The New York herald., 1876-10-02

elder wood, but lid not much allay the misery pro-
duced by the rain. mist and cold. supper Tor the
soldiers consisted OF lew fragments OF hard bread
aud iew small scraps OF bacon. The packers
Jared better, making an uncluous soup OF -four aud
grease, which warmed while II nourished them. l ac-
ceped little OF thor hospitality with easerness
never before could have conceived o IL was born OF
hunger and proved once more the philosophical ruth
that everything wiihiu human knowledge
Is comparative. Our beds were the softest
and most adhesive kind o. mud and our COW
er'ng blankets aud greasy sheets of canvas which
had used tor months protecting curgOcs Of
the mules from the weather The fires burned suileny
in the canyon, and the glare which ed BY the
flames produced in the mist grotesquc and unreal
effects, which observed and studied before went 10
sleep Hardly. however, were the Wild ana drcad u
phantascs around replaced by softer dreams which
at the beck OF Morpheus. than they were gone
instant and aware Of fierce tramplng and
blinded and demented by the fantastic glare OF the res
bad suddenly made terrible rush, checked only by
their lariats, and had neary crushed and my bed
fellow beneath their boots. Once more during the
night the same wild sound shook the ground, and my
black night I searched Tor him rather
desperate moot. and delighted at last
TO lind him standing ,passivey the camp. He
rubbed his against familiarity when touched
him. II 10 declare that he knew would be i'll
conduct to desert me 10 such emergency then beset
me. One other alarm startled us-a shot fired by
picket at a shadow which he mis,ook Tor Sioux At
one o'clock the camp was aroused By the guards and
preparations made for the advance.
TmK ATTACK.
The mingled gloom and darkness so great that
an hour and a half were consumed in saddng the
horses and mules and falling into column The troops
wcro divided INTO thrcc bodies. Twenty-Five mounted
men were placed under Lieutenant swalxa and tho
remaining l25 formed two battaons under Lieutenans
Crawford and Won Lcntwitz Wo moved forward
two miles. No scmoiance OF The dawn was
yet visible Tho two battalions were ,.ismounted,
and the horses, with the holding them,
together with tho pack train, wtrc left IN charge OF
troops, which be the frs, shot fred. The
cess OF the stack depended on the completeness OF tho
surprise surprise % given The enemy l. was hoped by
positions that could be ecccted before
single gun discharged. He moved forward
very cautiously. unable TO more than 100
yards ahead. and did not distinguish the village
until he close upou il. The frst objects
that were seen were tho ponies who had snulcd our
approach and were excited. Tho whole herd gave
bound aud dashed straight through tho village, only
few lodges OF which were visible the rest beng hidden
Gruard called out Chargel" and Swatka plunged into
the village with his twenty-five men. Almost
cutting OF pelts and canvas with knives and
winging bullets attestcd that the Indians had their
rifles in their hands Won Luottwtz was TO have taken
position on the left OF the VILLAGE but tho attack hav
Tug beon preciptated, both batalions formed line
along tho ridge on the east OF the stream and hardly
had Swatka gotten beyond thor front when they
poured voleys into tho tepees The Indians however
had gained the hills west OF the creek and were reply
Lieutenant Won LuettwItz in tho knee Lieu
tcnant Swatka, IN his charge had driven
escaped. A lew indians mounted on such ponies
they mad been able TO catch made several daring
dashes to recover those captured and all around tho
was, in the morning twilight. like festive pyrotech-
mic display. The ponies were closely hcrded in ho
mules which haa como up within hSur closely
guarded The Indians still fred slowly bat accurately
IRON the western side Of the stream. soldier was
mortally shot through the head
STRANGE vACILLAToN OF AN OFFICER.
Meanwhile the COMMANDER had apprchensons that
they would develop greater strength and attack him.
