The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-09
THE BIG HORN EXPEDITION.

PREPARATIONS ron IT'S DEPARTURE FROM FORT
LINCOLN DIRECTS on THE MovEMENT-A
BAND OF INDIAN SCOUTS TO ACCOMPANY TIE
TROOPS.
Forr LINCOLN April 60 1876.
To cause certain bands OF the Sioux naisn to curb
their warkc propensiiics and 90 the reservations
set apart for them the purpose OF an expedition
now being organized at Fort Abraham Lincoln Dakota
Territory In the fastLesscs OF the either
side Big Horn River and In the country adjacent
thereto thero have been cncamped for number Of
years bands Of Indians who have declined the aid
offered them by the government, precrrng to maintain
an independent life and support themselves rather than
submit the of agents appointed TO exercise a
kindly surveillance their welfare. Unfortunately,
however, they have not confined themselves entirely to
the chase. but have made raids the settlers OF Nom
tana and Dakota stealing stock, pundcrng ranches
and killing the Inhabitants until they have inaugurased
such reign terror that their numbers popularity
supposed be hundreds Of thousands instead Of two or
three thousand AT all of agencies the Missouri
River there numbers OF
DISSATISFIED INDIANS
whom II would Do impossible please under any cir.
cu,nstanccs Then there are certain young
anxious to make a name for themselves In order 10
gain influence in their tribe, and which, should they
remain quietly the reservation, they could not
accomplish. From these classes tho hostile Indiana
receive their recruits. and they generally
desperate characters without much to lose but every
thing gam they make good lighting men. In addi.
ton to their fgh.ng qualities they vol armed with
tho improved fro arms have plenty of ammunition
obtaining these from INSCRIPTIONS traders aud livnl
they do section OF tho country but very little
known II Is be wondered that they feared
by tho poor settlers OF the frontier who few
arms Of any kind, and who, If they had, could not
protect themselves for they scattered over tho
country such distances from each other there
such thing mutual protection. To the inhabi-
fants large city organ OF petition
for duty the Plains easy task, more so. II
they have forgotten the rapid movements OF troops
during tho late war. Could they know the
ISOLATED CONDITION FRONTIER POSTS
and realize tho immense amount OF time necessary to
got things together. their ideas would change. We
VIII take the present expedition as an example. When
II determined drive tho hostile Sioux to their
and tho number OF troops that were to
compish this decided upon, II became necessary 10
troops from posts where they could not be spared
aud replace them to some extent by companies from
other stations. In order IT, do this companies have
been ordered iron, Fort Ripley Minnesota, Pembna,
Fort Buford Fort Rice, Standing Rock, and three COM
from the South. largo wagon train being required to
carry supplies OF the posts IN tho department
have been directed furnish their proper proportion
OF Subsistence stores ordered from
the different stations to make up the supply requisite
Transfers have to employed, and was necessary
in order 10 experienced packers to send to ST
Paul for them. SO il will be that the formation
OF an expedition requires much tlmc and labor besides
being very expensive undertaking. In order
ferbaancc the expense It is desirable that mission
be n successful one and It's depends entirely
upon the officer selected TO command who must DO 81
ndon,table energy and will in order TO enable him
overcome tho thousand and obstacles he will ind
in his march through the wilderness.
FORCES IN CAMP.
Tho grounds surrounding Fort Lincoln recall wildly
the scenes witnessed during the They dotted
with different camps, made by tho ompanes reporting
for duty with tho expedition In portion the cav
airy is located another the battery Of Gatng guns
then there the infantry camp, and last tho immense
wagon train with It's numerous attendants Orderlics
messengers may be galoping in NIL directions
seemingly intent business Of some kind; teamsters
earnestly arguing with refractory mules and tho gen.
cre condition OF tho atmosphere surrounding the fort
would convince outsider most thoroughly that the
dogs OF war about to be let loose
There yet considerable be done before the
command can take the field and not all OF tho
panies have arrived impossible to give the
mel of it, but 1t is known there will be twelve companies
or the Seventh Cavalry, six companies OF infantry,
battery OF Calling guns and detachment OF Indian
srniii