thirty.five men to the company, Our
o1vry oorir for
Will not any unprejudiced person re-
mark that this state Of things is simply
damnable? They are sending US re-
cruits from Carlisle, we hear. What
good are they? Half of them cannot
ride, and not one in ten could
hit a haystsck at one hundred
yards. They may be useful for
holding horses while the veterans go on
| the skirmish line.
II am asked how stands the morale OF
Crooks command, Notwithstanding the
Encouraging news from the Seventh
| cavalry, can safely aver that l have
not yet seen "a man dismsyedi" on the
contrary,
A SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE
has grown into the breasts of the SOL
diery, and, should the day go against
SIISinS-bulii CuSteI auu LIS Aen WIN NC
suddenly and terribly avenged. Crook
has been taught useful lesson-not to
| divide his command. The Indians can
scatter and re. concsntrate twice as fast
as can our troops, under the most favor
able auspices, which gives them the ad-
vantage, when we separate our columns
too far, of bringing their heaviest masses
against our weakest detschments.
JOHN +. FIHERTY.