We seemed overpowered by this fear ut the inception
OF the fight, and when the Indians fret sent their
bullets into our ranks he exclaimed. Retreat men
ever and Lieutenant Crawford seconded their Impulse
by drawing his pistol and shouting, 81 will
shoot any who tries to rctreatl''
THIS noble INSTRUMENTATION prevented q dis
aser. Az soon as his iorco was together Colonel
supposed be the march about twenty miles In
rear They were to urge him TO push forward
mediate reniorcements There was still occasional
rc from ravnc adjoining the village. which rendered
It's entrance dangerous Sharpshootcrs were stationed
to cover the ravine Lientenants Swatka and
Crawford made two hot charges among tho hills
where thu Indians were supposed TO be urk
ing, attempting 10 capture the remainder Of tho
herd OF ponies, but were unsuccessful Some daring
soldiers busy in the village where they had
mained its capture. tumbling the
OF the lodges and searching Tor food They found
abundance of II that astonished them uiposts wore
thrown out neighborning knobs to Keep on tho fire
Of mounted Indians who were seen to ride rapidly to
the eastward dismouut and tire In this WY they
silcnccd at every point except the wcst
side OF the village, whore steep ridge above
ridge until capped by the chalky roc.s OF Slim Butles
Having been elcctually outmanGuvred the eastern
side OF the ridge the dispossessed seemed to
COnQrcgAtcu
occasional shot, and at last they shouted IN
tho Dakota to Frank Gruard tnat they wanted talk
Of peace One OF them announced himself as slabber,
head warrior, well known at the agen,es. Ne SAID:
~ am tired OF lghting have had enough Of it
this summer. want to go back to tho agencies"
A BRILLIANT CHARGE.
While no was talking Lieutenant Crawford, In
obedience 10 orders, makinga circuit with nine
men TO carry tho crest had beon placed by Colonel
Mills charge OF redoubt exposed point OF
ridge hastily thrown up and manned by three soldiers.
One OF these sent further forward to occupy
.rIlx vl.fr Law
down behind It to watch for Indians, steal
ing close enough toward the ridge to permit
surveyed the movemen, madc by Lieutenant Crawford
md when he appeared IRON "A hollow and dashed up
the steep ridge the two men tho redoubt. at my
gestion. took more advanced position just over tho
village TO cover his advance. Tho little band reached
the crest with YELL which was answered by cries OF
dismay from the Indians. A lew hasty pistol shots.
by which OF them was wounded or killed,
and they lied into tho ravncs aud out Of
sight The village cxcellenty
manded by our troops but still an occasional
bullet from the ravine ON the west sido Of tho
village IL was supposed that solitary wounded In
dian lay there determined TO sell his lie dearly
possible. Several daring attempts were made to dis
lodge him, but tho bullets which came from the strong
hold terribly accurate In their aim that the
wero not permitted 10 expose themselves.
THE TROPHIES.
Tho village was entered, however, by running the
gauntlet OF the nre and lis contents inspected Gus
ters regimcntal guidon found In OF the prin
cipal tepees and in nearly all OF them were cavniry
saddles Probably the chief spoils oil the Little Horn
massacre were secured by this band. and u follows
that tner part in must have been prominent In tho
captured heri three OF the horses ridden by
the murdered cavalrymcn. Thousands OF robes,
aud bags of meat and fruit were piled up In tho lodges
and the trinkcts which comprise the fruits vi the
handicrat OF the Dakota squaws were very numerous
There were bundles OF hucy colored porcupinc qus,
moccasins, beaded buckskin gowns. isathercd war
bonncls. calumets tobacco pouches &c. The kitchen
utensils were very complete, and there was every IN
dicaiion shat they live supreme comfort Pieces
OF the sacks Ia which -four had been given them at
Spotted ia Agency were found and other evidences
OF the Great Fathers III rcquitcd bounty The most
signific of these two letters, which have
reciled in full by telegraph Boucher. "a rascaly
Frenchman. who this summer was chased from tho
agencies for sending ammunition 10 SttinR Bull.
omrnends his friend and relative, the notorious and
wicked Stabber, TO the favor of all He says that he
travelling northward to VISIT his people, and VIII
return to mis- agency in ninety days Howard the
plaugible and wealthy Indian trader at the Spotted
Tail Agency, Is the author OF the other documcnt,
written two years ago. II recommends Charging
Crow TO tho hospitality and generosity OF tho whito
man and dccaYez that no Is a good Indian. There