The New York herald., 1876-12-11

enough, however, 10 determine at once upon niRn
march, be ready to strike the village at day
break next morning. From this time forward extreme
caution was observed as TO guard much posi-.
bic against alarming the village. Our pIckets were
cent out dismouuted while rested here and no fres
were permitted lest the smoke should pciray our
presence.
MOVING VILLAGE.
Alter cherries meal OF hardtack and cold bacon,
and about three hours rest, We started on tight
march about four O'Clock in the afternoon. AS we
emerged from the little basin where we had been
resting entered wildly picturesque pass in the
mountains. The head OF the column ut which
were moving in irregular form AMI with
varied coors our Indian auxiliaries wound
abou, the OF steep conical HILL then moved about
an eighth OF mile through deep red sandstone cut
then clambered up the side OF another hill which
manded full view OF the entire command ms it
stretched double lle behind. "What splendid
picture - exclaimed all who the advancing column
this point And so II was pretty sight for the
moment, but its form changed and It's beauty
ished as we pissed the crost OF tho second hill. For
about a mile the land now spread out level to our
vicw and advanced "sharp' Nose" one Of our
Arapahoes, called attention two black specks away
to tho left. Before any white man present could do
more than barely discover their existence he told
they were the Sioux scouts who had
manned behind 10 learn something more about
the village Abou. tho same tme that
noticed their approach they discovered our
advance and guided their course SO as to head us of
In about twenty minutes they Joined US and just
they reached the pony ridden by Jackass. ono OF
the Sioux scouts who was little in advance OF the
other stumbled and fell completely exhausted
Jackass himself, who by the way, is a brave, bright
eyed handsome young INDIAN was about as tired and
hungry the pony, could not tell us what hc had
seen until after he had eaten icw mouthius Of hard
bread and bacon
TnR scouI's REPORT.
Then, with flashing eyes and in eager haste, nc said
he had seen some tho ponies and counted eleven OF
the lodges from hill overlooking the village. He said
wo could reach the village at midnight by marching
onward steadily. He could not give US any idea, how
ever, o. the sizo OF the village either from The mum
Der OF tepecs he had counted or tho number OF
horses he had seen. We continued our march
along into the night, over Jagged hills, through
deep ravines, across rapid mountain streams
mry and deep but the sky was clear and coudlcss
and The to light up our narrow and Difficult,
pathway. Before entering the toughest country on
our road to the camp passed through beautiful
valley about half a mile wide and over threo miles
long level as race course all the way. When we
emerged from this VIC wcro obliged to movo very
slowly and the cavarymen had to dismount at least
twenty times during the night and lead their horses
in single fle passing through ravines with which the
country lying between and the mouth of the can
yon where the camp stood cut up and crossed IN
all directions 1t could have gone In direct line
from the point where we halted In the afternoon to the
camp the distance would been over ten niles
but along tho route We wero obliged to move We
mus. have marched over twenty miles, q
.rch nd VII auctir ir0 Inn
ono covering three times the distance would
have been ina tolerably level country. Scouts
kept ahead continually, and from time to time they
came back guide our movements and assure that
we were gradually approaching the village.
MARCHING iS THE DARK
Shortly after midnight the moon set and lett US to
gropc way in comparative darkness through part
of our road where 1t was almost impossible to find or
follow trail where brush grew tall TO hide tho
foremost horseman from his followers, and stream
wound its beneath banks steep that We could
not Ghd a way to cross until wo had wandered and
CROPPED long way through the darkness. Patiently
and pcrsistcntly pressed along in this
way until just before the dawn of day
when We approached the mouth OF the canyon
Az this time knew the village not far on but
we know nothing about its location the nature OF
tho ground hercabouts. and feared that any efforts
to enlightcn ourselves these points, however useful
might alarm the village and defeat intention
surprise the hostes. Two three Indian scouts
were again sent forward by Lieutenant W. p. Clark
who commanded the entire detachment OF scouts to
make reconnaissance and report before The order
given to charge Meanwhile every effort possible was
made 10 close up the column. strung out consid-
erably in consequence of the number OF deep cuts
through which had to pass as we approached
ort m 0f 4
this time all our Indians were being hurried
TO the front to mako ready to sweep
through the village. While waiting to get the column
ready Tor action OF our scouts returned and re-
ported that the bucks having dances in four
places the village. He also located two or three
herds OF ponies and said therc were tcpees both
sides OF the river. With all possible haste General
Mackenzie hurried his command into form.
PREPARING FOR BATTLE
The Indian scouts were busy casting OF SUPER
fuous clothing and relieving their horses OF every
additional weight that threatened to check their speed
or impair their seiulness the field This done they
crowded forward all eager to have the foremost place.
more like horses coming to the than
entering the ncld of battle. When the cavalry had
almost all crossed the last deep the mouth of
the canyon General Mackenzie got everything in rcadi-
ness the charge. Colonel Gordon's battalion
the head and Major Mauck's behind.
Colonel Gordon had with him ono staff officer, Lieu
tenant Tyler, Fourth cavalry battalion ndjutant, and
the following companies Of cavalry III, Fifth cavalry
Captain John N. Hamilton, Second Lieutenant An
drus. l., Filth cavalry; Captain A. B. Taylor, FIRST
Lieutenant, II. H. Ward and Second Lieutenant H.
Wheeler H, Third cavalry; Captain H. W. Vessels
and Second Lieutenant Hammond. X, Third cavalry
Captain Gerald Ru. sell, FIRST Lieutenant o. Eting,
Second Lieutenant Dodd. NJ Fourth cavalry; First
Lieutenant John A. Mckinney, Second Lieutenant
otis. +, Fourth cavalry; Captain Writ Davies and
Second Lieutenant J. W. Roscnqucst. Major Mauck 8
Second battalion composed as folows:-First
Lieutenant W. G. Miller, Fourth cavalry ndju,aut.
Company B, Fourth cavalry; First Lieutenant Gala
ham Company D. Fourth cavalry; Captain John Lee,
Second Lieutenant s. A. Mason. Company E; First
Lieutenant i. l.. Shoemaker, Second Lieutenant H. H.
Belas. Company /; Captain W. c. Hemphill, who had
with him two young officers who volunteered for tho
occasion, Second Lieutenant NJ. JONES' Fourth artl.
ery, and Second Lieutenant J. n. Allison, Second