New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-09
THE BIG HORN EXPEDITION.
THE MARCH TO FORT FETTERMAN.

ITROM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Of lhb 'hiDbNA'I
FoRT FEITERiAN, w. T., Feb. 2S.-Ihe road
from CHEYENNE TO Fort Fettermsn lies parallel to
the first range of Rocky Mountains and from 10 to
30 miles from their base. Long spurs and ridges OF
the mountains project INTO the plains and the road
hes generally at right angles TO these, making the
traveller enjoy q succession of ascents and descentS
The road-bed is hard as turnpike, however, being
composed of the drift from the mountains enemy Oh
decomposcd granite and this drift in many places IS
rs much ~ q thousand feet in thickness, showing
the enormous denudation which has taken place in
past ages and which is even now going on There
are few streams for the first 80 miles; these. how
ever supply the wants of many cattle, and herds
men occupy all the choice places.
Five companies of the Sd u. S. Cavalry left
Fort d. A. Russell on Feb. % and arrived at
this post to-day. The weather was delightful most
of the time but the last two days brought snow and
powerful winds, and the encampments were not of
the most cheerful places in the world. The entire
mountain range is covered with snow. though the
plains up to this time were dry and EARN. The
Winter throughout has been remarkablTmild, and
immense herds of cattle have subssted az the short
nutritious buffalo grass alone. This mouIfan range
extends from the British Possessions far into Mex
leo. Their general direction is from tho northwest
to the southeast. There are no very remarkable
elevations along this portion of the Rocky Noun
tains, though Larame's, Longs, and Pixies Peak
attain the hight respectively of 1000, Il 000 and
$4,000 feet The march Of the troops for nearly 100
miles was along the base of Laramie Peak and its
outlying system of spuTs This is the most north
ern peak of the three. and rises like giant above the
serFated line of mountains Sixty miles north of this
the North Platte breaks through the mountains.
On the north side Of that river there is awdc gap in
the mountain taken mp 100 miles distant by theB Big
Horn range The North Platte drains most of this ex-
tensiye area with its tributaries and has cut ont for
itself wide and deep channels, denudng the country
on either side for many miles, and exposing i'll
vast numbers the mammalian fossil deposits of the
tertiary period On the left side of the Platte the
plains extend with q gradual descent toward the
Missouri River. On the right from the point where
IL energies from the range the surface of the country
is much broken with the streams and dry beds of
former water-cOurses which furnished an outlet TO
the springs and melting SHOWS Of the mountains. In
this country wood, water and grass are abundant,
and the marching column proceeded at leisurely
gait, always sure of finding sheltered camps.
Fort Fetterman is situated on the south bank of
the river and plateau about 1870 feet above the
level of the stream and is the outpost this line in
the Department of tho Platte. II is so miles north
west of Fort Laramie, and 90 miles from Medicine
Bow Station, on the Pacific Railroad. The elevation
Of the post above the level is $3.50 feet 1t
established in July, 1867, by Col. William McE.
Dye, now in the service of the Khediye Of Egypt,
and was named in honor of Capt Fetternan, who,
with his whole command, was mastered by the
Indians at Fort Phil. Keaney in December, 1866.
The present garrison of the post consists of one com
pany Of cavalry and four of infantry, under COM
mand of Major Alexander Chambers, 4th United
States Infantry La Prele Creek flows into
the Platte just above the post, and the
latter stream is here about 400 yards wide.
al tla marches Inward
on the old Fort Reno road, and will take its wagons
and pack-trans in close order. The wagon train
will be brought together at some point in the Big
Horn country and put in charge of the infantry and
from this camp operations will begin. Supplies for
the troops will be carried on pack-animas. There
are 400 pack-animals and 60 wagons. The wagons
will carry 40 days supply Of ratlOns, and half forage
for the same time Altogether there will be 1900
animals in the expedition, including the cavalry !
horses. This does not include those of the scouts,
who furnish their own horses, 20 OF 80 in number.
Plans of movements and operations cannot be
given now, and only be decided upon after az
irving in the hostile country. 1t is certain that the
Northern Indians have decided upon general at
tack npOn the whole line of frontier settlements in
the Spring. The unusually mild Winter has left
their ponies In good condition, and instead Of wait
ing for our troops to take the field find that the
Indians are already the alert and have sent out
war parties toward the Laramie Plains. All pros
poets of surprising them must therefore be aban-
doned. Hard marching and long scouts through
the country cast of tho Big Horn, with
plenty of sharp skrmlshing, will probably
be the events Of the expedition. Once
alarmed, it will be exceedingly difficult to
battle with any large party unless their Overween-
ing boldness leads them TO the point Of attempting
the destruction of the expedition. Nothing would
suit its commanders better than this. These Indians
have made Red Cloud and Spotted Tail Agencies a
base from which they could obtain information am
muntion, and supplies. To the complete success Of
any movements for their subjugaton, then, these
agencies should be moved to the Missouri River
This would solve half the problem at once.
From these points they have been busy
procuring warlike material for six months
past, until now they in d condition 10
give the troops slight amount of work.
They have also been organizing under Sitting Bull
and other Chiefs that the expedition is liable TO
find the best strength in force in the country Old
PLENTY of Bears" ArTapahoe. who has just come
In from the north, reports that great war prepa-
rations are being made and that there are so many
tepees one gets tired counting them. large camp
OF them is now situated on the Powder River, and
these Indians VIII probably be first encountered, but
whether as organized body, or as skinnishers on
our tanks, depends much on the celebrity and secrecy
of cur movements. scouting party has been Or
ganized here, composed as follows:
Major r. H. Stanton, u. s. A. chief OF scouts; Ben.
Clark, experienced scout from Fort sill; Baptlste
tie Bat half bTeet Louis Rchaud, half breed, with
ten OF his relatives, from Red Cloud Agency LOUIS
Archambeau quarter breed, born north OF the Yellow
stone; EtOuard Lairuncsse, half breed Snake; jack
Russell (Buckslnn jack, Dick seymour Bloody DicD,
Speed slagner Fet,unan post guide; Frank Drew q
half breed VIM. Grabhs Chas. Ward, jules EcOhee.