The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-08-13
CROOKS CAMPAIGN.
An Interesting Letter from the From

y Tna #MHFLE ANMzr
Especial c-ohrsspondenes of The LExDAA.
BIG HoRs EXPEDITION, CAAF on
GOOSE CREEK, Aug. 4-Gen. Merritt
with ten companies OF the Fifth Cavalry,
Joined this command yesterday. Thus
reinforced, this column numbers oyer
2, 100 fighting men, divided as follows:
Cayalry-Ten companies of the Fifth,
ten of the Third and five of the Second
Regiments -1,450 men, Infantry
Four companies Of the Fourteenth,
four Of the Ninth and two of the Fourth
Regiments-425 men; shoshone scouts,
225; Ute scouts, 20; white and half
breed scouts and civilians, 80.
Men and horses have been severely
drilled daily for the past month, while
the force composing the Fifth Cavalry
has long been trained to fire on horse
back.
The pack-trains, consisting of 800
mules, viii be loaded with $50, 900
rounds of ammunition, $4,000 rations,
and a slight allowance of bedding for
infantry. No forage Is taken, the
horses subsisting entirely upon grass.
The amount of rations is estimated to
last twelve days, cut down to plain
bacon, bareback and coffee. Besides
the ammunition conveyed on the mules,
infantry and cavalry will be required to
carry one hundred rounds to the man
on their persons
Gen. Crooks force could pass over
the toughest country without further
replenishing to the Missouri river on
the north, Wind river on the southwest,
or the Indian agencies on the northeast.
Each wing of our frontier army has
had its battle. The Sioux have been so
well felt, and in one case SO disas-
trously, that the epoch of recuperation,
of forming plans to suit the emergency,
and Of marshaling forces for a fresh
start, has arrived in the campaign, as
it does in almost all others.
Now that we have undertaken this
war, it has suddenly developed into an
affair of amazing proportions. The
Sioux, in their own chosen country,
number over 5000 warriors. Their
fortresses are wherever they happen to
stop for the night, because Of the pecu-
liafities of the region. Their commits.
sary is overlooking, and their ponies are
in the best Of flesh and vim. 1t is set
tied that no light cavalry can ever com
pete with them. Our cavalry is pom
derous and ~unwieldy, and infantry
is slow. As for the Indians arms and
ammunition, the former have been
proven equal to our own, and often
superior; while the latter has, in view
of the approaching contest, been gath
cred together for a year past by Sitting
Bulls shrowed emissaries. These are
briefly some of the advantages possessed
by the enemy. Now, in reviewing the
struggle, we need not speculate upon
success too freely; and the fight this
column will be expected to make will
be merely one with the odds all against
it,-al except the known courage Of
our troops, and the Judgment and unex.
celled ability of our commander fol
such work
Eastern writers dub this ian unholy
war; and, make the astounding asser.
ton that slaying aside all principle in
the matter, there is no part of the
country worth fighting for.n If the
arena of all the bloody work of the
Sioux could be embraced by their res.
ervation lines, and If the evidences Of
their absolute unworthiness Of the con-
sideration given them for the past
quarter Of . century only lay broadcast
around thir agencies, the first startling
assumption might be overlooked.
But beside endeavoring to protect O
thrifty and beautiful frontier, this ag-
gressive movement on the part of the
government essays to open up a country
that Is worth fighting for-n For the
benefit Of readers who may not be in
formed upon the matter, it should be
stated that the Sioux have only the
right to hunt here, and can, under ex-
listing agreement, lay no claim to
ownership. Commencing at Powder
river and extending northwestward
along the Big Horn mountains to the
Yellowstone, is as fine a belt Of grazing
country as can be found anywhere
among the superior pasture lands of the
Rocky mountain region. The belt
closely approximates 200 miles in
length, and will average rs in width.
The surface is a combination of hill
and plain, with everywhere a perfect
mat of the most nutritious plain and
mountain grasses. Debouching from
the Big Horn mountains at frequent
intervals, and descending generally
northward, are streams fed by melting
SHOWS, and flowing clear as crystal over
gravelly beds. Chief among these in
size and attractiveness are Crazy
Woman's Fork Of Powder, Clear Fork,
Big Piney, North and South Forks Of
Goose creek, Tongue river, and the Big
r. 49, l>-o-~~ - -. co11oI