The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-07
priated. Before the soldiers were half an hour on
board

had been established, accompanied by certain air
live the wild life Of camps. Some Of the Officers
were fortunate enough to obtain state rooms, but
nearly half were obliged to content themselves
with cots placed on the cabin oor or rude beds OF
from the mosquitoes. As as the cool
evening breeze came over the water to
console us for the burning heat Of the day
and retemper our weakened frames these
burden. The sunset behind the low hills in
purpe-colored clouds and cool breczes, stole over
the river with the mellow evening twilight. On
either hand the verdure-cad banks were lonely and
silent as the grave. Beyond the river, perched on
high blum, were seen the white buildings Of Fort
Lincoln which we were fast leaving behind.
THE EVENING SCENE
was SO peacefully beautiful that we unconscousy
forgot the mission OF vengeance upon which we
were speeding and turned our thoughts toward
kindlier subjects The soldiers gathered in groups;
some sang in chorus the home songs that touch
happy and sacred memories; others gathered
around banjo performed on by soldier and forgot
the toll of the day in the intricacics OF a break
down. The greater part, however did nothing but
breathe the refreshing and rtstessly enjoy the
pleasures OF being alive. When small herd Of an
there moment OF excitement, but soon
lost sight OF them, and all sank back to our former
state of lstless enjoyment. We were well on our
way, aud every ones thoughts were turned
toward the distant Big Horn, where the fates
would mete out to each his predestined
fortune. When the shades of night had
thrown over the river thick pail we stopped near
bend to take in a supply ofwood. The company
cooks utilized the opportunity to make coffee for
the soldiers and in few minutes large fires were
lighted and immense blackened pots were sus-
pended the bright flames. The huge fires,
built In the edge of the dark woods and reflected in
the silent river that rushed with impetuous speed
to join the great Mississippi gave weird aspect to
the and lent to the prosaic work Of the cooks
an element of the picturesque that would have de-
lighted Salvador Rosa to picture on enduring can
vas.
A STEAMER SIGHTED.
While the laborers were still carrying aboard the
wood for fuel there appeared in the distance point
Of light. 1t was moving, and experienced river men
n distant point and Immediately all was excite
ment and exultation, growing out Of the anxiety
to learn the from the Indian country. Colonel
Otis ordered the guard to fire the steamers
to this warlikc summons huge pine nambeau
was shown over the quarter and few minutes later
the steamer, which proved to be the Josephine,
drew alongside and made fast Among her passen-
and detachment OF soldiers ordered to guard the
steamer. There were also several discharged
soldiers of the Seventh cavalry, whose time
of service had expired, and who, under the
to continue the soldiers noble trade. These mer
were anxiously Intercepted by the soldiers going
up, as to the number and condition OF the Indians
and the circumstances OF Clusters death and Ben
were not calculated to encourage enthusiasm among
the endorsements.
REPoRTs OF DISCHARGED SOLDIERS.
1t was asserted that.there were 900 Indians as
sembled In the Big Horn under Sitting Bull and that
they were better armed than the troops and equally
well supplied with ammunition. When one OF the
infantry remarked that we are going to whip them
one of the discharged men, laxative Teuton,
said:-
"By God, don't be too sure. We thinked dat, too,
when Injuns had 1900 men, and some OF you fel-
lows to get hurt"
The air OF caution with which the Teuton said this
produced marked impression on his hearers and
no doubt many of them began to think that fighting
Indians was not so amusing as it had at first ap-
peared to them After short interview between
Colonel Otis and the officer OF the highest rank,
which strictly private, the steam
ers parted company the Josephine con-
tinuing her way down the river, while
we lay to for the night at the river bank. In the
early morning we continued our journey, the
scenery OF the river being picturesque but unchang-
ing in character. Groves OF willow occupy the river
bottoms and occasionally strips OF cotton wood trees
are visible but the characteristic forms OF the coun-
try are the low brown hills that rise irrcgularly
wave behind wave. Time has worn them into all
kinds OF fantastic shapes, sometimes gracefully
rounded, at others pyramidal in aspect They sug-
gcst in the blazing sunlight of the MONDAY rcmem-
brances Of far or Egypt, while under the soft glare
OF the evening twilight the Jagged edges OF the hill
tops suggest old castles and battlemcnts in ruins.
Where water and frost have laid bare the
sides of the hills, their formation Is seen to
be stratiGcd though they had been
piled up, layer above layer, by succeeding
ages. Outcroppings of coal or Ignite are met with
along the river. The In places are suffl-
GENTLY large repay working If there was market
at hand. About ten miles below Fort Stephenson
we first encountered the Ignite formation, In a
curious succession Of picturesque bluffs. On Satur-
day, the I'D, we passed
FORT BERTH0LD
and after long detour reached the BLUFFS In which
the old fort built IL is abandoned to the In.