The New York herald., 1876-07-06
BATTLE On ROSEBUD CREEK.
First Fight Of the Campaign
Against the Sioux.
The ATTACK AND RETREAT DESCRIBED.
How General Crook Was
Forced Into Action.
WONDERFUL BRAVERY or The TROOPS
What the Failure of the
Crows Cost.
THE RESULT OF THEIR P0W-W0W.
A Terrible Slaughter Of the Sioux
Warriors.
The ScaIping Of United States Skirmishers
Told by an Eye Witness.
WONDERFUL BRAVERY OF The TROOPS
What the Failure of the
Crows Cost.
THE RESULT OF THEIR POW-WOW.
A Terrible Slaughter of the Sioux
Warriors.
The ScaIping Of United States Skimishers
Told by an Eye Witness.
MILITARY CAMP on sorrH FORK or GoosE, CREEK,
WYOMING, June 20, 1915

MILITARY CAxP on SorrH FORK or GoosE, CRsEK,l
WYOMING, June 20 1915
Three days ago the fight of the campaign against
the Sioux in THIS military department took place. The
lighting column marched from the camp, situated at
the fork Of Goose Creek on June 16, accompanied by
the $50 Indian auxliaries who had arrived the pre-
ccding day, and numbered about 1900 The in-
antry mounted upon mules borrowed from the
pack trains. Twenty mounted packers were also al
owed 70 go, and carried carbncs The cavalry bat.
aons contained $50 able soldiers The friendly In
iians were Loaned firearms belonging the govern
nent and their belts filled with cartridges. Old Grow
was the principal leader Of the Crows, and Medicine
Grow and Good Heart his eutenans Louissaut, called
by his tribe sw cesaw,p the chief of the Snakes
or Soshonecs who are divided into two companies,
regularly disciplined in imitation OF tho white soldiers.
Louissant captain Of one and Cosgrove white man.
commands the other They march sometimes in
column, and nearly every Soshonee, in gong to war;
carries long white wand ornamentcd with pennants
stroamcrs Of fur, hair and red cloth. They wear
partcolored blankets and ride usually either white
spotted ponies, whose tails ana names they daub with
red orange paint Nothing could be bright
and picturesque than the whole body Of friendly ndi
they galloped BY the long column OF the exped-
ton early in the first morning of the march. as it
wound around the bases of the low foot hills called the
Chetish or Wolf Mountains, which were traversed in
moving toward the head waters of Rosebud Creek
Several Of the Snakes still carry their ancient spears
and round shields OF buffalo and elk hde besides
their modern firearms Imagination did not require
than the presence OF the brown arid hills
and the distant snow-capped mountains to convert
them into cavalcade OF Bcdouins After crossing tho
sterile bills and leaving behind thcm stuntcd thorns
and cedars the column stretched like great serpent
pver a green divide, whose surface is undulatng as
pillows of md-ocean, and which separates the water
Iheds Of the Tongue River and tho Rosebud Creek
rne country is beautiful The march silent
possible, and the column dispersed to avoid
causing dust which might give warning to the enemy
1t was hoped to approach within thirty miles of the
Sioux village and then to advance 1t during the
night
After weary march of thirty.hve miles the column
bvouacked at tho head OF the valley of the Rosebud
June 16 The soldiers placed their blankets that
sleeping their lines formed hollow square, inside OF
which the animals were pcketed.
SIGNAL BATTLE.
On the morning of June IL the command moved a
nvc O'Clock. The Grow scouts went In front and on
the tanks but they had omitted send forward their
spies during the night although the previous day
they had found indubitabc signs that the Sioux wcrc
then engaged in hunting tho buffalo south
ward About half-past advance Of
ten miles had been made, when, suddenly,
the old Grow appeared on hill the
stream, and gave signal. Soon other scouts dashed
into the valley. Meanwhile the Grows catching
their war ponies, stripping of their supcfnuous gar
mcn,s, and some Of them had formed line and were
singing their song. halt had been made the
FIRST signal OF the scouts, and the order
given to unsaddc the animals, IT being
supposed that they had merely seen some Of the
Sioux their village upon the hills, engaged in
herding their ponies The two batalions Of the Third
cavalry resting the south side Of the creek and
the Of the Second the north side. Suddenly
yells heard beyond the low hill the north and
shots 6red which every moment becoming
frequent The Grows Wild with excitement
rnd shouted 10 the interpreters that their
being killed and tina. they 20 join them After
crclipg their ponies In the valley for ten min.
utcs they dashed the hill and disappeared Tho
firing became moro and more rsphi- The cavalry
making ready 10 mount, wher scouts came saliofng
back again, baloo.nE that tho sioax charging.
CHARGE
General Crook rode to the FIRST crest and saw that
they coming forward 70 attack tho whole COM
msnd In the valley. Orders given Col
oneI Royal 10 lead the bat.alcus of tho
Third csvalry across tho ssrcam, dcploy his troops
sk,rmiscrs and occupy The bills In the possession
OF Oh. enemy Captain ncnry's battalion OF the Third
cavalry, consisting Of Companies y. Is, and r. ad-
vanccd north ward up Of ridges occupied by TIE
indiana who retired before the steady chsrgc from
point 10 point. Al last reached the top cf ridge
lying adjacent TO the highest crest bu, separated from
II by a deep favinc. The Soax front and
promptly attacked. They occupied also a paisade on
the iet. about 500 yards distant Captain Andrews
com psny had become detached from It's battalion and
had advanced the extreme lcf, and IL wasemployed
IN checking carly Aanxins movement OF the 1n.ins
al n~a, In
bchiud him the deep hollow of the main ridge
which the Sioux FIRST appeared back which
they had bcen driven by line OF Infantry 10 a higher
crest, stopping ns northern extremity. The troops
were going forward with an ardor and onthusiasm
which found vent In cheers, and their officers
surprised to observe that they receiving no sup
port from The centre, which yielding ground and
yermstting the enemy 10 their nrc against the
right flank. After checking the advance behind .
friendly behind which his soldiers lay while pour
ing the Sioux ho, answering fire Colonel Royal
was ezpecsant Of seeing the anyance on his right re-
xumsd tho latter ~ero shsn apparently beganins
iee panic. Seeing the long gallant skrnsh line
pause, however. they dashed forward tho right
aud Icft and IN instant nearly every point Of
vantage within, in front and in the rear, and the
aank OF the i'ns, covered with ssvagcs wildly
sircling ihcs ponies and charging hthcr thither
whilc :hoy fred RON their seats with wonderful
rspidi,y accuracy. Al this moment the
troops com,ncnccd They opened a severe
fro opon tho Indians, which was seen
to have instant effect, tut cry
lha, they we're the Crows. aud immediately IL wis
checked Thus excellent opportunity for
parish.rg them severely They screened themselves
SehEd cievatons and continued harassing rc. st.l
the troops the right dd not advance, and the
lenss grew terrible as tho position every moment
NOR. rcricss the saax appeared at intervals on The
Ss aauk charging ON their ponies and each time fur