Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-09-22
Crooks Fight with the Indiaus,
THE OFFICIAL REPORT.

ThE OfflIlAL EXPORT.
The following is the official account of Gen.
Crooks late fight with the Indians, dated
Camp near Owl Creek, Dakota Territory,
September 18th, forwarded 10 General sher-
idan's headquarters at Chicago, and Just re-
ceived at the War department:
"Marched from Heart river, passing great
many trails OF Indians going down all the
different streams we crossed between Heart
river and this point, apparently working
Although some of the trails seemed fresh
our animals were not In q condition TO pur-
sue them. From the North Fork OF the
Grand river / sent Capt. Mills, of the Sd
cavalry, with $50 men, mounted on our
strongest horses, to go In advance to Dead
wood, TO procure supplies of provisions. On
the evening OF The Sth, near Slime Ruttes
he discovered hostile village of thirty old
lodges, and lay by them that night aud the
next morning attacked them by surprise,
capturing the village, some provisions, and
Q number OF ponies, aud killing some OF the
Indians. Among the Indians was the chief
American Horse, who died from his wounds
after surrendertng 10 US. Our own casualties
were slight, but among them, was First 1t
Won LuettwItz, Sd cavalry, wounded serious
ly, and leg since amputated. In the village
were found, besides great quantities OF dried
meat and ammunition, an army Guiion;;
ofncers' uniforms, and other Indications that
the indians Of this village had participates
In the Custer massacre. Our main column
Va
after attacked by q considerable body OF In
dams, who the prisoners said belonged TO
the village OF Crazy Horse, who was campsd
somewhere son between their own village and
was undoubtedly made under the sup
position that Captain Mills COM
mand had received reinforcements. The
prisoners further sisted that most OF the
hostile Indians were now going into the
agencies, with the exception OF Crazy Horse
and Sitting Bull with their immediate fol.
NJ 10 ~ O NV AK,N1 .AAl
near the headwaters OF the Little Missouri
and about onehalf OF Sitting Bulls band,
numbering from co to 100 lodges, had gone
norta % OF OH s1e 1e,iowstone while the remain
necongous, and Uncapapas, had gone In the
vicinity Of Antelope Bates, there 70 fatten
their ponies and TO trade with the Rees and
ments from other evidence which have
These Indians with Sitting Bull will amount
probably to three or four hundred lodges,
ana, IN my opini1n, can very easily be
1t 60 In light marching order and keep under
cover. Our prisoners also I'm their converse
ton fully confirmed In every particular my
had very hard march here from Heart
river. For eighty consecutive miles We did
not have particle Of wood. During the
BY cold rains, which made travelling very
heavy. A great many OF the animals gave
out and; had to be abandoned. The Others
greater number OF them viii not be able TO
resume the campaign until after O reason
able rest should like to have about I'VE
hundred horses, preferably the half breed
horses, raised ON the Laramie plains or in
the vicinity OF Denver, and acclimated 10
this country. intend TO carry out the pro-
gramme mentioned In my last dispatch via
Fort Lincoln, and shall remain In the vi.
cinity Of Deadwood until the arrival OF INV
wagon train.
(signed) GEO. CROOK, Brig. Gen.