New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-16
BATTLING WITH THE SIOUX ON THE
YELLOWSTONE.
BY GEORGE A. CUSTER.

In the early spring of 1873 the officials o
the Northern Pacific railroad applied to tn,
government authorities at Washington To-
military protection for surveying party Il
be sent out the ensuing summer to explore
and mark out the incOmpleted portion OF
the road extending from the Missouri river
in Dakota to the interior OF Montana west
of the Yellowstone. This enterprise, which
was intended to open new highway to
travel and commerce between the people of
the Atlantic and Pacific States, had not
then encountered the financial calamities
that swept over the country later in that
year. 1t had commended itself to the at
tentiOn and approval OF not only the public,
but to the protection and fostering care of
the national government. 1t was seen that
the completion of the Northern Pacific road
would be measure which, aside from OPEN
ing to settlement large tract of valuable
country, and aiding in the development
and successful working of rich mineral
region otherwise inaccessible, would pro-
duce to the government q large annual
saving of money in the way of cost of trans
portation of troops and supplies. The ex
perience OF the past, partcul arly that of
recent years, has shown toe that no one
measure SO quickly and etfectually frees
country from the horrors and devastations
of Indian wars and Indian depredations
generally as the building and successful
overrun. Thus. aside from the ordinary
benefits and purposes which inspire tbs
building of railroads through the unsettled
portions of the West, the government,
simply as a measure of economy, has ample
reason to extend to such enterprises en-.
c9arageMe.t and help,
So earnest is my belief in the civil
izing and peace-giving influence of
railroads when extended through an
Indian country, that the idea has often oc
CURED to me, laying aside all considerations
and arguments as to whether such road
will ever be required in the interests of
trade ard commerce, that a railroad estab. |
lshed and kept in operation from point |
on our extreme northern boundary, some |
where between the one hundreth and one |
hundred and fifth meridian, to correspond |
ing point on the Rio Grande river in Texas. |
would forever after have preserved peace |
with the vast number OF tribes infesting
the immense area of country lying between |
the Rocky mountains and the valley of the |
Mississippi. A more surprising statement
than this, however, and one which will bear
in vestigatiOn, is that the avoidance of wars
with the tribes which have occupied this
region of tho plains lying contiguous to the
indicated line Of railroad would have re
suited in saving OF money to the govern
ment more than sufficient to build, equip
|
British America to the Rio Grande.
Few of our people realize the immense
outlay and expense rendered necessary by
an Indian war. As an illustration, take the |
following extract from report to the Pres!-
dent of the United States, made in 1868 by |
q commission of which Generals Sherman.
Harvey. Terry and Augur we're members.
Referring to the alleged "Chevington mas
sacre," and the Cheyenne war of 1867, the
report of the commission states: mo one
will be astonished that war ensued which
cost the government $50, 100000"
To extend encouragement and aid to the
projectors and builders of the Northern Pa
cific road, the government granted the sp-
plication of the road for a military escort,
and gave authority for the organization OF
what was atterward designated as the Vel
lOwstone expedition. The troops composing
the expedition numbered about 100 men, |
consisting of cavalry. infantry an impro-
vised battery Of artillery and detach- |
ment of Indian scouts, the whole under
of Brevet Major General ID. s.
Stanley, an officer whose we'll known ability
and long experience on the plains and with I
Indians amply qualified him for the exercise
of so important command. Fort Rice, {
Dakota, on the Missouri river, was selected &
Is the point of rendezvous and departure
Of the expedition.
To illustrate how our little army, as Oc. g
casion demands is frequently shifted from
Dne remote point to another, in order to |
meet the demands Of the service, it may be I
mentioned that in collecting troops to COM | I
1850 the Yellowstone expedition most of my a
ommand, the cavalry, was transported q
ON the extreme Southern States, the Caro-. I
mas, Florida and Louisisns, to within
ew days march Of the British possessions. Il