The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-09-28
OH cial Account Of an Indian Skirmish,

The following was recently received al
military headquarters at Chicago:
Fort LARAMIE, September 16.-General
II. c. Drum, Chicago, Illinois: The follow
ing dispatch has just been received from
General Crook:
BIC Horn AND YELLOWSTONE ExrEprrIoS,l
CAMP NEAR OWL CREEK, DAKOTA, Sept. IL. J
To General Sheridan, Chicago: 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 their
way in toward the Agencies. Although
some trails seemed fresh, our animals were
not in condition to pursue them. From the
north fork of Grand River sent Captain
Miller, of the Third Cavalry, with $50 men
mounted on our strongest horses, to go in
advance to Deadwood, to procure supplies of
provisions. On the evening OF the 9Th, near
the Slim Buttes, he discovered a hostile viii
lage of thirty odd lodges, lay by there that
night, and attacked them by surprise yester-
day morning, capturing the village, some
prisoners, and number OF ponies, and kill
ing some of the Indians. Among the In
dians was the Chief, American Horse, who
died of his WOUNDS after surrenderiDg TO US.
Our own casualties were slight, but among
them was First Lieutenant Won Luttewiiz,
of the Third Cavalry, wounded seriously in
the knee, and leg since amputated. In the
village were found, besides great quantities
OF dried meat and ammunition, an army
guide and portions Of officers and non.com-
missioned officers uniforms, and other
indications that the Indians of this village
had participated in the Custer massacre.
Our main column got up about noon that
day, and was shortly after attacked by a con-
siderable body of Indians, who the prisoners
said belonged to the village of Crazy Horse,
who was camped somewhere between their
own village and the Little Missouri River.
the superstition that Captain Mills's com.
mand had received no reinforcements. The
prisoners further stated that most of the
hostile Indians were now going into the
Agencies, with the exception of Crazy Horse
and Sitting Bull with their immediate
followers. Crazy Horse intended to
remain near the headwaters of the
Little Missouri, and about half of
Sitting Bulls band, numbering from sixty
to hundred lodges, had gone north OF the
Yellowstone, while the remainder of that
band, with some Sans Arcs, Minneconjous,
and Uncpapas had gone in the vicinity OF
Antelope Buttes, there to fatten their ponies
and trade with the Rees and others. place
great reliance in these statements, from
other coroboratory evidence which have.
These Indians with Sitting Bull amount to
three or four hundred lodges, and in my
judgment can very easily be struck by Gen.
Terry's column, provided 1t 60 in light
marching order and keep under cover. Our
prisoners also, in their conversation, fully
confirmed my opinions, as already tele-
graphed you. We had very hard march
here from Heart River. For eighty miles
we did not have particle Of wood,
nothing but little dry grass, which
was insufficient even TO cook coffee
Tor the men. During the greater por.
ton Of the time we were drenched by the
cold rains which made travelling very heavy.
A great many Of the animals gave out and
had to be abandoned, and the others are
now in such a weak condition that the
grea er number of them will not be able TO
resume the campaign until after reasona-
BILE rest. j should like to have about five
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 vicin.
ity of Deadwood until the arrival of nv
wagon train. [Signedl
GEORGE CROOK, Brigadier. General,
p. II. SHERIDAN, IeutensntG General.