The New York herald., 1876-12-24
THE POWDER RIVER EXPEDITION.

THE FIGHT WITH THE cHEYEHSEs-wHx wTRn
THEY NOT AxSIHnArED ?-THE cHEYENXxs
AND THE sHosHoSEs-A BAG OF cHnDREN's
RIGHT HAYDs--THE RETURN TO CRAZY wo-
MANS FORK.
HEApQuARrERs POWDER RIVER EXPEDITION
CAMP DRY Fork, POWDER RIVER
FIFTEEN MILES SOUTHEAST OF RENO, Dec. 8 1874
The commander OF the Powder River Expedition
to be determined TO make quick work OF the
winter campaign against the northern hostilos. One
week ago yesterday struck The Cheyenne camp In
tho Big Horn Mountains; week ago to-day We were
moving out from the OF action; last Wednesday
evening General Mackenze's mand arrived back
at tho supply camp Crazy woman's Fork and yes.
terday lett those parts TO move way through
the rough country OF the Little Powaer River search
OF Crazy Horses village.
RESULTS or THE FIGHT.
Since the fight It's result has been very fully can
vasscd in tho command and while Il is admitted on all
sides that the Chcycnncs have been severely pun.
ishcd, the feeling is very general that ad.
vantage over the savages not pressed
vigorously as II should have been under the
circumstances. We captured and destroyed their
village, their buffalo robes, meat and some OF thciI
ammunition IL Is true. besides killing num-
ber OF their warriors, but with entire
force and little effort might havo
pursued and surrounded the whole band and
anniha,ed them If they refused to surrender. With
the cavalry alone, armed only with carbincs, could
hardly have pursued them successfully. Why we did
no, remain IN the canyon from which drove them
until the infantry arrived was problem to most ofus
and our hasty departure from the hostile camp
measure surprise. To Dc sure, had not heard
from General Crook since beginning the fight up 10 the
time OF leaving our camp in the hostile village at
last Sunday but felt certain was coming to our
assistance with the infantry. We had silcnced the lire
Of the bosties carly Saturday evening" and all who
the infantry had been expected remain on
the battle field until General Crooks arrival
BACKWARD MOVEMENT.
On sunday morning, however, the order givca
to move, and by noon OF that day wc were retracna
our steps in the Wild gap through which charge
was made, bound backward toward our supply camp
at Crazy Woman's Fork. Gray clouds had becu
gathering above us during the early morning. and We
felt that hush Of suspense the about that pre-.
cedes Storm Gradually the sombro clouds drow their
curtains closer heads heavy snow
fakes began to fail thick and fast Had the hostllos
been equal to renewal OF the light now the timc
creep up and flash back their vengeance for
routing them from their homes and destroying their
village. But no, they had had already moro than
enough. 1t clear that need have fears for
the future
ABANDONED CAMP
Some OF Shoshonc Indians kent secret watch be-
hind Tor litto while alter tho last OF troops lcit
the feld, and these thrcc OF the nostilcs
creep down from tho hills when had left aud enter
the space where but the day before tepees stood
and defiant bucks danced in CLEO sbout tho scalps Of
newly slaughtered victims. Nearly everything in the
village that fire would consume had been reduced TO
ashes, and the falling covered up the shoulder.
ing cinders not yet wholly devoured by the flames.
Near tho banks OF tho lttlc brook that brawled
through tho village Of the day before, OF which now
but trace existed, lying Tho almost nudo bo6Ics
OF two Of their women from whose heads the rcoEina
scalps had been torn in true Indian fashion, 1t was
wonder that they gave vent to their gref at this
moment i'll wild wailing tones that echoed along the
sides OF that lonesome canyon II the scene oniy
called TO their minds OF their exploits
with fro and scapng knife is TO be hoped they took
the lesson TO heart The band had begun to consider
itself nvincble. and its discovery and chastsement
fail to have sauiary effect In the future. The
Shoshones who watched their distress from tho hills
could have bad no sympathy with thom In their sor.
rowing tor there were iound In the hostile village
some horrible evidences OF recent lights between
hostile Cheycnnes and the Shoshoncs. Besides s0mo
fresh shoshone scaps found in the lodges there was
also discovered ltlo buckskin bag filed with chill
drcns right HANDS. A shoshone Indian found these
horrible trophies and bslicving them TO be the hands
c some OF tho children OF his people buried them aud
ROUTE OF THE RErrRx
shorter route, whlcn recent experience enabled
10 select; but our way exceedingly rough ana
VI all improved by the additional snow and trost OF
Sunday. The sides OF OF tho ravines crossed
were so steep and slippery that the mules dragging
the tcrs that carried our dead and wounded, had 70
bs let down by ropes to prevent them from rolling
down head over hccs, some oil tho pack mules
launches ut every stop, but no serious accident
Cured IN consequence. Tho horse rode fell twice
With me during the iirs' few hours Of our march.
OF the DESTROYED village
SCOUTS
Monday morning, about to resume our
tramp, we heard or the arrival OF tho fourteen Pawpco
and Shoshonc scouts, sent out ahead OF our coump
the preceding Thursday from Crazy Woman's FORK.
They mad encountered the fleeing hostilcs, and had
endcavorcd 10 capture some OF their but these
rctaken them as we'll as some Of their own
IL a significant thing, too, In connection with
this encounter that the hostes did not tire shot q
tion, and determined save all they had TO kill game
for their starving women and children. Indeed, they
needed moro game than we saw In the mountains %
MI IRON !, 900 TO !, 200 hungry mouths.
AN ATTACK ANTICIPATED.
Rumors OF probable attack on our column BY small
bands IRON tho village rife during the day uutil
got out OF the bad country through which our morn
ing's march led. These reports caused dssress
to the w0unded, and even rodsed General Mackonxe'G
apprchensions Tor tme SO that ne sent back get
all the Indian scouts advanced to the hoad ot the
column.
Auout noon wo heard that General Crook with the
infantry, about four or five miles ahead spproach-
ing. When ne learned that we were approaching he
turned about and ordered the infantry bnck 70 the
supply camp. He received news Of the battle about
eight O'Clock on sunday morning. and about noon ho
started 10 JOIN Colonel Dodge told infantry
marched twenty i've miles through the that day
arrived eleven O'Clock night Willow CfocK
where they found but very little for rcs warm
them after their exhausting march They marched
forward four or five miles on Monday morning be-
tore hearing Of approach, when they ordered
back again. &s
BUFFALO.
Monday night there was some excitement In tho
cavalry camp just as the mass OF the command waa
turning for the night herd OF buffalo approached
enough 10 tho place where Indian scouts were
located 10 givo the impression that an attack was
being made. Instantly there furry, and some
twenty shots were fired by the Indians, who wcro
notably prompt getting TO tho fron: but explae
nation soon came, and order restored. Next day
the captured ponies distributed, and Wednesday
afternoon the last OF tho command got back Crazy
Woman's Fork. On Thursday the following order Wa
issued:--
GENERAL oRDERA